Hardwood
With over 165 years of timber experience and knowledge Howarth Timber and Building Supplies are the logical choice for all your Hardwood and Softwood needs.
Obviously no two domestic or commercial environments are exactly the same. Wood is, after all, a high performance, long lasting natural product, and not all types of Hardwood/Softwood or wood based materials are suitable for all varying uses in different areas of the house or commercial areas of a building. It isn’t just the look of the timber you should consider when you select. You also need to consider the type of species chosen, performance, level of wear, type of surface finish, the environment and other important factors also should be taken into account. Wood is Hygroscopic – it readily absorbs and releases moisture into it to suit the level of the surrounding temperature and humidity – for this reason high humidity areas such as bathrooms are not good areas to use wood or wood based products in.
Solid Hardwood - Appearance Grading
Hardwood suppliers have varying ways, and grade names, for the timber materials which go to make up the ranges they offer . Each manufacturer will have his own little quirk which gives their product the character and distinction to differentiate it from other manufacturer’s – It could be the size of knots, knot position or the way the timber is cut from the log, but in general they all follow the same principle – They have a clear/select, natural and rustic grade option.
At Howarth Timber & Building Supplies we supply a wide range of hardwood products so we understand the different grading characteristics and can therefore suggest to you the species and product which we feel will be most suited for your end use and application.
Clear/Select – Harmonious tones and a uniform appearance give an elegant sense of calm. The highest grade of material containing very few, if any, knots and predominantly of heartwood but occasionally containing some sapwood.
Natural – Some grain and some colour variation add a subtle character to the floor. Open characters such as checks and knotholes are admitted but must be sound and readily filled. A higher proportion of sapwood is also allowed giving a wider colour variation.
Natural Variation – Nature’s Way
Wood varies in colour and pattern, even within the same species. Over time wood matures and the colour becomes richer , especially with the red species where young wood can develop from a yellowish tone to a deep and attractive red. Every different species of wood varies in its appearance. There are easily visible differences between one species and another in grain pattern, colour and number and size of knots.
Dark coloured woods
Dark coloured wood species such as Walnut and Merbau with their dark brown to almost black tones are great for defining spaces. They can add warmth and richness to a room but they can also darken with time. Other timbers which create the same warmth and feeling are Jatoba, Cherry and Wenge / Panga Panga.
Cherry - Pale, pinkish brown, darkens somewhat on exposed light. The grain is straight and fine and even texture. A very decorative wood especially in mid grades.
Merbau - Yellowish to orange – brown darkening to medium to dark brown on exposure to light. Interlocking grain, rather coarse but even in texture. A timber with good appearance and generally free from defects, suitable for good quality flooring.
American Walnut - Growing in popularity, a rich dark brown timber, deepening in colour with age. More uniform in colour than European walnut. The grain is sometimes wavy or curly with a rather coarse texture.
Jatoba - Is a naturally dark reddish brown wood with a beautiful grained pattern which will enhance the beauty of any room.
Medium coloured woods
From the golden tones of oak to the rich reddish browns of red oak, beech medium coloured wooden flooring will add warmth to most areas and will suite most décor finishes.
Beech - Whitish to plain brown, occasionally with a dark coloured core. One of the strongest European timbers. Usually heavy and straight grained and of a plain appearance. Quickly takes up any excess moisture from the surrounding environment and care needs to be taken to prevent stains.
American Red Oak - Resembles other oaks in appearance but heartwood usually has a redish tinge. Coarse in texture and has a less attractive silver grain than American White Oak. Considered inferior to American white oak for certain uses, however it is ideal and very popular for flooring.
American White Oak - Similar in many respects to European Oak, the grain is generally straight. Silver grain is present in a quarter of sawn material. Milder to work with than European Oak, it makes a good flooring timber.
European Oak - Oak is one of the most widely used timbers in the UK, providing strong robust decorative furniture, fascias, doors and flooring. Renowned for its durability and decorative appearance, oak makes an ideal floor.
Iroko - A very strong durable timber of attractive appearance and small movement. Colour varies from pale yellow to dark brown and darkens on exposure to light. This valuable structural timber is ideal for flooring.
Light Coloured Woods
The lighter wood species such as Bamboo, Birch, Maple and Ash with their blonde tones are ideal for creating a light, bright and spacious feeling in smaller areas and are great for showing off dark furnishings to their best effect.
Ash - White to light brown, occasionally with irregular dark streaks. Coarse grained texture, fairly straight, however a decorative effect is achieved when plain sawn. Good quality Ash is outstanding for toughness.
Bamboo - Considered the fastest growing plant on earth, reaching its full height after only half a year. Bamboo flooring is hard wearing and has a low tendency to shrink or absorb water. Light yellowish in colour its lively, elegant and straight surface structure give an aura of warmth ideal for any room.
Birch - Curly grained and strongly figured. Sometimes marketed as white or red birch, colour varies from light to reddish brown. As flooring it is highly resistant to wear.
Canadian Maple - Creamy white with a reddish tinge. Less expensive grades have dark brown markings. Grain is usually straight and of a fine even texture. A timber with good strength properties and resistant to wear it makes a good floor.
European Maple - Often known as Silver Maple. Softer and lighter in colour than it’s Canadian counterpart, but equally as hard as oak and beech, this makes a very clean attractive looking floor.
Wood for Flooring - A highly durable option
Since it is a totally natural product, wood varies in its hardness, colour and appearance from species to species. Hardness is measured by the Brinell test. The harder the wood the higher the Brinell value – the test is the result of measuring and forcing a 10mm diameter steel ball into the flooring to a depth of half the balls diameter, thus recreating the effect similar to that of high heels or furniture legs on the floor. This test is the most relevant and realistic method of calculating the surface hardness of wooden floors. It is also a good indicator of how hard or easy a species is to saw or nail.
Wood - The healthy living option
There has been a great deal of research over the years into the link between allergies, asthma and carpets. Over 90% of British homes are carpeted, and this country also has the highest rate of allergen and asthma suffers in Europe.
According to the National Asthma Campaign, the most common trigger for this is the house dust-mite. A study by the University of Southampton, Allergic Diseases and Indoor Environment Department in 2000, discovered that every square metre of carpet can harbour 100,000 dust mites. Add to this the additional germs which develop and breed when dirt and spillage occurs. By choosing a real wooden, engineered or laminated floor, significant reductions in allergies can be achieved. As the National Asthma Campaign states, one way to reduce your exposure is to ‘Consider Replacing Carpets’.
Also check out Solid Flooring, Engineered Flooring and our Suppliers