My Favourites
A long-time favourite, oak is a warm-looking wood, with a subtle double grain. Prime Oak has a regular appearance, with few if any knots.
Indoor use only.
Character Oak, as the name suggests, has an irregular appearance with changes in colour and many more knots and splits than Prime Oak. These features are typically supplied filled to create a practically smooth surface. Typically around 20% more expensive than Prime Oak.
You can read more on the properties of both Character Oak and Prime Oak (European Oak) as table top choices here.
Indoor use only.
Ash is another wood with good grain detail which has made it a popular (cheaper) alternative to oak. Ash is often stained to mimic other woods rather than used in its natural state. Fast-growing ash is considered a sustainable choice.
Indoor use only.
Beech has been, and still is, a stalwart of the furniture industry, its abundance across Europe making it inexpensive. Nowadays its plain appearance is less fashionable and it is also a timber that is slightly more prone to splits than some alternatives.
Indoor use only.
A rich deep brown, with character, Walnut makes a hard-wearing and stable table top. It's a slow-growing timber, so less sustainable and more expensive than some alternatives.
Indoor use only.
Typically from reclaimed pine or whitewood planks, these softwoods are imbued with character. Reclaimed planks, having lived a past life, the different wear-and-tear will, give a surface a contrasting and uniform appearance.
Indoor use only.
Iroko is a very durable wood with an attractive (sometimes inconsistent) colour. Once considered a low-cost alternative to Teak, it now makes it a popular timber for outdoor table tops. Often in slatted form with gaps for the rain to drop through.
Indoor/Outdoor use.
Traditionally a very popular choice, teak was once abundant and has been used for furniture of all types for centuries. Its close-grain resists warping and splitting. Old-grain teak is now carefully protected, with teak plantations providing costly timber for limited furniture production.
Indoor/Outdoor use.
Still have questions? Why not speak to an expert...
We have many solid wood table tops and samples on display at our Hammersmith furniture showroom. Speak to a member of our team to arrange an appointment.
