Rough Sawn Joinery

rough-sawn

Gilmour and Aitken offer a full range of both tropical and temperate hardwood timbers. *Species list below.

Tropical Timbers

Rough sawn joinery timbers are sourced from Malaysia and Central Africa in the main from well managed forests.  We have FSC and PEFC certification for nearly all our joinery timbers so please do request certified upon order.

  • Meranti / Majau from Malaysia
  • Sapele, Utile, Iroko, Utile from Central Africa
  • New Thermowood Ayous from Central Africa which is a cladding timber replacement given the Ukraine / Russia War and ban on importation of Siberian Larch.

We audit our suppliers frequently, tracking back to the stump to check chain of custody.

Responsibly sourced timbers help to contribute to maintain these precious forests while at the same time providing employment in fragile areas.    There is no clearfell in tropical forestry, reduced impact logging is standard across all responsible tropical forestry nations and the canopy is maintained for the future.

Responsibly Logged Forest in Malaysia. Credit PEFC

Temperate Timbers are sourced from both Central Europe and North America and where possible from the UK.  Certified timber is available.

  • North America:  85% Clear Joinery Douglas Fir , Western Red Cedar, American Oak, Tulipwood, Ash, Cherry, Walnut & Maple
  • Central Europe:  Oak, Larch, Beech, Red Pine, Green Constructional Grade Douglas Fir.

North American Douglas Fir

UK timbers tend to be Larch and Douglas Fir and we often work with local estates to evaluate  logs on site.   Oak is available in the UK but similar to the Larch and Douglas Fir, not to the same commercial volume.  Our Sawmill on site can process large and wide logs which allow us to process logs which are typically too large for production mills.

Ayous ThermowoodAyous’ thermal modification process consists of drying, heating and cooling the timber in a controlled atmosphere. This produces chemical changes to the cell structure of the Ayous that not only alters its appearance, but increases its durability — again, performing similarly to cedar when used outdoors. 

Thermal heat treatment limits shrinking and swelling which provides the wood with additional dimensional stability, guarding the wood against warping as a result of changes in moisture. The process also provides the timber with enhanced resistance to a range of microorganisms and insects — suited for outdoor application and exposure to the elements.

Ayous is a tropical hardwood tree native to the forests of Central and West Africa. With the botanical name Triplochiton scleroxylon, Ayous is also known as African whitewood, Obeche, Samba, Abachi and Wawa. These trees typically grow to around 50m in height.  They have traditionally been sold into the Mediterranean which has a warmer climate, but have been lesser known species in the UK market until the Thermal Modification process has allowed the timber to meet the counties climatic conditions and market needs.

G&A hand-pick only prime grade timbers in a wide range of lengths and sizes. Our timbers provide an exceptional base for dressing and we can offer expert advice on which products are suitable for your project. For more information on our range, please refer to our Rough Sawn Timber range below.

For a quote please contact our sales team on sales@gilmouraitken.com or 01389 752 333

GA-Ready-reckoner
NAME IMAGE LATIN NAME COUNTRY DENSITY MOVEMENT IN SERVICE
AGBA agba timber suppliers Gossweilerodendron balwsamiferum West Africa 510kg/m3 Low
WHITE ASH white ash suppliers Fraxinus excelsior North America 710kg/m3 Medium
BEECH square edge beech suppliers Gogus sylvatica European 720 kg/m3 Medium
BRAZILIAN CEDAR brazilian cedar suppliers Cedrela spp. Brazil 480kg/m3 Low
CHERRY cherry wood suppliers Prunus serotina American 580kg/m3 Medium
DOUGLAS FIR douglas fir suppliers Pseudotsuga menziesii N.America and UK 530kg/m3 Medium
HEMLOCK hemlock timber suppliers Tsuga heterophylla North America 590kg/m3 Medium
IDIGBO/ EMERY idigbo timber suppliers Terminalia ivorensis West Africa 560kg/m3 Low/Medium
IROKO iroko timber suppliers Milicia excelsa West Africa 660kg/m3 Low/Medium
AFRICAN MAHOGANY african mahogany suppliers Khaya spp West Africa 530kg/m3 Low/Medium
MAPLE maple timber suppliers Acer saccharum North American 740kg/m3 Medium
MAJAU majau timber suppliers Shorea spp Sabah 710kg/m3 Low
MERANTI miranti suppliers Shorea spp SE Asia 710kg/m3 Low
AMERICAN RED OAK american red oak suppliers Quercus rubra North America 790kg/m3 Med/High
WHITE OAK american white oak suppliers Quercus alba North America 770kg/m3 Med/High
EUROPEAN OAK european oak suppliers Quercus robur European 720kg/m3 Medium
PARANA PINE parana pine suppliers Araucaria angustifolia South America 550kg/m3 Medium
PITCH PINE pitch pine suppliers pinus caribaea Honduras 675kg/m3 Medium
SAPELE sapele timber suppliers Entandrophragma cylindricum Cameroon 640kg/m3 Medium
TEAK teak suppliers Tectona grandis Burma, Thailand 660kg/m3 Low
TULIPWOOD tulipwood suppliers liriodendron tulipifera North America 510kg/m3 Medium
UTILE utile suppliers Entandrophragma utile West Africa 660kg/m3 Low/Medium
BLACK WALNUT black walnut timber suppliers Juglans nigra American 660kg/m3 Medium
WESTERN RED CEDAR western red cedar suppliers Thuja plicata North America 390kg/m3 Medium
SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE southern yellow pine Pinus palustris North America 450kg/m3 Medium
QUEBEC PINE quebec pine Pinus strobus North America 390kg/m3 Low/Medium