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.

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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.