Softwoods contribute around 80 percent of the world’s production of timber. They come from coniferous evergreen forests that grow in cold or cool temperate climates like the Baltic region (Scandinavia and Northern Russia), Canada and North America. They grow much quicker than hardwoods and in some species can be harder and stronger than some hardwood species. Our softwoods range from clear grade like Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar through to Scandinavian Redwoods.
Douglas Fir
- Botanical Name
- Pseudotsuga Menziesii
- Origin
- USA and Canada, also the UK, New Zealand and Australia
- Brief Description
- Colour: Light reddish-brown shade
Grain: Mostly straight
Texture: Uniform medium texture
Note: It is not a true fir
- Uses
- More veneers and plywood are produced from Douglas Fir than any other wood. Also: For heavy construction work, roof trusses, interior and exterior joinery, poles, dock and harbour work, marine piling and ship building
- Working Properties
- Works well with hand and machine tools, nailing may need pre-boring, screws and glues well, stains effectively and finishes well with preparation
- Durability
- Moderately-durable
- Density
- 530 kg/m³
European
Redwood
- Botanical Name
- Pinus Sylvestris
- Origin
- Scandinavia and UK
- Brief Description
- Colour: Creamy white to yellow
Grain: Varying from straight to interlocked
Texture: Smooth
- Uses
- General Joinery, construction work, furniture, carcassing and house building
- Working Properties
- Works easily and well with both hand and machine tool, capable of a smooth clean finish
- Durability
- Non-durable, requires preservative treatment if used externally
- Density
- 550 kg/m³
Hemlock
- Botanical Name
- Tsuga Heterophylla
- Origin
- Canada, USA and (recently) the UK
- Brief Description
- Colour: Pale brown with darker coloured bands of a reddish-purple cast.
Grain: Straight
Texture: Fine and even
- Uses
- General construction, carpentry and joinery and sliced veneers for panelling and decorative veneers
- Working Properties
- Works well with hand and machine tools, nailing may need pre-boring, glues, stains and polishes well and gives a good result with paint and varnish
- Durability
- Non-durable
- Density
- 500 kg/m³
Radiata Pine
- Botanical Name
- Pinus Radiata
- Origin
- Southern California and recently New Zealand, Australia and South Africa
- Brief Description
- Colour:A wide pale-coloured sapwood emphases a pinkish-brown
heartwood
Grain: Spiral
Texture: Relatively uniform
- Uses
- Building and general construction, crates and boxes. Also: Selected logs
make attractive veneers for panelling
- Working Properties
- Easy to work, nails, screws and glues satisfactorily
- Durability
- Non-durable
- Density
- 480 kg/m³
Siberian Larch
- Botanical Name
- Larix Decidua
- Origin
- Europe (Alps), the UK and Western Russia
- Brief Description
- Colour: Pale red-brown to brick red with clearly marked annual rings
Grain: Straight. Texture: Fine and uniform
- Uses
- Doors and window frames, staircases and flooring, ship building
Also: Pit props and posts, boat planking and exterior work.
- Working Properties
- Works well with hand and machine tools, nailing can cause splitting and pre-boring is essential, stains, paints and varnishes well
- Durability
- Moderately durable
- Density
- 590 kg/m³
On the 7th March 2022 the Board of BBUK took the decision to indefinitely suspend all purchases of Russian timber with immediate effect. This will predominantly affect Siberian Larch. However, we do have many alternatives available at different price levels. READ MORE
Southern
Yellow Pine
- Botanical Name
- Pinus Palustris
- Origin
- Southern States of USA
- Brief Description
- Colour: Varies from pale straw to light reddish-brown
Grain: Soft straight.
Texture: Very even
- Uses
- Most versatile softwood suited to pattern making, carving, high-class joinery, general carpentry work, furniture, musical instruments, ship and boat building, light/medium construction, veneers (from selected logs)
- Working Properties
- Works very easily with hand and machine tools, finishes cleanly, nails, screws and glues and takes stains, paints and varnishes very well
- Durability
- Non-durable
- Density
- 390 kg/m³
Western
Red Cedar
- Botanical Name
- Thuja Plicata.
- Origin
- The northern Rocky Mountains and Pacific North-west
- Brief Description
- Colour:From a dark chocolate brown to a salmon pink, matures from
reddish-brown to silver-grey (a finish often sought after by architects)
Grain: Straight
Texture: Rather coarse
- Uses
- Cladding, Shingles, external and internal joinery, glass house and shed manufacture
- Working Properties
- Works easily with both hand and machine tools, but care is needed to obtain the best results during mortising, planing and moulding. A good finish can be obtained, but cutters must be kept sharpened
- Durability
- Durable
- Density
- 390 kg/m³
Sawn Timbers
Hardwoods
Sawn Timbers
Home Grown Timbers
