10 best types of timber for doors, windows & bespoke furniture

CT Timber Joinery uses Western red cedar  for the majority of our timber door leaves and window sashes where a natural timber finish is preferred.

Western Red Cedar is prized for its resistance to decay and its outstanding natural beauty. Its rich cinnamon, amber and sienna colour combination introduces warmth, depth and character to a home.

Red cedar can be stained and varnished to preserve its look, as long exposure to the weather will turn unprotected Western Red Cedar timbers grey. This weathered look is particularly sought after for external cladding and joinery in contemporary buildings.

• More expensive than yellow cedar
• Recommended for larger sliding doors and bifold doors
• Highly durable
• Decay resistant
• Beautiful natural finish
• Absorbs varnish and oils well

CT Timber Joinery uses yellow cedar for most of our custom timber doors and windows, including large bifold doors, sliding doors, French doors and entrance doors.

Recognised as one of the World’s most durable timbers, Alaskan yellow cedar is highly versatile and decay resistant.  It’s our first choice for manufacturing timber door leaves and window sashes that are destined for painting.

We pre-prime your doors before they leave the factory, to provide protection from moisture ingress during the period between supply and installation. They won’t require an undercoat as 2 top coats of paint will provide the perfect finish.

• Door leaves and window sashes
• Versatile
• Cost effective
• Highly durable
• Decay resistant
• Paints well

95% of CT Timber Joinery’s window frames, door frames, sills and architraves are made from finger jointed pine – a cost effective and locally sourced timber.

Finger jointed pine is a softwood which is strengthened by laminating pieces of pine together, using tight finger joints.  This process enhances the timbers stability, creating rigid, durable frames which don’t warp.

The smooth, flawless finish of finger jointed pine looks great painted. This further improves the durability and performance of the end product, especially when used in exterior joinery applications.

• Painted window frames and door frames
• Locally sourced timber
• Cost effective
• Highly stable
• Won’t warp
• Paints well

Malaysian Kauri is a highly stable softwood timber, which is suitable for architraves and skirting. It is paler than New Zealand Kauri with a pale cream sapwood and golden brown heartwood.

New Zealand Rimu is a medium density softwood with a fine textured grain. The heartwood is a warm reddish brown, which contrasts with the pale brown sapwood. The surface can be finished with paint, varnish or polish. We recommend using Rimu for internal joinery, panelling, kitchen cabinetry and furniture.

Also known as Chestnut Oak, White Oak has a distinctive silver grain and warm, brown heartwood revealing the occasional hint of pink. White oak is a strong, dense timber well suited to doors, architectural joinery, kitchen cabinetry and high grade furniture. Staining and polishing enhances this wood’s beautiful timber characteristics.

European French Oak is a hardwood, also known by the names English Oak, French Oak and Polish Oak, according to its country of origin. European Oak tends to be darker than American Oak with a warm, golden honey colour. It features a distinctive wavy grain pattern with scatterings of pip and burr. European French Oak, is a beautiful timber which we recommend for kitchen work benches, altars, tables, pews, staircases and interior doors. We recommend finishing with oil, which penetrates the wood fibres and hardens them, without altering the wood’s natural beauty. This timber will provide a lifetime of beauty and service.

American Ash is a light coloured timber with a straight wood grain. The sapwood is almost white and the heartwood ranges from grey brown to light brown. It’s a lightweight wood with good strength and can be polished and stained. American White Ash is an attractive choice for doors and bespoke furniture, including desks, tables and bookshelves.

Rosewood is a very strong hardwood, characterised by its distinctive reddish brown heartwood and contrasting pale yellow sapwood. It has a natural lustre and polishes up beautifully to create the most elegant cabinetry, doors and furniture.

Accoya is a revolutionary, modified, non toxic timber which is harvested responsibly from managed forests that are continuously replenished. It’s highly durable, is warranted to last 50 years above ground, has improved thermal insulation and extends the life of protective coatings. It’s also able to be safely recycled. Accoya is a perfect option for those wanting to use sustainable materials for eco building projects and CT Timber Joinery recommends its use in exterior and interior timber windows and doors. Find our more at Accoya