Why We Prefer Sapele Timber Over Anything Else

Why We Prefer Sapele Timber Over Anything Else

Not all timbers are created equal, different types of wood have different features and profiles that will work best in different contexts and different projects.

Sapele is a robust West African Hardwood timber that is reddish-brown in colour and does not have any natural defects like knots and split such as other timbers, in particular softwood.

If you are in the market for a strong hardwood that offers durability and weather resistance for your clients, then Sapele could be the right option for you.

In this month’s blog post, we explain why we prefer Sapele over other types of wood and why you should choose it too if you want the absolute best in quality & reliability.

Replace your windows

Around 10% of heat loss occurs through your windows. So if you’re serious about saving on energy bills and driving down heating costs, your windows are a great place to start. Many assume that just because they have double glazing that their windows are energy-efficient. But this isn’t necessarily the case. Not all double glazed windows are created equal, and the [British Fenestration Rating Council](https://www.bfrc.org/) has a scale of energy efficiency ranging from A++ to E. 

And don’t make the mistake of assuming that replacing your windows means compromising on their style or character. We provide bespoke windows made from the highest quality glass as well as Sapele hardwood, coated with Sikkens microporous paint. So you can get improved durability and energy efficiency without compromising on appearance.

1. Extremely Durable

Sapele is a very strong, stable and durable tropical hardwood that is very well suited to joinery manufacture. The timber is sourced from West Africa and Cameroon and is classified as moderately durable with a Class 3 to 4 durability rating. It can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications.

With Sapele there is no requirement for preservation treatment as the wood lacks permeability which makes it resistant to treatment, this does also make it particularly suitable for heritage properties.

Another durability point to consider is the fact that Sapele is highly rot and weather resistant which in turn makes the wood an ideal choice for external joinery applications such as windows and doors.

Durable hardwoods such as Sapele have become virtually synonymous with properties in conservation areas.

2. Easy Maintenance

Due to its good hardness, it causes less damage and requires less care. Unlike Accoya wood which is very brittle and breaks away easily. Or softwood and engineered Redwood which is soft and dents easily.

3. Appearance

Landmark’s 3 coat Sikkens microporous factory spray finish is by far the best on Sapele hardwood then any other timber used in the past. It offers an excellent flat paint finish that sands well in between coats. It offers great paint depth and protection to ensure the windows will last for another 100 years with minimal painting and maintenance.

Unlike Accoya which does not paint well due to it being soaked in acid to increase rot resistance.

Sapele wood is famous for its appearance and hardness. Everyone likes its golden to dark reddish-brown. Its colour gives a rich appearance and darkens over time, ideal if you intend to varnish the joinery for an appearance similar to Mahogany.



4. Water and Fire Resistance

Sapele hardwood also has the added benefit of being rot-resistant permitting it is manufactured and finished correctly. This is often why other window companies who use other woods will always result in using Sapele hardwood for things like sills and bottom rails, that are important.

Sapele is also very fire resistant. These properties are due to their high hardness and density.

5. Other Timber – A False Economy

Whilst Hardwood is typically more expensive, this has to be factored against the longevity of Hardwood making it potentially more cost-effective in the long run with reduced maintenance costs and increased lifespan.

Because Sapele comes naturally free of any defects and knots, this provides an added time saver in manufacturing the end product and being more sustainable as a company. Other types of timber such as softwoods are riddled with knots, splits and twists which all have to be cut out and thrown away. This is a false economy in our opinion.