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Across the UK, 40% of people are exposed to harmful levels of noise pollution.The issues which arise from heavy traffic and loud construction noise are not trivial, with research linking long-term exposure to increased risks of sleep disturbance and cardiovascular health impacts. As an architect or construction professional, it is important to consider acoustics when creating welcoming public environments.

Let’s take a closer look in this guide at what that entails and how timber plays a pivotal role.

Noise Pollution and Public Spaces

Public spaces are often hotspots for noise. Town centres, school neighbourhoods, parks and promenades, for instance, are hubs of activity, which can not only put people off visiting these spaces but also can be detrimental to surrounding residential areas. For local authorities and developers, this creates a challenge: how to manage sound in busy environments while still delivering spaces which feel open, welcoming and fit for purpose.

This is where acoustic landscaping comes in. By focusing on consciously designed interventions which work with the natural landscape, you can control noise levels without impacting the beauty and functionality of your environment.

What is Acoustic Landscaping?

Acoustic landscaping is a design method of incorporating natural and built elements into outdoor spaces to control noise levels. It can be used to absorb or improve sound, creating more pleasant environments which boost wellbeing. As local councils have a legal obligation to control sound levels and act on public complaints, this is a smart way to ensure public spaces meet government regulations.

How Acoustic Landscaping Reduces Noise

Sound behaves differently depending on the materials it encounters. Hard, reflective surfaces tend to bounce noise back into an area, while softer, textured materials absorb and scatter sound waves. This is where planting and timber structures play an important role.

Trees, shrubs and hedging help break up sound paths, particularly when layered and combined with changes in ground level. Timber features such as fencing and retaining walls further enhance this effect, creating boundaries which actively block sound. You can also install timber acoustic panels inside public buildings to absorb noise, reducing issues with echoes and creating quieter, calmer spaces.

Using Timber in Acoustic Design

Timber is particularly well-suited to acoustic landscaping thanks to its ability both to absorb, block and reflect sounds, depending on your intentions. This all comes down to density.

  • A less dense timber will allow sound waves partially to pass through, absorbing them to reduce noise levels.
  • Denser timbers will reflect noise, making them well-suited to blocking sound from without or containing high levels of noise, such as on construction sites.

Acoustic control is not the only perk which timber brings to the architectural table. While being excellent at absorbing and reflecting sounds, responsibly sourced timber is also much more sustainable than other alternatives, such as metal or plastic.  It is renewable, has a low carbon footprint thanks to CO2 sequestration and is biodegradable, making it perfect for local authorities working to hit net zero targets. It also blends perfectly into existing landscapes, making it far less of an architectural eyesore.

Choose Sustainable Timber for Acoustic Landscaping

If you  are on the hunt for sustainable timber for acoustic landscaping, we can help. EcoChoice provides a wide range of timber products and species, and we are happy to work with unique specifications to deliver exactly what you need. All our timber is FSC and PEFC certified, and we can provide the necessary documentation for sustainability in public works.

To start working with our timber professionals, get in touch with us today.


Ask Joe! Expert industry advice

Unsure which timer is best for your project?

Our timber experts have years of experience and will be able to match the perfect species to your project, as well as provide a quote for sustainable timber at highly competitive prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply timber for domestic uses?

Yes, we supply timber for domestic applications as well as commercial and public constructions. From garden decking to shed cladding, we will be happy to supply smaller deliveries for home use.

Is your timber FSC-certified?

Yes, all timber we supply is FSC or PEFC certified and sourced from independently verified responsibly managed forests. If we can’t find your request in FSC/PEFC certified timber we’ll suggest an alternative that is certified or clearly note that the offer is minimum EUTR.

Where does EcoChoice deliver to?

EcoChoice delivers to construction sites, warehouses and homes across the UK, as long as there’s access and unloading for our trucks.

What are the best timber species for exterior use?

There are many different timber species suitable for exterior use and which is the best for your project depends on your requirements. In general, though, we recommend EkkiGreenheartOpepe and Oak for heavier civil/marine uses. For intermediary external use such as decking, where the timber needs to be both strong and durable but not on the same level as civil engineering (bridgespiling, etc) we usually supply CumaruIpe, Jatoba, and Balau. And for the lighter exterior use where the timber is non-structural such as cladding, we deliver CedarLarchThermowood and others.

Which timber is the most durable?

Durability Class 1 timbers are the most durable. This of course depends on the use (hazard) class they’ll be in service for. For direct ground and water contact such as sleepers, fenders, marine piling, etc, Ekki and Greenheart are known to be the most durable timbers available. For decking and cladding where there’s no direct ground contact (use class 3) there’s a much wider range of timbers such Larch, Cedar, Thermo modified Pine or Ash and others.

What’s the best timber for internal cladding?

Internal cladding, where your timber is not in ground and not exposed to the elements can be classed as either use-class 1 or 2 – in which case most timbers will meet this durability criteria. That is not to say they’ll be the best, since internal environments have lower humidity (moisture) levels than outside. So in these cases, it’s best to go for a kiln-dried timber cladding board as these are more stable and delivered already in lower MC (moisture content) than the usual fresh sawn timbers sent to external applications. A word of caution – as timber reacts to variations in moisture, it’s best to avoid cladding any areas inside your bathroom.

How can I make decking less slippery?

The first thing is to ensure your deck boards are kept clean from leaves and other debris which will, over time, cover the surface and make it more slippery. Grooved boards can be used to improve grip if installed and used perpendicular to traffic, so especially useful in narrow passages and footbridges. Lastly, you can add our Grip-Choice strips: these are a mix of epoxy with aggregates that add gripping ridges to your deck area. Gripchoice is an easy way to make decking less slippery and safer, especially over large areas or where there’s high traffic. We can pre-install Grip-Choice strips for your decking before delivery or ship the strips separately to add to your existing deck’s grooves as a retro-fit solution.

What wood machining services do you offer?

We can offer planing, sawing, drilling and profiling of rough-sawn wood to any profile you require: from handrails to large port fenders.

Can you supply pre-drilled timber?

Yes, we will be happy to provide pre-drilled timber which is tailored to your needs for quick installation, thus saving you valuable time on site.

What cladding profiles do you supply?

We provide a wide range of cladding profiles, including tongue and groove, featheredge and shiplap. You can check the standard profiles here – but we can also match or custom make profiles to suit your specific needs.

Does timber change colour?

Yes, timber is well-known for changing colour over time. Some species can darken quickly right after installation, and like most untreated wood will eventually weather to a beautiful silver-grey. Interior timber is less likely to change colour (depending on conditions), and timber can be stained, painted or treated with UV-resistant oils to reduce colour change.

Do I need to treat exterior timber?

Some timbers such as Oak and Ekki, can withstand the strains of exterior use without any treatment. However, to extend the lifespan and maintain the aesthetic of your wood, we do recommend treating your timber with stains and oils. Pre-treated timber, such as ThermoWood and OrganoWood, are low-maintenance options which are more durable, but can have their life service extended by applying a clean and stain maintenance schedule.

Do I need to treat interior timber?

Depends on what area the timber is being used. For floor joists and timber rafters, it is common to see timber treated, or least very well kiln-dried. Other uses such as flooring may benefit from varnishing while internal timber cladding for decorative purposes shouldn’t require any treatment other than if you want to change its colour with different types of stains or oils.

Where are you based?

We’re based in Cambridge, UK, and coordinate multiple sawmills all over the world to manufacture your order. We then organise delivery with a range of hauliers so that your orders gets to your site on time.

What are the usual decking sizes?

Timber decking is usually 21x140mm or similar. For heavier applications where there’s more load and traffic, we deliver 35 or 45mm thick boards (such as Hastings Pier). Narrower boards are also possible: 95-90mm is a standard width – but we can manufacture whatever size you require.

What are the usual cladding sizes?

Typical cladding section sizes are 18×95 and 18x145mm although we can always custom make a section to suit your project’s design requirements. That includes waney edge boards in Oak or Chestnut as well as extra wide 195mm boards.

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What our customers say about us

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

5

Marinella Li

Always helpful! One of our valued TDCA DeckMark and CladMark accredited supplier members which means their quality procedures are routinely audited and stand up to scrutiny giving you extra peace of mind.

5

Janet Sycamore

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

5

Tim Saunders

Great quality, service and price. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Eco Choice.

5

Emma Hurrell

Fantastic company- Mike and the team are the best in the business- worked with them for many years.

5

Prem Raja

Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

5

Stone Zone

4.9

Average rating on Google Reviews

  • 6 years ago

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

Tim Saunders

  • 9 years ago

Wonderful guys!

Nicola Edmead

  • 9 years ago

Great service, quality products and very easy to deal with. Thank you.

Malcolm Coury

  • 6 years ago

Great quality, service and price. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Eco Choice.

Emma Hurrell

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