Hardwood is timber produced from broad-leaved trees, such as Oak, Ash, Walnut, Maple and Beech. Hardwoods are widely used for furniture, joinery, cabinetry, worktops, shelving, turning and many other woodworking projects.

Despite the name, “hardwood” does not necessarily mean the timber is always harder than softwood. The term refers to the type of tree the timber comes from.

The best hardwood will depend on your project, budget and the appearance you are looking for.

For example, Oak is a popular all-round choice with a distinctive grain, Ash is strong with an attractive lighter appearance, American Black Walnut provides a rich darker colour, and Maple offers a clean, pale finish.

If you’re unsure which species would be most suitable, please contact us and tell us a little about your project. We’ll be happy to recommend some options.

PAR (Planed All Round) hardwood has been machined on all four sides, producing smooth faces and consistent finished dimensions. This is a convenient option for customers who don’t have access to larger woodworking machinery.

Sawn hardwood is supplied in a rougher, unfinished state and is intended to be further machined, planed or sanded before use.

Can I order hardwood in specific dimensions?

Yes. We offer a wide range of standard dimensions through our website and can also accommodate many custom-size requirements.

If the size you require isn’t listed, contact us with the species, length, width and thickness you need and we’ll see what we can offer.

Yes. We offer a wide range of standard dimensions through our website and can also accommodate many custom-size requirements.

If the size you require isn’t listed, contact us with the species, length, width and thickness you need and we’ll see what we can offer.

Certain hardwood species have greater natural resistance to moisture and decay than others. Iroko, for example, is commonly used for exterior joinery, garden furniture, gates, doors and marine applications.

Other hardwoods may require suitable treatment and ongoing protection when used outdoors.

If you’re unsure whether a particular species is suitable for your intended application, please contact us before ordering.

Hardwood prices are influenced by a number of factors, including availability, growth rate, origin, demand, grade, board dimensions and the amount of waste involved in producing finished timber.

Some species, such as American Black Walnut, can therefore be considerably more expensive than more readily available hardwoods.

No. Natural colour variation should be expected, even within boards of the same species.

We always aim to supply suitable, good-quality material, but we cannot guarantee that separate boards will be identical in colour or grain.

If colour matching is particularly important for your project, please contact us before ordering.

Our hardwood is generally supplied kiln dried unless otherwise stated. Moisture content can naturally change after drying depending on storage conditions, temperature and humidity.

For projects where moisture content is particularly critical, please contact us before ordering to discuss your requirements.

For many projects, particularly furniture, cabinetry and interior joinery, it is good practice to allow solid hardwood to acclimatise to the environment where it will be used.

Wood naturally absorbs and releases moisture according to its surroundings, which can cause small dimensional changes.

Yes. Some natural movement is possible with any solid timber.

Changes in moisture and humidity can cause timber to expand, contract, cup, bow or twist. Correct storage, acclimatisation, construction methods and finishing can significantly reduce the risk of unwanted movement.

Yes. In addition to individual pieces and smaller orders, we can supply hardwood for larger projects and trade requirements.

If you require quantities or dimensions beyond those available through the website, please contact us for a quotation.

Yes. We understand that choosing between different species can be difficult, particularly if you’re new to woodworking.

Tell us what you’re making, the approximate dimensions and the appearance or characteristics you’re looking for, and we’ll be happy to help you choose a suitable hardwood.

Softwood is timber produced from coniferous trees, such as Pine, Douglas Fir, Cedar and Larch. Softwoods are widely used for construction, joinery, furniture, shelving, cladding, landscaping and many other woodworking projects.

Despite the name, “softwood” does not necessarily mean the timber is soft or weak. Some softwood species can be remarkably strong and durable.

The terms refer primarily to the type of tree the timber comes from rather than simply how hard the wood is.

Hardwoods generally come from broad-leaved trees, while softwoods generally come from coniferous trees.

Softwoods also tend to grow more quickly, making many species more readily available and economical than hardwoods.

This depends on your project and the characteristics you’re looking for.

Douglas Fir is strong, stable and has an attractive warm grain, making it suitable for joinery, furniture and structural applications. Pine is versatile and economical, while species such as Cedar and Larch are popular where natural durability and exterior performance are important.

If you’re unsure which species is right for your project, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

PAR (Planed All Round) softwood has been machined on all four sides to produce smooth faces and consistent finished dimensions.

Sawn softwood has a rougher, unfinished surface and may require planing, sanding or further machining before use.

Check the individual product description to see how your chosen timber will be supplied.

Yes. We offer a range of standard sizes and can accommodate many custom-size requirements.

If you can’t find the dimensions you require on our website, contact us with the species, length, width and thickness you need and we’ll see what we can offer.

Some softwood species are particularly well suited to exterior applications, while others require appropriate treatment and protection.

Species such as Cedar and Larch have good natural durability, while Douglas Fir is commonly used for both interior and exterior applications when appropriately specified and protected.

The suitability will depend on the species, application and level of exposure, so please contact us if you’re unsure.

Our softwood is generally supplied kiln dried unless otherwise stated.

As timber naturally exchanges moisture with its surroundings, its moisture content can change depending on storage conditions, temperature and humidity.

If your project requires a particular moisture content, please contact us before ordering.

Knots are a natural and common characteristic of many softwood species and can form an important part of their appearance.

The number, size and type of knots will vary depending on the species and grade of timber supplied.

No. Every piece of natural timber is unique.

Colour, grain, knots and other natural characteristics can vary between boards, even when they are cut from the same species.

Product photographs should therefore be considered representative unless the listing specifically states that you are purchasing the exact piece shown.

Yes. Like all solid timber, softwood responds naturally to changes in moisture, temperature and humidity.

This can result in expansion, contraction or some degree of bowing, cupping or twisting. Appropriate storage and acclimatisation before use can help minimise unwanted movement.

For projects where dimensional stability is important, it is good practice to allow the timber to acclimatise to the environment in which it will ultimately be used.

This is particularly important for internal furniture, joinery and other projects where timber will be fitted precisely.

Yes. Most softwoods can be painted, stained, oiled or otherwise finished.

The appropriate preparation and finish will depend on the species and intended use. Some softwoods contain higher levels of resin or natural oils and may require additional preparation before applying certain finishes.

Yes. We supply everything from individual pieces and small project quantities through to larger and trade orders.

If you require quantities or dimensions that aren’t available directly through our website, please contact us for availability and a quotation.

Yes. If you’re unsure which softwood would be best for your project, we’re happy to help.

Tell us what you’re making, whether it will be used indoors or outdoors, the approximate dimensions required and any particular appearance or performance requirements, and we’ll help you find a suitable option.

Our timber offcuts are individual pieces of high-quality timber produced from larger boards, machining processes or previous projects.

Rather than allowing perfectly usable timber to go to waste, we make these pieces available individually. They’re ideal for smaller projects where purchasing a full-length board isn’t necessary.

Yes. Unlike our standard timber products, our individually listed offcuts are photographed separately.

The piece shown in the product listing is the actual piece of timber you will receive, allowing you to see its colour, grain, figure and natural characteristics before purchasing.

Yes. Each offcut is individually measured and its approximate dimensions are stated within the product listing.

As timber is a natural material and some offcuts may be rough sawn or irregular, small variations can occur across the length or width of a piece.

If a particular dimension is critical for your project, please contact us before ordering.

This will vary between individual pieces.

Some offcuts may be rough sawn, while others may already have been planed or machined. The condition and dimensions will be shown or described within the individual product listing.

In many cases, yes.

If you find an offcut you like but require additional machining or cutting, please contact us before ordering. Depending on the piece and your requirements, we may be able to plane, thickness or cut it for you.

Additional machining may incur an extra charge.

Most of our offcuts are completely individual pieces, so once an offcut has been purchased, that exact piece is no longer available.

If you see something that’s particularly suitable for your project, we cannot guarantee that an identical piece will become available again.

Offcuts are ideal for a huge range of woodworking projects, including:

• Woodturning
• Cutting and serving boards
• Shelves
• Small furniture components
• Handles and tool scales
• Boxes and keepsakes
• Craft projects
• Decorative pieces
• Repairs and restoration
• Small joinery projects

Their smaller size can also make them an economical way to work with premium or exotic hardwood species.

Not necessarily. An offcut simply refers to the size or origin of the piece, rather than its quality.

Many are produced when larger, high-quality boards are cut to fulfil customer orders, leaving smaller sections that are still excellent usable timber.

Any significant visible characteristics or defects will be shown in the photographs or described within the listing where appropriate.

They can. Timber is a natural product, so individual pieces may contain knots, colour variation, sapwood, interesting grain, small checks or other natural characteristics.

One of the advantages of our individually listed offcuts is that you can view the actual piece before purchasing it.

We recommend reviewing all product photographs before ordering.

Absolutely. You can add multiple individual offcuts to your basket and purchase them together.

Where possible, we will package multiple pieces together to make your order as efficient as possible to dispatch.

Yes. New offcuts are produced regularly as we process and machine timber for other orders.

Our available selection will therefore continually change, with different species, dimensions and pieces becoming available over time.

If you can’t find exactly what you need, please contact us.

Let us know the species, minimum dimensions and quantity you’re looking for and we’ll be happy to check our available stock for something suitable.

Buying offcuts is a great way to obtain quality timber in smaller quantities, particularly for projects that don’t require a full board.

It also allows us to make better use of each board we process, helping to reduce unnecessary timber waste while giving customers access to useful and sometimes unusual individual pieces.