Wood Durability Guide: Timber Durability Chart & Database
We make wooden garage doors and wooden gates that are built to last – we care about the wood that we use and we choose it carefully.
We want our gates and garage doors to last as long as possible, so we use timber like Accoya because of its durability, hardness and suitability for our products.
We’ve put together some resources about Timber Durability to help you choose the best timber for your gate or garage door, or whatever you’re looking to make.
The Timber Durability chart contains 5 classes of timber, with each class determining how long each timber listed will last – these are all to BS EN 350-2:1994 – Durability of wood and wood-based products. Natural durability of solid wood. Guide to natural durability and treatability of selected wood species of importance in Europe.
The Timber Durability Database is a table of durability grades/ratings by wood type, with images to match.
We created some useful graphics that show these details – they’re good for quickly referencing each timber, or you can print them off and keep them in your workshop!
Timber Durability Chart
We’ve displayed a number of common (and rare) Hardwoods, Softwoods and Modified Timbers – 149 in total – in an easy to read Timber Durability Chart.
Click on the image below to see the chart.
Use this image on your website – copy the code:
<br /><br /><img src=”https://www.woodworkersuk.co.uk/images/2000-timber-durability-chart.jpg” alt=”Timber Durability Chart”></p><br /><p>Timber Durability Chart by <a href=”https://www.woodworkersuk.co.uk”>Gate Expectations by Inwood</a></p><br /><p>
What Affects The Natural Durability Of Timber?
There are a number of things that affect how naturally durable a timber is; wildlife and fungi play a part.
Click below to find out.
Use this image on your website – copy the code:
<br /><br /><img src=”https://www.woodworkersuk.co.uk/images/2000-timber-durability-chart.jpg” alt=”Timber Durability Chart”></p><br /><p>Timber Durability Chart by <a href=”https://www.woodworkersuk.co.uk”>Gate Expectations by Inwood</a></p><br /><p>
We also have a large version of the Timber Durability Chart (7.7mb, 5000×3000 pixels, or 132cm x 79cm) that can be found here.
Timber Durability Database
Different types of wood species are displayed by durability rating below.
Select a Durability Class or search for the Timber you use!
| Timber | Durability Class | Hardwood, Softwood or Modified Timber | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abura | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Accoya (Modified Radiata Pine) | 1 | Modified Timber |  |
| Accoya Alder (Modified Alder) | 1 | Modified Timber |  |
| African Mahogany (a.k.a. Khaya) | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| African Walnut (Congowood) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Afrormosia | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Afzelia | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Agba | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Alder | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| American Ash (a.k.a. Black Ash, White Ash, Canadian Ash, Red Ash) | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| American Birch | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| American Cherry (a.k.a. Black Cherry) | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| American Mahogany | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| American Red Oak | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| American Walnut (Black Walnut) | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| American White Oak | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Andira | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Andiroba | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Angelim | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Aspen | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Balau (a.k.a. Red Balau, Yellow Balau) | 2 | Hardwood | s |
| Balsa | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Basswood (a.k.a. Limewood) | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Cambara | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Canadian Red Pine (a.k.a. Norway Pine) | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Canadian Spruce (a.k.a. White Spruce) | 5 | Softwood |  |
| Caribbean Pitch Pine (a.k.a. Pitch Pine) | 3 | Softwood | |
| Cedar (a.k.a. Cedar of Lebanon) | 2 | Softwood |  |
| Central / South American Cedar (a.k.a. Cedro Rosa) | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Corsican Pine | 4 | Softwood | |
| Courbaril | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Cumaru | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Curupay | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Dahoma | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Danta | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Dark Red Meranti (a.k.a. Red Lauan) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Denya | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Douglas Fir (a.k.a. Columbian Pine, Oregon Pine)* | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Douglas Fir* | 3 | Softwood | |
| Ebony | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Ekki | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Elliotis Pine (Slash Pine) | 4 | Softwood |  |
| European Ash | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| European Beech | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| European Birch (a.k.a. Silver Birch, White Birch) | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| European Cherry | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| European Elm (a.k.a. English Elm) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| European Larch* | 4 | Softwood |  |
| European Larch* | 3 | Softwood | |
| European Lime | 5 | Hardwood | |
| European Oak (inc English Oak, French Oak, Polish Oak, Slovenian Oak) | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| European Plane | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| European Redwood | 4 | Softwood |  |
| European Walnut | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| European Whitewood (a.k.a. Silver Fir, Norway Spruce) | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Gaboon | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Garapa | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Garapa | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Gedu Nohor | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Geronggang | 5 | Hardwood | |
| Gombe | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Greenheart | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Guarea | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Guariuba | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Hickory | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Horse Chestnut | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Idigbo | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Imbiua | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Ipe | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Iroko | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Itauba | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Jack Pine | 4 | Softwood | |
| Japanese Larch | 4 | Softwood | |
| Japanese Oak | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Jarrah | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Jelutong | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Kapur | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Karri | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Kebony* | 1 | Modified Timber |  |
| Kempas | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Keruing | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Koto | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Light Red Meranti (a.k.a. Red Meranti, White Lauan) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Light Virola | 5 | Hardwood | |
| Lignum Vitae (a.k.a. Ironwood) | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Limba | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Lodgepole Pine | 4 | Softwood | |
| Louro | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Makore | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Mandio | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Martime Pine | 4 | Softwood | |
| Massaranduba* | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Massaranduba* | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Mengkulang | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Merbau | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Moabi | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Mora | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Movingue | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Niangon | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Nyatoh (a.k.a. Padang) | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Obeche | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Opepe | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Padauk (a.k.a. Barwood, Camwood) | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Parana Pine (a.k.a. Brazilian Pine, Radiata Pine (Monterey Pine) | 5 | Softwood |  |
| Patula Pine | 4 | Softwood | |
| Pau Amarelo | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Piqua | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Ponderosa Pine (a.k.a. White Pine) | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Poplar | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Purpleheart | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Ramin | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Red Alder (a.k.a. Western Alder) | 5 | Hardwood | |
| Red Angelim | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Red Grandis (a.k.a. Rose Gum, Flooded Gum) | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Red Louro | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Robinia (a.k.a. Black Locust, Falsa Acacia) | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Rock Maple (a.k.a. Hard Maple, Black Maple) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Rosewood | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Rubberwood | 5 | Hardwood | |
| Sapele | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Scots Pine (a.k.a. Red Pine) | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Sepetir | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Sesendok | 5 | Hardwood | |
| Siberian Larch (a.k.a. Russian Larch)* | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Siberian Larch* | 3 | Softwood | |
| Simarouba | 5 | Hardwood | |
| Sitka Spruce (a.k.a. Silver Spruce) | 5 | Softwood |  |
| Soft Maple (Red Maple, Silver Maple) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Southern Pine | 4 | Softwood | |
| Sucupira | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Sweet Chestnut | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Sycamore (a.k.a. Great Maple) | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Tasmanian Oak (a.k.a. Australian Oak, Alpine Ash) | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Tatajuba | 2 | Hardwood | |
| Taun (a.k.a. Malagai) | 3 | Hardwood | |
| Teak | 1 | Hardwood |  |
| Thermowood Radiata Pine (Modified Radiata Pine - Softwood) | 2 | Modified Timber |  |
| Thermowood Redwood (Modified European Redwood – Usually from Finland - Softwood) | 2 | Modified Timber |  |
| Tulipwood (a.k.a. Canarywood, American Yellow Poplar) | 4 | Hardwood |  |
| Utile | 3 | Hardwood |  |
| Wallaba | 1 | Hardwood | |
| Wenge | 2 | Hardwood |  |
| Western Hemlock | 4 | Softwood | |
| Western Red Cedar* | 3 | Softwood |  |
| Western Red Cedar (a.k.a. Red Cedar)* | 2 | Softwood | |
| White Elm (a.k.a. Red Elm) | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Willow | 5 | Hardwood |  |
| Yellow Meranti | 4 | Hardwood | |
| Yellow Pine | 4 | Softwood |  |
| Yew | 2 | Softwood |  |
*Douglas Fir is listed as both a Class 2 and Class 3 timber, UK grown Douglas Fir is Class 4
*European Larch also listed as both Class 2 and Class 3 timber, UK grown European Larch is Class 4
*Siberian Larch is in both Class 2 and 3, Siberian grown Larch being Class 3
*UK grown Western Red Cedar is in both Classes 3 & 2. Class 3 Western Red Cedar is UK grown, Class 2 from America and Canada
*Massaranduba is listed as both Class 1 & 2 as durability can vary
*Kebony is listed as both Class 1 & 2 as durability can vary
Use the Timber Durability Database on your website – copy the code:
</p><br /><div><br /> <iframe width=”500″ height=”10300″ scrolling=”yes” frameborder=”no” allowattribution=”yes” src=”https://www.google.com/fusiontables/embedviz?viz=GVIZ&t=TABLE&q=select+col0%2C+col1%2C+col2%2C+col3+from+1G8qP35-8UG4Fb578bEviH6VxmgxJ3XXTDCDBZ9qi&containerId=googft-gviz-canvas”></iframe></p><br /><p><a href=”/timber-durability” target=”_blank”>Timber Durability Database</a> by <a href=”/” target=”_blank”>Gates Expectations by Inwood</a>, licensed under <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/” target=”_blank”>Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs</a>.</p><br /></div><br /><p>
Image Credits:
Images are via these organisations and helpful people:
Wikimedia Commons, Flickr, Imgur
Kebony SYP
Accoya
SBT Design
Jon Linney
If you can see a picture of the tree from our logo instead of the timber, we’re still looking for an image for this timber! If you have a picture you’d like us to use then we’ll credit you – send an email!
6 thoughts on “Timber Durability”
Hi, Just wondering if you could answer a little question from you experience working with wood… what is the “European Whitewood (a.k.a. Silver Fir, Norway Spruce)” like for use on skirtings and architrave. Is this something you know or have any experience on?
Best Regards,
Gary Carter
Hi,
It’s fairly easy to work with and a bit more of a cheaper timber than European Redwood, it’s really only used where it cannot be seen so I wouldn’t really recommend it for arcs and skirting boards.
Not really used it since my college days, as due to its price it was the timber of choice for my college. Our Joinery Lecturer used to refer to it as ‘white sh**e’!
Can you please suggest which would be the best wood to make gates Accoya or Iroko
From a durability perspective then Accoya, as it outlasts every other commercially used timber.
Hi im looking for the answer to a question by someone not trying to sell me somthing.Lol
im going to clad a house 370msq im thinking I will get good value out of thermowood
how can i be sure that it had been modified and that im not buing standard red wood
as there looks to be a big durabilty diffrence?
is there a better option i dont think i can afford that amount of accoya
I doubt any reputable timber merchant or cladding supplier would risk selling you non thermowood timber and try and claim it was thermowood.
If you were to have some thermally modified timber and want a quick check then compare it with some non modified timber of the same species. The thermally modified timber will be noticably darker in colour and also due to a reduced moisture content it will also be quite lightweight!