Types of Timber Used For Door Frames

Types of Timber Used For Door Frames

Building a strong timber door frame is a great way to add extra security and stability to your home. But what type of timber is used, and which can offer the best results? When it comes to door frames, you want to make sure that whatever type of timber you use is strong and durable. After all, a door frame needs to be able to support the weight of the door itself and, if it’s an outer door, withstand all weather conditions. When looking for the best timber for the job, there are several durable options available, so it can be tough to weigh up which one is right for you. In this article, we’ll look at the most popular types of timber for door frames, the different woods used and discuss their pros and cons.

Softwood and Hardwood Vs Engineered Wood

Softwood

Softwood is probably the most common type of timber used for door frames due to its budget friendly and lightweight properties. The positives are that It’s affordable, easy to work with, and widely available in DIY stores. Softwoods like pine or spruce are lightweight and relatively strong, so they make excellent choices if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution.
The downside with this type of timber is that softwoods tend to be more susceptible to warping or bending as the years go on due to changes in humidity or temperature, so they may not provide as much strength or stability over time as other types of timber on the market.

Hardwood
Hardwood is an ideal choice if you want an incredibly strong and durable door frame. In comparison to soft wood ( like the pine and spruce mentioned above) hardwoods like oak or walnut are extremely solid and resistant to warping or bending over time. However, because of this, hardwoods tend to be more expensive than softwoods and can be more challenging to work with due to their density. They also need special treatment before installation in order to protect them from moisture damage or rot and prolong their usage.

Engineered Wood
Engineered wood is a relatively new option that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Engineered wood combines several layers of thin wood veneers with an adhesive binding agent in order to create a stronger material than solid wood alone would provide. This makes engineered wood both lightweight and incredibly strong. It’s also less prone to warping than solid wood due to its construction process. One of the most common or well known types of engineered wood is ‘MDF’ ( Medium density fiberboard) and is widely used and easily available. MDF is generally denser and stronger than cheaper engineered woods such as chip core or particle board, but it is not as strong as an equal thickness of plywood or solid wood.
It is also vulnerable to extreme heat due to the resin like compounds used to bind it.

Types of wood used for timber door frames.

Pine
Pine is a softwood that grows in most of the northern hemisphere. It is also one of the longest living trees on the planet, with one tree being dated at almost 5,000 years old. A great reason to use pine is that it’s such an easy wood to work with and looks good untreated, stained or painted.

Poplar
Poplar is a wood that comes from tulip trees and provides a good option for internal door frames. This is because although it is a hardwood, it has characteristics similar to some softwoods. The main ones being that it’s very easy to work with and is relatively cheap. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have quite the same weather resistance as other hardwoods so is mainly used mainly indoors but is still more durable than soft wood overall.

Maple
Although not as popular as pine, maple has a truly distinctive look. Common in North America and parts of Asia, it is a sturdy and attractive wood that can make a good choice for a door frame due to its clear finish and durability.

Mahogany
Mahogany is a timeless tropical hardwood that is both classic in nature and stands the test of time. Distinctively red-brown in colour, Mahogany is both beautiful and durable. A mahogany door frame provides the kind of high quality that will last for decades due to its strength and resistance to rot, making it a great choice for an external frame.

Teak
Teak is another tropical hardwood with similar qualities to mahogany. Grey-brown in colour, teak darkens as it ages and stands the test of time. It also contains natural oils that make it both weather and pest resistant and, like mahogany, makes a good choice for an external frame.

White Oak
Native to North America, White Oak is a popular hardwood that provides all the features you want from an external door frame. Its structure makes it water and rot-resistant, and it is a strong and durable wood. The great thing about white oak is that usually it can be sourced cheaper than mahogany or teak, making it a more reasonable option.

No matter what type of timber you choose, it’s important that your door frame is properly installed in order for it to be effective in keeping your home secure and stable over time. When deciding on the best type of timber for your door frame, consider factors such as budget, availability, desired strength level, maintenance requirements, and environmental conditions—as each will help determine which material will work best for your particular situation. But with some careful consideration and research into the various types of timber available for door frames, you should have no problem finding the perfect fit for your home.

Feel free to check out our timber door manufacturing website and contact us for more advice.