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Forestry is an age-old industry. The first example of purposefully raising trees in a planned forest nursery was in 1460 in Scotland, in the capable hands of William Blair. But just because it is old does not mean forestry cannot also be new! With advancing technology and a fresh perspective on sustainability, the latest innovations in the sourcing of timber for decking and cladding are here to stay.

To learn more about modern forestry, we have taken a look at some of the biggest breakthroughs shaping the future of this industry.

Skylining Timber

Skylining is a pretty niche innovation which has been gaining attention among sustainable forestry experts. Rather than using tractors and large machinery to remove felled trees from woodland, a crane is installed with a mechanical zipline. The log is attached to the line and lifted off the ground to be ‘ziplined’ out of the area.

There are a few perks to this technique including making it easier to reach tricky places, such as hillside forests or rockier surfaces. It removes the need for big machinery to navigate these areas, improving safety among the workers. This also offers advantages for the natural landscape, keeping heavier vehicles away from fragile wildlife and minimising the disruption to surrounding habitats.

You can see an example of skylining in action in Scotland, where the Forestry and Land team utilised this clever innovation to remove Douglas Firs from a particularly steep hillside. The trees themselves were felled using only a chainsaw and a wedge, further minimising the amount of heavy machinery needed on the land.

Planting Seeds With Drones

When you are installing timber sleepers on a construction site, you might not know that the story of your timber all started with a drone. These clever unmanned vehicles are able to navigate vast areas of land with ease, making them a useful tool in the timber industry where forests (or potential forests) can be hundreds of acres.

A key use of drones in forestry is to drop seeds. The drones can be loaded with the right seeds for the new forest and scatter them over the land, quickly planting them without disturbing any natural habitats. According to one source, drones can plant seeds 25x faster than manual planting, though they do tend to have lower success rates… for now.

Biotech Advancements

Biotechnology is becoming a crucial player in the modern forestry industry. Using intricate biotech science, trees can be tailored to suit the needs of the forests. For example, they can be made more resilient to fire or, by reducing lignin in the timber, improve the pulp yield of the tree.

Biotech can also improve the success rates of seeds and saplings by creating tougher species. This links with the drone technology above, but could also help maintain thriving biodiversity in a planet with a rapidly shifting climate.

Digital Forest Management

There are tons of digital forest management tools out there, from 3D mapping of forests to more generic project management software. One of the more exciting innovations, though, again involves the use of drones.

Forest management teams can utilise drones to manage huge areas of land. The drones are equipped with sensors to detect fires, monitor rainfall and even alert the handlers to potential illegal logging threats. It creates more safety and security around forestry, with a team of digital security guards patrolling from the skies.

Learn More With EcoChoice

At EcoChoice, we are experts in all things timber. To learn more about forestry and timber products, be sure to keep up with the latest posts on our blog.

We also deliver timber products to sites around the UK, encouraging more sustainable building through the use of responsibly sourced wood. From timber fencing and decking to marine groynes and construction bog mats, all our timber is from certified forests where sustainable innovations lead the way.

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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

  • 3 years ago

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.

Janet Sycamore

  • 6 years ago

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

Stone Zone

  • 9 years ago

Wonderful guys!

Nicola Edmead

  • 9 years ago

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

Malcolm Coury

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