The Beauty of Wood

At Lancashire Gates we take pride in our knowledge of the timber industry and we only use wood from ecologically managed forests.

Iroko Hardwood

Iroko is a West African hardwood with characteristics which make it ideal for use in the British climate.

It is naturally resistant to decay and attack by insects which means that it should last for many years with very little maintenance.

Traditionally used for ship and boat building it is a popular alternative to Teak.

Golden orange to dark nut brown. Variations in colour equalise after short exposure to sunlight.

Weathers to silver grey in approximately 12 months if left untreated

Oil - Can be treated from new with Tung Nut Oil, Danish Oil or proprietary garden furniture oil to preserve timber colour.

Oiled furniture requires annual reapplication to maintain finish

Idigbo Hardwood

West African Idigbo is a straw coloured hardwood. Idigbo is a superb wood for people that want oak, but can't afford it. When treated, to the untrained eye it looks very similar to oak. This increasingly popular wood is harvested in Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is a good material for gates, combining looks and durability. It is used extensively by reputable manufacturers and is probably the most commonly used quality hardwood.

Sapele Hardwood

Sapele is found in the rain forests of West Africa from the Ivory Coast through Ghana and Nigeria to the Cameroons, and it extends eastwards to Uganda and Tanzania. The sapwood is pale yellow or whitish, the heartwood pinkish when freshly cut, darkening to typical mahogany colour of reddish-brown. Sapele is characterised by a marked and regular stripe, particularly pronounced on quarter-sawn surfaces. Occasionally mottle figure is present, It is fairly close textured, and the grain is interlocked. It is harder and heavier than African mahogany. weighing about 640 kg/m³ when dried. It has a pronounced cedar-like scent when freshly cut. Sapele is much harder than African or American mahogany, and in resistance to indentation, bending strength, stiffness, and resistance to shock loads, is practically equal with English oak

Scandinavian Redwood

Widely distributed in Europe and Northern Asia. It is found in the mountains of Spain and the UK, especially in Scotland. It is the only true pine indigenous to the British Isles, being native to Scotland and just over the border; eleswhere in the UK the forests are generally the result of planting. The sapwood is creamy-white to yellow in colour and the heartwood is pale yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, resinous and usually distinct from the sapwood. The growth rings are clearly marked by the denser late-wood. The quality of the timber is affected by the conditions of growth, climate, soil, elevation, etc, more than most timbers because of its wide and varying distribution and these factors affect the texture, density, size and number of knots. The timber is strong and moderately hard.

Good for the environment

Wood from well managed forests is environmentally friendly and uniquely renewable
It reduces the effect of global warming as trees and wood products act as carbon sinks
It reduces energy use for heating because of its thermal efficiency
It is recyclable
At the end of its use, it can be used as a bio-fuel.

Good performance

Wood has a high strength-to-weight ratio. Strength for strength, pine and spruce are 16 times lighter than steel and 5 times lighter than concrete
Wood has good fire performance. When timber burns it builds up a protective char layer which insulates the remaining section. This and its low co-efficient of expansion mean its mechanical properties are less affected by fire than other materials like steel, which can buckle and collapse at temperatures little higher than the ignition point for timber
Rot is caused by wood remaining wet and poor maintenance. It can easily be prevented by allowing wood to dry properly and treating with recommended stains, paints and preservatives.

Of course, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have on any aspect of the timber or the preserving process and the future maintenance of your gate.