Thread: advice on timber for windows

Red Iron bark is beautiful and will last for years!!! commonly used in wharfs.

We primarily use New Guinea rosewood for windows, as it's a class 1 durability timber that is very light and strong. If you're in a fire-prone area though, you'll need to consider spotted gum or one of the ironbarks. Neither ironbark or spotty take a stain well.

We usually use a Sikkens finish, but regardless of what you use, if they're external windows and clear-finished you'll be up for refinishing pretty regularly if you want to maintain the appearance.

On a separate note, make sure the joinery isn't using stub tenons, but is going to make them using proper wedged tenons. The stub jobbies may be fine, but they rely entirely on the strength of the glue holding them together, while a wedged tenon is a proper joint that doesn't actually need glue to hold together, although we do glue them for some additional strength.

What style of window are you planning?

I love ironbark but it's denser I think than any of those others and will make heavier windows. If your getting double hung that's more muscle required and if they are swinging more weight on hinges.

Just something to consider. If they make the frames smaller with iron bark that'll bring the weight down but may not be the appearance your looking for (or it may be just what your looking for). Strength won't be an issue.

Don't worry if the ironbark isn't plantation grown, they grow like weeds so are very sustainable.

Is "plantation ash" that eucalypt that grows all over victoria ? anyone ? If so that might be a nice option. Not quite as dense and durable as ironbark but a good allround timber.

Thanks for the responses. The style windows we were looking at are the European tilt and turn style. But we are not really too set on which style of window. We know we want timber, but our main reason for replacing the windows is that we want double glazing because as soon as we heat our house all the heat escapes, and noise reduction because our neighbours have a dog that likes to bark half the day.


Exador, I will definitely ask about the tenons.

I really like the idea of a class 1 timber, and I love the look of the red ironbark, but it looks like those windows are more than we want to spend.
And I can't seem to find any other companies doing double glazed windows in other class 1 timbers. So we are left with the American oak and European Larch. We are also looking at some other companies that use western red cedar, probably in a casement style. I don't know if my researching skills are not very good, but it seems hard to find a lot of timber double glazed windows.



It is such a huge investment, and I just want to pick something that is going to last, but I feel very clueless.

Ouchies I ve got to jump in here Wends1123 of all the timbers metioned only one 1 has an australian standard for fire retardency and thats your red Iron Bark the only other 2 are spotted gum an turpintine its food for extra thought

We are located in Sydney so I am not sure how important the fire rating is? It seems like most of the companies are using Western Red Cedar. Is that pretty good for windows?

yeah just wont be no good for ya bush fire rating so if ya dont need it its all good

Note that whatever timber you use, you will have to plan on regular maintenance - by that, figure in a light sand and revarnish every 2-3-4 years depending on exposure and product.

See this thread - Renovate Forums - for one person's dramas with timber windows.


( /rant on Isn't that a useful auto inserted title..."Renovate Forums"...so much more informative than seeing the actual thread name, which was The Great Cedar Window Coating Contest. Golly, I'm glad the board software thinks it can link title better than me... /rant off )