Welcome to Totally Timber - A Guide to Timber Structures


This guide is an informative introduction to the use of timber in canopies and shelters that provide weather protection for people and equipment.


The guide will explain the benefits of a timber structure and will guide you through the options for design, roof pitch and even colour.


Types of Timber


The type of timber is very important when choosing a timber canopy or shelter. There are many types of timber on the market that differ in the quality, appearance, durability and life expectancies.


The feel of the timber is also worth taking into account. You don't want your new canopy or shelter to be rough – a smooth finish is much more appealing aesthetically and is safer as it reduces the risk of splinters.


Softwood


Softwood is produced from fast growing trees such as pine, it is the most cost effective option for outside structures but it does have a much shorter life span and will not weather as well as the other options available. However, if you maintain this timber it will last longer.


Hardwood


Hardwood is sourced from slow-growing trees such as oak and walnut. Hardwoods have a more complex structure than softwood, making them extremely durable and hard wearing, and perfect for outdoor use.


Hardwood will outperform soft wood in all circumstances and with a small amount of maintenance, it will last for many years, however, it is not normally used in the construction industry due to the high expense.


Glu-Laminated Timber


The main feature of Glu-laminated timber that makes it stand out from all other options, is that it can be curved easily to create eye-catching, contemporary designs that can span great distances and have the wow factor.


It has an attractive smooth finish with no risk of splinters and is available in a selection of different types of wood that can be stained in various colours. It is also environmentally friendly, economical and lightweight, chemical resistant, approved by the British standard BS EN 386: 2001 and extremely high in strength.


Although Glu-lam can be produced from both soft wood and hard wood (we mainly use Scandinavian Spruce and Scots Pine), it is treated throughout the manufacturing process, improving it’s longevity, giving it an impressive life-span and is lighter in weight than standard timber beams.


Timber has a lot of positive attributes when used as a canopy material – a different texture, stand out looks and flexible use across different size spaces.


The objective of the guide is to help you to evaluate timber as an option and make a sensible comparison against other canopy materials.


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