Red and White Oak Flooring Comparison

Oak wood is an exceptional and timeless material that is used as decking boards, beams and as a perfect flooring option.

Oak flooring is widely used in many European households. Available in two kinds: the red oak and the white oak, both have an exceptional beauty. However, there are still differences between the two.  

Strength and Durability

Determining the strength and durability of an oak flooring material depends on two main factors – the Janka hardness and the density.

            Janka Hardness

The Janka hardness rating measures how resistant a piece of hardwood can be. The measurement is in pounds, where the higher rating is equivalent to a harder wood.

Density

Density measures how much wood is packed into a cubic meter.

The combination of the two factors will determine the capacity of the wood to endure wear and tear.

Red oak has a Janka hardness rating of 12,900 lbs. and a density of 780 kg/m3. White oak has a hardness rating of 1,360 lbs. and a density of 900 KG/m3. The white oak flooring is stronger than the red.

Appearance

Both have tight, complex grain patterns. The heartwood has a reddish-brown hue and is surrounded by warm glowing tones, making red oak the perfect option for a more exotic-looking floor. White oak takes on a pale tone with a contrasting dark grain, providing a more neutral and versatile look.

Movement in Service

Movement in Service refers to how much a hardwood shrinks or expands during shipping or after installation. The measurement is based on the tangential and radial shrinkage – which is expressed as a percentage. The lower the percentage, the less likely the wood will shrink.

The tangential and radial shrinkage for red oak flooring is 8.6% and 4.0%, respectively. For white oak flooring, the numbers are 7.2% and 4.2%. It is clear that white oak flooring can resist buckling, bending and warping – better than the red oak.

To learn more about UK Timber’s oak flooring options, call us on +44 (0)1536 267107.

Simple Tips to Keep Firewood Dry During Winter

Tips on Wooden Deck Maintenance

Decks are structural add-ons for homes. They can be categorised into three types: low-level, remote and hillside decks. Wooden decking boards can be treated or untreated depending on the preference of the homeowner. Decks should be checked regularly because timbers are prone to rot and may require renovating at some stage. Here are some tips on how to properly maintain wooden decks:

Get rid of the rubbish

Regular sweeping is important. Use a normal broom or a leaf blower when sweeping. Debris such as leaves and dirt can cause moisture build up, which can lead to the premature aging of wood that will likely result in rotting. The spaces between each decking board often acquire dirt. Use a putty knife to remove the dirt in between.

Inspect the deck

Check every part of the deck for signs of decay. Small spots of rotting can be easily resolved by scraping and wood treatment. However, a large rotting area can only be fixed by a board replacement. Nails should also be checked to see if they are coming loose. Try forcing loose nails back into the deck or replace them with decking screws or longer nails. Also examine the deck for cracks and splinters that may be sealed before further damage results. 

Clean the wood

Wood tends to stain due to the weather. Too much sunlight or too much rain can be contributing factors of wood discoloration. Scrubbing with water, detergent and a fibre brush could help return the wood to its original colour. Some people use a power washer, which blasts high water pressure for easier cleaning.

UK Timber Ltd provides a variety of high-quality lumbers that are perfect for any home project. E-mail us at sales@uk-timber.co.uk with all your enquiries.

On the Spotlight: Pressure Treated Timber Gardening

Fun Facts About the Douglas Fir Tree

Benefits of an Oak Flooring

It is easy to like oak beams. Affordable, durable and requiring very little maintenance, it is simply the most beautiful and nostalgic wood flooring option. Oak has many attributes that have been recognised for centuries but how can oak flooring improve your home?

Oak is Flexible – If you are redecorating, renovating or building your home from scratch, consider placing oak flooring at the top of your “flooring list”. Its natural beauty is alluring, with the ability to blend into any décor. Due to its flexibility, you can use it in your bedroom for a relaxing and cosy environment and it will give an equally pleasing effect in your living room.

Damage resistant and durable – Oak is one of the most durable and damage resistant materials available on the market. People have been using oak since the middle-ages and its outstanding resistance to damage has been proven over time. Oak is also known for its water-resilience and therefore is an ideal choice of flooring for areas that are exposed to moisture, such as bathrooms, attics and kitchens. Furthermore, oak is naturally resistant to splitting, scratching and denting.

Maintenance – Maintenance is not as demanding as other flooring alternatives. It can be cleaned by slight sweeping, vacuuming and simple dusting. Furthermore, stains and muddy foots prints are easier to clean – much easier than removing stains from a carpet. Oak flooring doesn’t have to be vacuumed or swept daily for maintenance purposes. Once or twice a week is enough.

Cost-effective – In relation to its durability and maintenance, an oak floor will be more cost effective in the long run. Unlike other flooring options that are prone to damage, oak will stand the test of time. Moreover, since its maintenance fees are practically non-existent, the money you save can be used on other things.

Saleability – Contrary to popular belief, oak flooring will not dramatically increase the value of your home. Instead, by giving your home an antique look and style, it will increase the saleability of your home – giving you a competitive advantage over other sellers. A lot of prospective buyers are into homes with wood floors, rather than laminated options. From a buyer’s point of view, wood floors are more enticing and appealing than carpeted floors.

UK timber has a variety of solid oak flooring. Our affordable oak flooring is of high quality, plus, it is supplied completely unfinished, giving you the opportunity to apply the personal touch with the finish of your choice. We also offer timber decking, fencing materials, oak doors and whole lot more timber products. Visit our website for more details.

UK Timber: The Home of High Quality Renewable Fuel

With the continuous increase in the price of petroleum gas, more and more individuals are settling for wood burning solutions. As a result, renewable fuel like wood briquettes, sawdust charcoal and firewood are getting more popular. If you are looking for a reliable supplier that can provide you with high quality wood briquettes, sawdust charcoal and firewood, UK Timber can cater to these needs.

Aside from producing oak beams, solid oak doors, oak flooring, decking boards and other timber products, UK Timber is one of the leading renewable fuel suppliers in the UK today. UK Timber imports and generates their own variety of almost all kinds of coals and solid fuels on a nationwide basis, at possibly the cheapest price in the industry.

Compressed Wood Briquettes

Compressed bio-wood or Eco log briquettes, sometimes called heat logs, are a highly efficient and clean renewable energy source. Compared to other firewood products, wood briquettes generate the least amount of ash. With only 8% moisture, which means they create less smoke and keep the chimney clearer, they are a cleaner and more reliable substitute to firewood logs, offering a higher energy concentration and stable combustion. Usually a convenient fuel solution for multi-fuel or open fireplace burning, they are also burnt in biomass boilers providing heat for the whole house.

UK Timber offers 3 types of wood briquettes:

•   Mechanically Pressed High Quality Hardwood Briquettes – consist of three solid, very long-lasting, very dry and high quality heat logs banded together, approximately 5 kilograms in weight.
• Ecofire Oak Nuggets - made from oak for a very long-lasting fire. Can be used as an effective coal substitute due to their thickness and shape.
• Ecofire High Density Hardwood Briquettes - made from waste tropical hardwoods used in the furniture making industry and compressed at high temperatures, with no synthetic binding factors, this makes for a very solid briquette with zero ash content and almost zero moisture.

Sawdust Charcoal

Sawdust charcoal is made through carbonising high density wood briquettes. It lasts up to 5 times longer than the normal charcoal. Although a little bit pricier than regular charcoal, it will significantly lessen the overall cost due to its long burning features.

UK Timber offers sawdust charcoal, packed in sealed 10-kilogram boxes for easy shipping.

Firewood

Firewood is any wood material that is collected for fuel use. It is not usually highly processed compared to the other forms of wood fuel, like briquettes. UK Timber sells high density firewood that is easy to light and will last a long time, like Kiln dried firewood. This has been dried in a kiln to around 18% moisture content to ensure the same quality and consistency each time the firewood is burned.

There are more types of firewood available at UK Timber. For more updates regarding their fuel products, you can visit their Facebook page.

The Most Common Types of Wood

Facts About Oak Trees

The Appeal of Timber in Your Garden

Did you ever wonder why most garden flooring, balusters and landscapes are made of timber? Well, there are a good many reasons to love it! Read on to discover the beauty and the advantages of using wood materials in your garden and start timber decking the premises of your own lawn.

Timber is pleasing and elegant. With or without painting, timber still looks perfectly pleasing. Wood has natural rings and lines that add detail to its texture and appearance. You can simply add varnish to the wood and it’s good to go. Timber is very beneficial, serving two purposes: construction materials and designing materials.

Timber is easy to shape, carve and cut. Garden floorings and furniture need different sizes and shapes to hold the plants and to make the lawn more appealing to look at. Timber can be machined, cut, nailed, glued and screwed easily, making the designing process a good deal easier. It can cater to different landscape sizes and organise vast stretches of land and a number of plants.

Timber is safer, even in bad weather. Wood absorbs water because it contains fibre. Compared to cement and asphalt, timber is less slippery and it is also more environmentally friendly.

Timber is durable. Wood is derived from well-grown trees. Although flexible, wood is also very durable. It does not break easily and is resistant to wear and decay. The only problem with timber is that it can be invaded and broken down by pests. In order to avoid pest damage, keep the garden clean and have pest control products to hand. It is always advisable to use stainless nails as other alternatives are prone to rust.

Timber is easy to repair or replace. Wood is also easy to repair because it can be easily removed, section by section. This characteristic of wood affords timber users the privilege of changing or improving the design of their gardens, at will.

If you are looking for high quality timber for your garden, kindly contact UK Timber to order. Thanks for reading!

Timber or Lumber: 6 Things About Wood That You Have to Know

If you're planning to make a beautiful house, one way of making it stand out is to use wood. Using timber in your house like decking boards makes the parts of your house glow with beauty. It can also appear in many different colours and can look good with or without paint. It doesn't only look good, it also has a lot of advantages. Here are some trivia that you have to know before you choose your timber:

1. There are maybe more than 5,000 species of wood in the market, but there are only two types of wood: first, is hardwood and the second one is softwood. Hardwood is a type of wood that can be found in deciduous trees or the type of tree which loses leaves every year and has covers wrapped in its seeds. There are different types of hardwood like mahogany, holly, maple, birch, oaks and a whole lot more. Meanwhile, softwood are conifers or gymnosperms. Their seeds don't have shells like cedar, redwood, pine, hemlock, maple and many more.

2. Majority of hardwoods all over the world contain valuable tannins, oils and resins. While these materials are of use when extracted, keeping them in your timber will shorten its lifespan. Clean them with methylated spirits and mineral turpentine before drying them.

3. If you're looking for a fine flooring material and fine wood furniture, the no. 1 timber for that is none other than maple. Maple has exquisite texture, tough and long lasting.

4. When it comes to fighting wood decay, fir is the first choice. It may not look as comely as maple but the tiny packets of wood inside are so tight and it is built to have minimal oil inside which makes it last longer. It's perfect for wooden boards, panel windows and doors.

5. If you're not planning to make a house but planning to construct a boat for your fishing expeditions, you just have to choose mahogany. It is used in making boats because of its capability to keep its shape for a long time without bending, warping, swelling or shrinking. It's an excellent choice for a condition of constant wetness.

6. The two most common killers of wood are insects and fungi. Insects burrow into wood where they make houses for their families, and sometimes create colonies inside, escalating a short term squatting into a full-fledged home invasion. Fungi are slower before it causes damage, but when it attacks, the magnitude of the destruction is as the same as with the insects.

Finding wood is a journey. For some people it can be a frustrating ride, for some, it can be a destination. Keeping your wood safe is not that hard as long as you learn a thing or two about timber and its uses.

Visit our website to browse through our products or give us a review here to know more about our company.

Different Options for Decking Material

Over the years, timber has been a popular choice for decking boards. Right now though, there are a lot of available choices for you depending on the kind of deck boards you need.

Decking boards are popular building materials used in many applications. It can be used as:

• Part of garden landscapes
• An extension of house floor area
• Materials for building and/or construction

Depending on the type of application you need it for, you may choose from a variety of different decking board materials like:

Pressure treated deck boards – with its hard exterior and high resistance to moisture, pressure treated deck boards are still the number one choice as a decking material. Readily available, this type of deck boards is easy to cut, resistant to rot and insects and lasts up to 30 years if properly maintained. The fact that pressure treated boards is very affordable as well as sturdy makes them a popular choice material for decking.

Redwood and cedar deck boards – popular for their natural beauty, rich colours, and durability, Redwood and Cedar are two deck materials that are naturally resistant to insects, rot, and decay due to the chemical tannins. Both Redwood and Cedar may last up to 20-30 years.

Wood and plastic composite deck boards – this type of decking material have the look, feel, and style of real wood. Their main advantage is that they don’t splinter, shrink or rot. Usually made from wood fibres and recycled plastic, composite deck boards are extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions as well as stains making them low-maintenance.

Vinyl deck boards – need little or no maintenance at all. They’re a popular choice for decking materials since they virtually last for a lifetime, need no staining or sealing, and is designed to be slip-resistant.

Rubber composite deck boards – are usually mixtures of polyethylene resins and recycled tires to create hard decking materials able to withstand extreme temperatures. This type of board is not very popular making them hard to find. Rubber composite deck boards only require periodic cleaning and may last up to 25 years.

Metal deck boards – typically made of aluminium, metal deck boards are popular in construction as building materials. Extremely resistant to mold, slipping, high temperatures, and even fire, metal deck boards practically lasts a lifetime.

At UK Timber, we provide a wide variety of decking board materials to suit your every need for building construction or garden landscaping.

Give us a review and know more about our company or simply visit our website to browse through our products. 

The Wood and The Bad : Safety Tips for Woodworking

Woodwork is such a very fulfilling and tiring activity, whether it is a part of the job or just a personal hobby. It requires a lot of skill, patience and hard work that one can only get through experience. With a task that requires a lot of lifting from small wooden boards up to the big and heavy decking boards, cutting and use of machineries, it sure can get messy and dangerous at times. To avoid accidents, here are some tips that can help you avoid being caught in these gruesome situations.

WHAT TO WEAR

Leave the designer clothes inside the closet because there is no place for those in woodworking. Safety is always the priority in woodwork since a simple mistake may lead to an accident. Woodwork must be taken seriously and one must always dress to the “occasion.”

Before beginning the woodworking process, one must prioritise their safety before anything else. Ask those who work in a workshop for their recommendations when it comes to the proper attire for woodworking. They will surely tell you that wearing anything loose is a big no. These loose clothing may get caught during the process. Aside from avoiding loose clothing, one must also wear clothes depending on their location. It is good if one can minimise the exposure of the skin as much as possible, but it doesn’t have to be that way all the time.

Typically, an aware and experienced person that has been on the woodworking business would recommend that one wear fitted shirts or sleeves and pants, a pair of gloves, mask or safety goggles and an apron for the body to avoid accidents and debris coming from the machine. With these, one can minimise accidents.

WHEN USING EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERIES

Woodworking will take forever if one follows the traditional way, which is using nothing but one’s bare hands and a saw. Today, technology has allowed woodworkers the availability of different equipment and machineries, making the workload easier and quicker. However, carelessness and arrogance may cause dangers to the workers.

Simple as it seems, a woodworker must always have a clean and organised workspace. Though it seems nearly impossible, it can be done. A neat and well-arranged workspace means easy access to equipment and tools and less rubble that may cause accidents. Another thing that one must note is a routine checking and maintenance of the tools used in working. Woodworking uses a lot of blades that will surely cause harm if not used properly, which is why it is very important to check and change them every now and then. Lastly, always ask for assistance if one has concerns and questions regarding the function of a certain tool. It is alright to ask for help than lose a part of your body.

WHAT NOT TO DO BEFORE AND DURING WOODWORKING

This one does not need to be taught by anyone else since it applies to almost everything. Woodworking is just like any other activity. The only difference is that other activities do not work closely with sharp blades, unlike woodworking.

Do not be easily distracted while working. A simple glance at the back or a turn of the head may cause an accident that may cause varying degrees of injury. Always be focused while working, those sharp and speeding blades cut through the hardest wood and they will cut anything that touches them. Avoid forcing oneself when working. If you’re feeling tired or weak, don’t be afraid or shy to call in sick. The human body can only take so much and if one feels ill, they should tell it in advance to avoid bigger problems.

Being aware and smart is enough to keep one safe from accidents but these tips would help minimise the chances of having an accident to zero. Follow and remember these safety tips and an accident-free work is a sure thing.

Timber Decking and You

In its most basic sense, timber decking or wood decking is simply installing outdoor decks that are elevated from the ground. If you’re thinking of improving your home in style, decking would be a good choice for a wooden veranda, garden decks or even as an alternative to a stone patio.

Timber Decking: DIY or Professional Services?

Now goes the question of whether you should hire a professional deck contractor or perform the DIY-project of timber decking yourself.

Anyone with basic hardware knowledge and construction skills can build a deck like a simple DIY project. However, installing decks require thorough planning so that you can get the right amount of timber to work on, space to occupy and the time it will take for you to complete the project.

But obviously, it would be for your peace of mind to contact a deck contractor to ensure that your decks are made safe, sturdy and secure. UK Timber is just the right company to go to if you want the all-out convenience of services and materials to be available to you.

Untreated and Treated Decking Boards

Choosing high quality decking boards are a must to start with and you generally have two types to choose from: untreated and treated wood.

If you’re after aesthetic appeal, then you should choose untreated decking boards. On the other hand, if you don’t want to worry about insect infestation, decay and premature board wearing, choosing treated boards would be good for you.

Three Categories of Decks

1. Low-level decks – common extensions of your house and are usually at level with your floor.
2. Remote decks – usually found in gardens, ponds, and swimming pools.
3. Hillside decks – give you more moving area and are usually installed over sloped or uneven grounds.

Different Types of Decking Accessories

If you want to add several finishing touches to your decks and make them look even better, you may do so with several decking accessories like:

• Balustrades
• Hand and base rails
• Newels
• Panels
• Posts

Spindles

Timber Decking at UK Timber

At UK Timber, we offer a variety of decking woods available to make sure your garden decks meet your expectation of both quality and beauty. With decking woods available in English Oak, English Larch, English Western Red Cedar, Yellow Balau, Pressure Treated Softwood and even continental Redwood deck boards, you won’t run out of timber options for your decks.

With our decking calculator, you’ll be able to know how much of decking materials you need and even get your quote in no time. We also supply custom cut decking joists as well as a full range of decking accessories to complete your garden decks.

Easy to install and easy to maintain, timber decking not only adds beauty to your house or your garden. It also provides you with the ideal of enjoying the outdoors in comfort too. 

Balustrades & Decking

TIMBERS AND DECKING

Timbers are the best material to use if you want to achieve an aesthetic look for your project. Not just used for its aesthetic appeal, timbers are also the perfect material if you are to make a durable outdoor or indoor project. However, a timber project would not be complete if there are no finishing touches. Spindles, handles, hand base rails and balustrades will surely add the finishing touches for any of your project. One of the most used finishing touches for decking is balustrades.

WHAT ARE BALUSTRADES?

Balustrades are posts that are held up in the top and bottom of railings. Often times, the design of the balustrades complement the interior of the house if it is installed indoors or the decking of the porch if it is installed outdoors. Some balustrades are more rounded and thicker than the others but basically, the design should fit the taste of the consumers.

Balustrades are not made mainly for its design alone. The main purpose of balustrades is to keep people from falling off the steps of stairs. They serve as support to railings and handles of the stairs. When designing balustrades, the spacing is considered. The general rule in spacing is to follow the size of the square bottom section of the piece. However, for economical reasons, some builders or makers intentionally install the balustrades further apart so that fewer pieces will be used.

Aside from serving as a support for the railing and handles, balustrades also serve as ornaments for the interior of a structure.

GARDEN DECKING AND BALUSTRADES

Hardwoods such as English Oak, Yellow Balau and English Larch are commonly used for garden decking. The said type of hardwoods are perfect for producing high quality decking boards that are fully functional as a support in any garden project. In UK Timber, we stock on the best quality hardwoods such as the abovementioned. Additionally, we also keep a good number of softwoods such as Pressure Treated Softwood and English Western Red Cedar. To complete your project, we also offer the best quality balustrades, spindles, hand and base rails and complete panels. All those are ready made to ensure that there is ease of fitting in your desired project. To know more about our products for timber decking, visit our website or give us a call at +44 (0) 1536 267107. Alternatively, you can email us at sales@uk-timber.co.uk.

Oak Beams at UK Timber

Oak beams are considered as one of the most popular construction materials that are used today. They are very much favoured because of their natural beauty, durability and versatility. They can be used to construct almost anything, especially those that are related to gardening and landscaping projects. Oak beams, among other materials, are also affordable and very easy to maintain.  

Characteristics of Oak Beams

Many builders and home designers choose oak wood because of their quality and special characteristics.

• Oak beams are considered versatile materials. They can be utilised to create various things from gardening purposes to landscaping projects.  
• Oak beams are also great to use because they can last for a very long time. Their durability is a characteristic that many people look for in a building material.
• Oak beams are budget-friendly. They are perfect for those who want high quality beams, minus the cost.
• Oak beams are naturally beautiful materials. Their colour change from silvery grey to a pretty dark grey after some time and with the cooperation of both the weather and the sun.
• Oak beams do not require much maintenance. They are also usually untreated making them safe and ideal for almost any project. On the other hand, if you prefer the oak beams to retain their natural colour, that’s the time that you can opt to use a treatment like decking oil.

The Different Oak Beams at UK Timber 

Structural Green Oak Beams – If you are searching for fresh sawn European and English oak for structural oak beams, oak boards and oak posts, then UK Timber is the perfect choice for you.

Air Dried Oak Beams – UK Timber has huge stocks of high quality air dried oak beams, so if you are in need of this kind of beam, then there’s no other place for you to look for this but here.

Custom Milled Oak Beams – Because UK Timber aims to provide its customers with all their needs, the company has seen to it that it can provide almost everything oak beams for every trade.

Douglas Fir/ Larch Beams – At UK Timber, the allowed dimensions for Douglas Fir are as follows: Length: 20-9000mm; Width: 20-350mm; Depth: 20-400mm

Oak Dowels – These materials have been in use for centuries and if you are looking for quality oak dowels, then you can definitely find them here at UK Timber.

Oak Mantel Pieces – These are made to order materials and are made from a natural product.

Yellow Balaus at UK Timber

Wood is the best material to use if you want to make a cost-efficient project and yet you do not want to compromise with the quality of the output. Unlike other materials, woods are natural and can be grown anywhere. Aside from that, woods have wider varieties when it comes to providing you with the best options. As for timber decking, Oak and Yellow Balau are the top choices of structural engineers.

WHAT IS YELLOW BALAU?

Yellow Balau is a wood that is inherent in the Southeast Asia most especially in Malaysia. The wood is the top choice of home builders not only because of its yellowish appearance that adds to the aesthetic property of a project but also because of its durability. Yellow Balau is a type of hardwood that is resistant from weathering, insect attack and decay even if left untreated.

Under tedious testing, it was found out that untreated Yellow Balaus have a minimum lifespan of 15 years, making it one of the most durable timber. Furthermore, Yellow Balaus are believed to be 50% stronger than oakwoods.

MORE REASONS WHY YELLOW BALAU IS THE TOP CHOICE OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS:

Other reasons such as the following makes Yellow Balau the top choice of structural engineers and local home builders:

• It has the capacity to dry slowly. When a hardwood has the capacity to dry slowly, it means that the wood is advantageous for woodworking. It provides efficient re-sawing before a final product is made.
• It has the best tensile strength. Structural engineers choose Yellow Balau whenever they can for their projects because of its tensile strength to handle stress before breaking.
• It is environment-beneficial. Yellow Balaus are always sourced in sustainable established agencies making it beneficial for environmentally conscious individuals or businesses.
• It is suitable for almost any kind of project. Yellow Balau is undoubtedly one of the best woods to use when making projects that require strength and durability. The timber is suitable for heavy construction, flooring, timber decking and crafting heavy furniture.

UK TIMBER’S YELLOW BALAU

Being one of the largest providers of quality timber in the mainland UK, UK Timber provides only the best types of Yellow Balau. The type of Yellow Balau that we have on hand is air dried to a stable state and therefore readily available whenever you want to use them. Furthermore, the decking board is intentionally made to be reversible so you have the option of choosing which side to use -- the one grooved or the reeded one.

Oakwood as Building and Crafting Material

As we all know, wood has been one of the more traditional and basic material that people have been using for building and crafting. Not only because it is readily available from nature and is naturally sustainable, wood has also been known to be a sturdy but flexible long lasting material. Wood is basically defined as the fibrous material that composed the stem and branches of a tree or a plant. Having this definition of wood, it is easy to point out that this material comes not only from one source but from a wide array of plants present on land. One of the most notable sources of good a quality timber product is the Oak Tree.

The Oak is a common name of a tree or shrub that is mostly associated as a part of the genus Quercus that are considered as flowering plants. But further study about oaks has found out that these plants actually belonged to two genera which are the genus Quercus and genus Cyclobalanopsis. Under the two classifications of the common oak name is a long list of species belonging to the same family. Though oak is a name used for a number of different plants, these trees have the same qualities to belong in the same classification.

Oaks are best known to be the material of choice of both early people and modern human beings. Through history, oak has played an essential role in the timber industry as one of the highest valued and most demanded timber products. Because of the sturdiness and the strength that it has, oaks have been developed to be one of the basic traditional building materials used by people. Oak beams have been known to be a good choice in building houses. Not only does it make a structure’s stability better, it also accentuates a building’s aesthetic features.

Timber products such as oak timber are also good materials for crafting. A lot of products like wooden barrels, chairs, tables, desks, and cabinets can come from oak timber. Oak barrels are the most common containers used in brewing and aging good quality liquor all over the world. Other uses of oak timber in crafting include artworks made from the material. Though most commonly used as a material for sculpting, oak trees because of its natural beauty has also been known to be a subject for a lot of visual arts.

Because of its longevity as a plant itself and as a harvested material for building and crafting, oak trees has been one of the best known composite sustainable materials available from nature. With proper preservation techniques, oak timber products can last long and remain strong and durable throughout its use. Oak trees are not only flexible, they are also versatile in uses and people are sure to run out of purposes for oak timber products.