How to choose the right timber for your timber windows and doors?

Your home deserves beautiful timber windows and doors. But what’s right for your internal doors might not be right for your windows. And with so many different woods available, which timber should you choose? Here we give you an honest appraisal of the pros and cons of different timbers and we offer a personal consultation if you’d like to discuss your windows and doors with us.

Choosing the right timber for your windows and doors is a balancing act of aesthetics, durability, suitability, sustainability and cost. External timbers need to withstand the elements – for this you’ll need a durable wood that is less prone to rot. For a long-lasting solution, you want your wood to be stable, so it doesn’t twist or warp. Then there are practical considerations – windows in hard-to-reach areas need to be low maintenance. And there are aesthetic considerations – while some woods stain beautifully, others take paint better. In terms of cost, again, it’s a balancing act. Some timbers may be more expensive but if they’re lower maintenance they could well work out better value in the long run. There are no hard and fast rules here and there might be two or three options that will work in any given location. Let’s take each timber in turn.

Accoya Wood, a durable, low-maintenance great all-rounder for timber windows and doors

We’re starting with Accoya because it’s durable, low maintenance and incredibly versatile. It’s the ideal choice for areas that are exposed to the elements and which require regular movement such as door leaves, casements, sashes, external sills and external beads & trims. And because it’s low maintenance, it’s also our suggested choice for windows that are difficult to reach. Accoya – as with all the timber we use – is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved.

The downside is that Accoya wood is expensive (roughly equivalent to Oak). You’ll need to use stainless steel fixings as it has a natural acidity and it can mark easily – which is why it’s not our first choice for high traffic areas such as door thresholds.

Utile hardwood, a durable hardwood suitable for external timber doors and windows

Utile Hardwood is a stable timber, meaning it doesn’t twist or warp so it’ll last a long time and it takes paint well. As the name suggests, it’s a durable hardwood and suitable for external doors and windows. At Woodland, we recommend Utile Hardwood for high traffic areas such as door thresholds and casement frames. The only downside of this timber are the concerns around sustainability – you can address this by making sure your supplier only uses FSC approved timber.

Red Grandis, a hardwood and a more economical choice to Accoya, suitable for external doors and windows

Red Grandis is related to Eucalyptus. It’s suitable for external doors and windows as it’s relatively stable and moderately durable. It’s an FSC certified hardwood and a more economical choice to Accoya. Because it’s prone to movement, we don’t recommend it in all instances. Accoya is a higher quality and lower maintenance timber but where price is the deciding factor, Red Grandis is a really good alternative.

Poplar (Tulipwood), ideal for internal use and takes paint well

This FSC certified hardwood is a perishable timber so definitely not suitable for outdoors. It’s ideal however for doors, furniture, internal architraves and internal box linings. It takes paint beautifully, has a lovely finish and holds its shape.

Tricoya, a high-performance MDF, ideal for large surface areas and door panels.

Tricoya is essentially a high-performance MDF, going through the same process as Accoya making it extremely durable and stable. For this reason, it’s a great choice for large surface areas and door panels where you specifically need that stability and durability. The downside is the cost – Tricoya is expensive. The trick is to use it only where you really need it and where you’ll really appreciate the benefit.
Let’s look at some other timbers which are less commonly used and see where they might be the right choice for you.

Meranti, an affordable, slightly durable hard wood used for external windows and doors

Meranti is a reddish-brown hard wood which is classed as slightly durable and a good choice for external windows and doors. It does require regular care and you’ll need to maintain the stain or paintwork. The real upside is that it’s an affordable option but the quality and durability varies – it’s worth talking to an expert to understand exactly what you’re getting. This is another wood that has sustainability concerns so ensure you use as FSC approved timber ensuring it’s been grown in a responsibly managed forest.

Sapele, a moderately durable timber with the look of mahogany

Sapele will remind you of mahogany. It’s moderately durable but it’s prone to movement. We don’t generally recommend Sapele because although it is suitable for external applications we know there are more durable and stable timbers available such as Red Grandis and Accoya. It doesn’t score well from a sustainability point of view either and again, we recommend you only use FSC approved Sapele.

European Oak gives an attractive finish but requires maintenance

European Oak is a beautiful choice. Sadly, it’s not cheap and it’s not low maintenance. It’s very prone to movement and so not suitable to high performance joinery. And while it’s beautiful when stained, it will discolour over time. There’s no doubt that if you do opt for European Oak you will get a stunning result, but you’ll need to be prepared to maintain it.

Idigbo, a durable, stable timber and reasonably priced

You may have read very good things about Idigbo. It’s a hardwood that’s very durable and stable and it’s also reasonably priced. It also takes paint very well (although it is acidic so a special primer is required). The challenge with Idigbo is its questionable environmental sustainability and we advise only using FSC approved wood. But for this reason, we prefer Utile as a more sustainable option that gives you similar performance.

Iroko, an attractive, very durable timber which takes wood stain well

Another beautiful timber, Iroko is a hard wood and very durable although a bit more expensive than, say, Idigbo. The problem with Iroko is it’s very prone to movement and because it’s oily it doesn’t take paint well. If you opt for Iroko, you’re definitely best off staining the wood and accepting that it will change colour over time – which can be beautiful in itself.

Teak

Teak is no longer available due to environmental concerns. If you’re looking for a Teak alternative, you could consider Iroko.

Treated softwood, a low cost timber which will need maintenance

Working in Kingston, Wimbledon and Richmond, we’ve crafted windows and doors for hundreds of Victorian homes. It’s tempting to use treated softwood for its authenticity – it was the original choice of the Victorians. However, in those days, softwood was slow-grown, properly seasoned and then protected by lead-based paint. Today’s softwoods are grown quickly for high-yield and a high return and the resulting timber is far less durable. It’s a low cost option in the short term but we advise against using it for external joinery as you’ll need to factor in major maintenance in 10-15 years.

Engineered softwood , a low cost timber which can be sustainably sourced

Engineered softwood is a more stable version of treated softwood, often with knots removed. It’s a low-cost option and can be made from sustainably sourced wood fibres or recycled wood materials. However, it lacks the natural beauty of solid wood and it has the same durability issues as treated softwood. For this reason, you’ll often see it used in Aluminium-clad windows where the timber will not be as exposed to the elements.

There are many things to consider when choosing the right timber for your home. To ensure a beautiful, durable finish at the right price, talk to a Woodland expert. You can book a consultation today and it’s free of charge.