UK C16 timber

[saveasteading]

I've tried and failed to obtain local timber when C16 is the requirement.

 

So I was surprised and pleased to see that it is now being marketed.

At the "future-build" exhibition in London I had a long chat with them.

They were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and the rep clearly knew all the merchants personally.

 

Scottish timber grows fast and with wide rings. I'd expect Kielder and more southern climes grow even faster. So it is never close ringed and dense enough to provide the stronger C24 timber.

 

But I have never been able to get uk timber because the merchants get in Scandinavian wood for their own ease.

 

I am assured that some merchants will get the UK stuff if we insist/ ask around. And it should be cheaper for obvious reasons of proximity.

Plus the carbon credentials are much better, and rather incredibly, Scottish forestry supports 34,000 jobs and GVA is £3billion.

If it sold more as structural timber, then they would plant more.

 

They also seemed to agree with my concerns on timber being stored and supplied wet by merchants. They understood all the concerns about dryness and straightness. I guess buying local and just-in-time might help that too.

 

Confederation of forest industries, called Confor. 

Confor.org.uk

 

Nobody else came to the stand.  There were thousands there but the agenda was more about "solutions" and tick-boxing systems.

A lot of Chinese exhibitors selling robots incl plastering machines , lots of IT and computer modelling, but also earth bricks and marble.

 

Overall... the future of building is systems and protocols.  I couldn't work out what some stalls were even offering, and their staff couldn't always explain either.

 

NB.. it wasn't aimed at self build or small projects.

 

 

 

 

 

[albert]

Yes UK timber is hard to source and often poorly processed- graded and stored. All of our CLS comes from europe but some yards still grade  and stamp timber in the yard.