Windermere Jetty featuring Cloeziana timber

As one of the most beautiful places in the UK, the Lake District attracts millions of tourists every year. While many of the people who travel to this watery region do so for the walking routes and natural scenery on offer, a lot are drawn to the area by its rich history and water-based activities.

EcoChoice recently had the privilege of working on a project on Lake Windermere, right in the heart of the region.

Our specialist FSC Cloeziana timber piles were used to build a brand new jetty for a local museum, creating a new attraction for the Lake District in the process.

The Windermere Jetty Museum

One of the quirkiest attractions in the Lake District is the Windermere Jetty Museum. “A working destination, committed to conserving, saving and sharing its internationally important collection” @windermerejetty gives visitors the chance to explore Windermere’s 200-year-old boating history and learn about the lake’s boats, builders, owners and sailors. A lot of the displays at the museum are interactive, making it a great place for kids too.

The jetty

No jetty museum would be complete without a jetty of its own. This is where we came in. The project at the Windermere Jetty Museum was led by TMS Maritime, a leading UK specialist in marine civil engineering, ancillary floating plant and diving services.

TMS Maritime were asked by the museum to help carry out an extensive programme of works to upgrade and expand the slipways and jetties at the lake.

These jetties and slipways would be used to moor boats and as embarkation points for visitors travelling on some of the museum’s historic vessels.

Selecting the right materials

TMS Maritime needed to sink 148 timber poles into the lake to form the support structure for the jetty. EcoChoice suggested FSC certified Cloeziana for the project. This fantastic tree is sourced from FSC forests in South Africa. Unlike many other trees, it naturally grows long and straight like a telegraph pole. Moreover, it’s also very hard and very durable and cheaper than similar timbers like Ekki and Greenheart. These qualities make cloeziana ideal for projects like retaining walls and marine piling.

The 148 timber piles used on the Windermere Jetty project were 11m metres in length. They tapered in diameter from 250mm to 150mm. This tapering made it easier for the piles to be driven deep into the lakebed.

Once in place, the natural cloeziana piles are expected to last for decades, providing the Windermere Jetty Museum and its visitors with a fantastic attraction to enjoy – all without the risk of preservative chemicals leaching onto the lake environment.

Thanks to our expertise and the specialist skills of TMS Maritime, we were able to work together to create a unique, beautiful and practical jetty for the client. The project was completed in just 12 weeks.

Find out more about our sustainable timbers, the projects we work on and the services we offer by exploring our site today.

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Cloeziana timber jetty

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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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.

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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.

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  • 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

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

Emma Hurrell

  • 4 weeks ago

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

Marinella Li

  • 9 years ago

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

Malcolm Coury

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