Choosing the Right Timber for Your Project
A practical guide from Wood Green Timber
Whether you're building a fence, raising a deck, lining a room, or framing an extension — picking the right timber makes all the difference. With so many options on the shelf (and online), it’s easy to get stuck. That’s where we come in.
We’ve been helping people choose the right wood for the job since 1981, and whether you’re trade or DIY, we’ll always point you in the right direction. Here’s a quick guide to help get you started.
1. Treated vs Untreated Timber
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Treated timber (green or brown) is pressure-treated to resist rot, moisture and insects. It’s your go-to for anything outdoors — fencing, posts, sleepers, decking frames, and garden builds.
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Untreated timber is better for dry, indoor jobs — like joinery, trims, shelving, and decorative features.
2. Softwood or Hardwood?
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Softwood (like Scandinavian redwood or spruce) is affordable, easy to work with, and ideal for fencing, framing, and most everyday builds.
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Hardwood (like Meranti or Oak) is stronger and more durable — perfect for door linings, thresholds, and visible features that need to last and look good doing it.
3. What Are You Building?
Match your timber to the job:
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Fencing & landscaping – Treated featheredge, rails, posts, and sleepers
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Decking – UC2 treated joists (stocked), UC3 or UC4 available to order
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Joinery & interior work – Planed softwood, hardwood sections
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Structural work – 47mm C24-graded sawn timber for floors, walls, and roofs
Not sure what to go for? We’ll help you spec it out properly — just ask.
4. Structural Grading – C16 vs C24
If you're building anything structural (floors, roofs, stud walls), you'll need graded timber:
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C24 is higher grade, stronger and better for load-bearing work — kiln-dried and consistent.
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C16 is also suitable for structural use, but it’s slightly lower grade and more budget-friendly.
5. Looks vs Function
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For visible work (benches, gates, interior builds), use something clean and finished like planed softwood or hardwood.
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For frames, fixings, or groundwork, rough sawn treated timber gets the job done and won’t break the bank.
6. Indoors or Outdoors?
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Outdoor timber needs to be pressure-treated or naturally durable (Cedar, Oak etc).
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Indoor work gives you more freedom — untreated softwood, hardwood, or sheet materials like plywood and MDF are all fair game.
Need Some Help Choosing?
Come down to our Wood Green or Potters Bar branches and talk us through your job. We’ll help you choose the right timber, and if it’s something we don’t keep in stock (like UC3 or UC4 joists), we’ll get it ordered in for you fast.
We’re not just here to sell timber — we’re here to help you get it right first time.
