Finding the right timber for your windows is a tough job. Especially, if you are not a timber expert. But with ages, people have gathered all the knowledge about the wood species. This knowledge is very useful in determining the timber windows for your home. It not only helps your home to have good ventilation but also imparts a sleek look. Wood has excellent thermal efficiency and is far better than those with modern uPVC installations.
Timber is environment-friendly and makes your homes appear aesthetic. Wood is readily available and can stay for a longer period after treatment. But selecting the right timber can be a little difficult task. Therefore, we have listed some great timber windows related ideas to give you a little insight into all these products.
Types of Timber windows suitable for homes
Timber is generally classified into two categories – hardwood and softwood. Depending on the type of window and weight, one variant is selected for the house. Hardwood, as the name suggests, has a hard surface. It is a slower growing wood that has a tighter grain. Oak is popular in this category. It is commonly used in conventional homes with county design. Due to its tighter grains, the hardwood is durable and has a longer life span.
So, if you are looking forward to installing timber windows that will last for a lifetime, hardwood is the choice. However, softwood is also not a bad option. Softwood is budget-friendly and is popular for both contemporary and conventional homes. Furthermore, the softwood can also be durable with proper treatment. Usually, softwood requires more care and hence, the periodic painting is required for these wood variants.
Benefits of Hardwood
Hardwood has many benefits and has been admired for centuries. Oak has been a preferred choice for people who desire to build a home or have timber windows. Apart from Oak, Idigbo and Sapele are also used as hardwoods. So, below are some of the listed valuable benefits of having hardwood:
Great appearance
Natural rot-resistant wood
Good thermal efficiency
Can be carpentered to design
Tighter grains make them stable
Low cost
Despite these benefits, you should know that timber present natural challenges. They can soak water and become damp or swell. However, if you want your timber to stay for at least 25 years, you can opt for Accoya timber. Accoya is great for timber windows, which swell and shrink and get reduced by 75% and varnish can last for up to 4 years. It reduces the overall maintenance cost for you.
Softwood benefits
Softwood is a potential rival to uPVC installations. This is so because they have a low resistance to decay. Apart from this, there are many other benefits of having softwood for making timber windows.
Less expensive than hardwood
Designing on the wood is easier
Low decay rate
However, they also have their disadvantages. Being a natural resource, the softer grains make them less stable. Although being budget-friendly, the maintenance cost is expected to be on the higher side. The soft grains of the wood makes it difficult to hold on the glass. They absorb water easily that might reduce its strength and stability.
Selecting the right timber window
Now, you have the knowledge about the things associated with the creation and development of the timber windows. But you still may be confused as to which timber to procure. So, while selecting a timber, you must decide on the usage and weather conditions of your area. If your area experiences heavy rainfall in a year, you should always go for hardwood. You need to varnish it with oil and paint so that the water does not get absorbed into the timber. Being an expensive timber, hardwood will be a heavy investment but the maintenance cost over the years will be lower. However, you should go for softwood if your area doesn't expect much rainfall and has an arid climate. It is cheaper in comparison to hardwood and stays durable in dry conditions.
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