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Choosing the right wood for your sash windows can make all the difference in terms of durability, appearance, and maintenance. Whether you’re restoring period sash windows or installing new ones, understanding the pros and cons of different wood types can help you make the best decision for your home. On this page, we’ll explore five popular types of wood for sash windows; Utile, Sapele, Scandinavian Redwood, British Columbian Pine, and Accoya, we will then discuss their strengths, weaknesses, and cost considerations.
Whether you're restoring or installing new sash windows, choosing the right wood is crucial for long-term performance and beauty. If you need expert advice on wood preparation or undercoating for sash windows, feel free to reach out to us.
Utile is a hardwood commonly used for windows and doors due to its strength and aesthetic appeal. It comes from tropical West Africa and is often compared to mahogany in terms of appearance and properties.
Durability: Utile is a highly durable wood, making it suitable for external use like sash windows. It’s naturally resistant to decay, termites, and fungi.
Aesthetic: The wood has a deep reddish/brown colour with a fine, even grain that makes for an attractive finish.
Workability: It can be worked into detailed joinery, making it ideal for sash windows that require intricate design.
Price: As a tropical hardwood, Utile can be more expensive than softwoods or modified timbers. The cost also varies depending on availability.
Sustainability: Sourcing Utile responsibly can be challenging as it’s not as sustainable as other options like Accoya or locally sourced timbers.
Price: Utile is typically mid to high range in terms of cost, more expensive than softwoods like Scandinavian Redwood but less than some other hardwoods like teak.
Sapele is another hardwood that is often chosen for sash windows. It’s from the same family as mahogany and shares many similar characteristics to it. Sapele comes primarily from West and Central Africa.
Durability: Sapele is hard, dense, and highly durable, making it an excellent choice for sash windows exposed to weather.
Stability: It offers good dimensional stability, meaning it doesn’t warp or twist easily with changes in humidity or temperature, which is ideal for windows.
Aesthetic: Sapele has a deep reddish/brown colour with a fine interlocking grain, giving it a luxurious finish.
Weight: Sapele is quite heavy, making it harder to work with during installation. This can also lead to more wear on the sash window components over time.
Cost: It is more expensive than softwood alternatives but still cheaper than many premium hardwoods.
Price: Sapele falls into the mid range category for hardwoods, often slightly cheaper than Utile.
Scandinavian Redwood, also known as European Redwood or Scots Pine, is a softwood that has been a traditional choice for sash windows due to its availability and workability. This timber is harvested from slow growing trees in cold climates, which makes it more durable than some other softwoods.
Affordability: One of the main advantages of Scandinavian Redwood is its cost-effectiveness. It is significantly cheaper than hardwoods like Utile and Sapele.
Workability: Scandinavian Redwood is easy to work with, making it a popular choice for sash windows where detailed joinery and smooth operation are important.
Sustainability: As a softwood, it is relatively fast growing and readily available, often sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Durability: Although it’s more durable than many other softwoods, Scandinavian Redwood is still not as resistant to decay or weather as hardwoods or modified wood like Accoya. It requires regular maintenance to prevent rotting and warping.
Aesthetic: It has a lighter appearance, with a soft grain, which some homeowners might not find as visually appealing as richer hardwoods.
Price: Scandinavian Redwood is one of the most affordable options for sash windows, making it attractive for budget conscious projects.
British Columbian Pine, also known as Douglas Fir, is a softwood that comes from the Pacific Northwest. It’s known for its strength and relatively good resistance to decay compared to other softwoods.
Strength: British Columbian Pine is one of the stronger softwoods, offering a good balance of strength and workability. This makes it suitable for larger sash windows.
Durability: While not as durable as hardwoods, it offers better decay resistance than many other softwoods.
Aesthetic: It has a pale, reddish hue with a straight grain, offering a classic, clean look that works well for both modern and traditional sash windows.
Maintenance: Like Scandinavian Redwood, British Columbian Pine requires regular treatment and maintenance to prevent moisture damage and decay over time.
Cost: Although it's a softwood, British Columbian Pine is more expensive than Scandinavian Redwood due to its superior strength and durability.
Price: British Columbian Pine is generally more expensive than other softwoods like Scandinavian Redwood but still cheaper than hardwoods like Sapele.
Accoya is a modified wood that has been treated through a process called acetylation, which makes it one of the most durable and stable wood options available. It’s typically made from fast growing softwoods like Radiata Pine, making it a sustainable choice.
Durability: Accoya is incredibly resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage. It comes with a 50-year above-ground and 25-year below-ground guarantee, making it ideal for sash windows.
Stability: Its dimensional stability is second to none, meaning it won’t swell, warp, or shrink with changes in humidity or temperature. This ensures smooth operation for sash windows year round.
Sustainability: Accoya is made from sustainably sourced timber, making it an eco friendly choice.
Low Maintenance: Thanks to its durability and stability, Accoya requires far less maintenance than traditional softwoods or even some hardwoods.
Price: Accoya is more expensive than traditional softwoods like Scandinavian Redwood or British Columbian Pine, but its longevity and low maintenance can make it more cost-effective over the long term.
Availability: While gaining popularity, Accoya may not be as widely available as other timbers, and the cost can vary depending on your location.
Price: Accoya is on the higher end of the price scale compared to other wood options, but its performance and long term benefits make it a worthwhile investment.
The best wood for your sash windows depends on your priorities whether you’re looking for affordability, durability, aesthetics, or sustainability.
Here’s a quick recap:
Utile and Sapele: Great for those seeking a durable, attractive hardwood, though they come at a higher cost.
Scandinavian Redwood: Is Ideal for budget conscious projects but requires regular maintenance to prolong its life.
British Columbian Pine: Is a strong softwood option with better durability than most softwoods, but it still needs maintenance.
Accoya: The top choice for durability and sustainability, with minimal maintenance required, though it comes at a premium price.
For heritage and listed buildings, Accoya offers an excellent balance between traditional aesthetics and modern performance. However, if budget is a primary concern, Scandinavian Redwood or British Columbian Pine may be suitable options with proper maintenance.