Question 1

1. What is timber?

Accepted Answer

Timber refers to wood that’s been processed into beams, planks, or boards for construction, carpentry, joinery, and related uses.

Question 2

2. What is lumber?

Accepted Answer

Lumber is the North American term for what’s known in the UK as timber. Both refer to processed wood, but the term "lumber" is rarely used in UK trade except for imported goods or technical specs. Canadian Lumber Standard (CLS) timber, for example, is widely used in UK framing.

Question 3

3. What’s the difference between hardwood and softwood?

Accepted Answer

Hardwood comes from deciduous trees like oak or beech, which grow slowly and produce dense, strong wood. Softwood comes from conifers like pine or spruce, which grow faster and are generally lighter and easier to cut. The term refers to the species, not actual wood hardness. In construction, softwood is commonly used for structural work, while hardwood is reserved for finishing and high-load applications.

Types of hardwood used in UK construction:

Typical hardwoods for building projects include:

Oak
Ash
Beech
Sapele

Types of softwood used in UK construction:

Softwoods commonly used for UK building projects include pine, spruce, and fir. These are widely used for framing, internal partitions, and general-purpose timber supplies.

Question 4

4. What’s the difference between a carpenter and a joiner?

Accepted Answer

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different roles. A carpenter usually works on-site and deals with structural elements like floor joists, roof trusses, or timber frames. A joiner typically works off-site in a workshop, producing precision-made components such as staircases, doors, and fitted furniture. While both work with wood, their tools, environments, and focus areas are different. Some tradespeople do both.

Question 5

5. What is timber frame construction?

Accepted Answer

Timber frame construction uses a skeleton of load-bearing wooden studs and beams to support a building’s structure. Prefabricated panels are often assembled off-site, allowing for quick installation on-site. This method is commonly used in residential housing in the UK (although the external leaf is often still made of masonry) due to its efficiency, consistency, and lower environmental impact.

Compare timber supplies and prices

47mm x 250mm C24 Sawn Timber (9x2) 4.8m

22mm Egger Protect Grey Chipboard Flooring Tongue & Groove 2400mm x 600mm

25mm x 50mm Treated Timber Batten (2x1) 3.6m

25mm x 50mm Graded Treated Roofing Batten 4.2m

75mm x 100mm C24 Timber (4x3) 4.8m

47mm x 50mm Treated Carcassing Timber (2x2) 4.8m

47mm x 100mm C24 Timber (4x2) 3.6m

12mm Softwood Structural Plywood 2440mm x 1220mm

47mm x 100mm C24 Timber (4x2) 3m

22mm Kronospan P5 Moisture Resistant Chipboard Flooring Tongue and Groove 2400mm x 600mm

75mm x 75mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (3x3) - Finished 69mm x 69mm

6mm STS Construction Board 2400mm x 1200mm

75mm x 225mm C24 Timber (8x3) 4.8m

47mm x 100mm C24 Timber (4x2) 4.2m

25mm x 50mm Treated Timber Batten (2x1) 4.2m

47mm x 200mm C24 Timber (8x2) 3.6m

9mm Hardwood Throughout Plywood 2440mm x 1220mm

6ft Slotted Concrete Intermediate Fence Post 94mm x 109mm

8ft Slotted Concrete End Post 94mm x 109mm

6ft x 5ft Grange Elite Meloir Fence Panel 1.5m

6ft x 6ft Grange Elite Lille Treated Timber Fence Panel 1.8m

Round Top Palisade Picket Fence Panel 1.8m x 0.9m

75mm x 75mm x 750mm Metpost Post Support Wedge Grip

Tongue & Groove Ledged & Braced Gate 0.9m x 1.8m

6ft x 6ft Grange Elite Meloir Fence Panel 1.8m

22mm x 100mm Brown Treated Feather Edge Board 1.8m

38mm x 150mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (6x 1.5) - Finished 33mm x 144mm

32mm x 175mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (7x1.25) - Finished 27mm x 169mm

25mm x 200mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (8x1) - Finished 20.5mm x 194mm

32mm x 225mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (9x1.25) - Finished 27mm x 219mm

19mm x 50mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (2x0.75) - Finished 14.5mm x 44mm

50mm x 75mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (3x2) - Finished 44mm x 69mm

38mm x 225mm Planed Softwood PAR Timber (9x1.5) - Finished 33mm x 219mm

2.4m Sleeper Brown UC4 100mm x 200mm

15mm White Melamine Faced Chipboard Shelving 2440mm x 228mm

15mm White Melamine Faced Chipboard Shelving 2440mm x 610mm

6mm x 34mm Cheshire D Shape Moulding Light Hardwood 2.4m

12mm x 34mm Cheshire Decorative Profile Barrel Panel Moulding Pine 2.4mm

8mm x 15mm Cheshire Decorative Profile Broken Ogee Moulding Pine 2.4m

12mm x 34mm Cheshire Decorative Profile Double Astragal Moulding Pine 2.4m