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Hewins Oak
Is Air Dried Oak still available?

Busting a popular myth

Is Air Dried Oak still available?

Despite the dominance of kiln-dried oak, air-dried oak remains an essential requirement in certain applications and cannot be used synonymously with kiln-dried...
Hewins Oak
Are you scared of specifying oak?

Expert tips for architects when working with oak

Are you scared of specifying oak?

Here are some of the most common challenges you may have experienced, along with strategies to overcome them.   Lack of knowledge of the oak...
Hewins Oak
Is using Oak a sustainable choice?

Evaluating the sustainability of oak from various perspectives

Is using Oak a sustainable choice?

Forestry Management European Oak (Quercus robur) is a large, long-lived deciduous tree, widely distributed throughout Europe – from Northern Spain to...
Hewins Oak
Where is Oak used in Construction?

An ancient material still in use today

Where is Oak used in Construction?

Things changed in the 18th Century, when the use of oak was very much controlled by the demands of naval ship building, and ultimately led to a decline in the...
Hewins Oak
Acclimatisation of Oak

A crucial factor to ensure stability and longevity

Acclimatisation of Oak

By allowing the wood to acclimatise to its new environment, the internal stresses caused by moisture content changes can be minimised, ensuring that the oak...
Hewins Oak
Understanding Distortion In Timber

What are the causes and how can you work around them?

Understanding Distortion In Timber

  Causes of Timber Distortion  One of the primary causes of timber distortion is changes in moisture content. Wood is hygroscopic,...
Hewins Oak
Why does Seasoned Oak split?

What causes shrinkage and splitting?

Why does Seasoned Oak split?

Medullary rays and knots are rigid features in Oak and won’t move with the rest of the timber – this is the main cause of splitting. The less knots...
Hewins Oak
Moisture movement

What to expect

Moisture movement

The point that moisture in timber matches that of its surrounding environment is called the Equilibrium Moisture Content. For properly installed cladding in the...
Hewins Oak
The World of Woodworm

The types, the effects and the strategies to combat this persistent menace!

The World of Woodworm

  Types of Woodworm Woodworm is a collective term that covers a range of wood-boring insects, each with its own distinctive characteristics and...
Hewins Oak
English, American, and European Oak

What's the difference between each?

English, American, and European Oak

  European Oak (Quercus petraea) European oak, or sessile oak, is indigenous to Europe and is commonly distributed in Western, Central, and...
Hewins Oak
Timber's role in the circular economy

Timber - driving the circular economy and promoting sustainable construction

Timber's role in the circular economy

  Renewable and Low-Carbon Material Timber is derived from trees, a renewable resource that can be replenished through responsible forestry...
Hewins Oak
Comparing PEFC and FSC® Certifications

Making Sustainable Choices

Comparing PEFC and FSC® Certifications

Understanding PEFC and FSC® PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) PEFC is a global forest certification...