Comparing Douglas Fir, Larch and Western Red Cedar for your cladding project? This guide explores how each softwood performs in terms of durability, stability, appearance, cost, lifespan and sustainability, helping you choose the best fit for your project.

Looking for timber that’s smooth, accurate, and ready to work with? Planed timber offers a clean, refined finish that's perfect for visible beams, detailed joinery, and outdoor structures like pergolas. Explore the benefits and see why more builders and joiners are choosing planed timber for high-quality projects.

Thermo Radiata Pine is a heat-treated softwood offering exceptional stability, durability, and a sleek, knot-free finish. Perfect for modern cladding projects, it combines natural beauty with chemical-free sustainability.

West African sapele is a durable, low-maintenance hardwood with rich reddish-brown tones, making it an excellent choice for exterior cladding. Discover why sapele combines beauty, resilience, and sustainability for long-lasting outdoor projects.

From choosing the perfect grain and colour contrast to tried-and-tested timber pairings, discover how to make your next piece truly stand out in our contrasting timbers guide.

Both softwood and hardwood cladding offer unique strengths. Whether you’re drawn to the natural charm and value of Douglas Fir, or the refined durability of Oak or Sapele, this guide helps you understand the key differences and choose the right timber for your project.

Our timber buyer, Ian Booker, recently visited France to add some inventory to our oak stocks. We are often asked about how and where we source our timber, so we thought it would be helpful to explain the role of a timber buyer and how/why we source much of our oak from France.

Siberian larch was a popular choice for external cladding due to its durability and affordability, however, since 2022 we have looked to British larch as an excellent alternative.

Discover the definition of conflict timber, how to identify and avoid conflict timber, and the benefits of British larch as a replacement for Siberian larch.

Discover the benefits of green oak cladding for your project. From natural beauty and durability to sustainability and low maintenance, explore why fresh sawn oak is the perfect choice for exterior cladding.

Thinking about upgrading your outdoor space with a high-performance hardwood? Yellow Balau is a dense, durable tropical timber that’s become a go-to choice for decking, landscaping, and exterior joinery. In this FAQ guide, we answer the most common questions about Yellow Balau — from its slip resistance and maintenance needs to its sustainability credentials and how it compares with composite alternatives. Whether you're planning a garden makeover or just want to understand the benefits of this golden-toned hardwood, you’ll find everything you need to know right here.

Choosing between Red Grandis and Western Red Cedar for your cladding project? Both offer natural durability, beautiful finishes, and sustainable sourcing, but each has unique qualities. Red Grandis is a stable hardwood with a fine, uniform texture and excellent impact resistance—ideal for modern, exposed applications. Western Red Cedar is a lightweight, naturally weather-resistant softwood prized for its rich reddish hues and aromatic scent, making it the UK’s favourite for external cladding. At WL West & Sons, we stock both timbers in various profiles and sizes to suit your project needs.

Explore the beauty and durability of exotic hardwoods from Asia and Australia. Discover popular species like Yellow Balau & Macassar Ebony, their unique features, and why sustainable sourcing is essential at WL West.

Learn how to build a bespoke oak porch with WL West’s step-by-step guide. Discover the benefits, planning permission requirements, and expert tips for choosing materials, design, and construction.

Learn about the rich history of Maple wood, its unique properties and many diverse applications - from musical instruments to furniture. Explore its environmental benefits and how it’s become an iconic and treasured tree species around the world. Whether you’re a woodworking enthusiast or simply appreciate nature’s wonders, maple is an great choice fro your next project.

Our retail shop stocks a huge range of native and exotic woods, but elm is special to us and to many of our customers. Explore why.