Choosing the Right Timber for Your Bespoke Sign: European Oak, Iroko & Abodo
When it comes to creating a beautiful, long-lasting bespoke timber sign, the choice of wood plays a key role. At Hartwood Timber, we offer three high-quality, FSC certified, sustainably sourced timbers: European Oak, Iroko, and Abodo.
Each timber offers its own unique look, characteristics, and benefits — whether you’re after a traditional feel, natural resilience, or an eco-conscious contemporary style, there’s an option for every project.
Our Timber Options
European Oak: Timeless Elegance
Appearance:
European Oak has a warm golden-brown hue with a distinctive, natural grain. It’s a timeless material that adds classic charm to any sign.
Durability & Performance:
This hardwood is prized for its strength and longevity. With proper treatment, it performs extremely well outdoors and can withstand the elements for decades.
Best For:
- Heritage or countryside properties
- Traditional business signage
- Clients who value rich texture and character
Benefits:
Classic, natural appearance
Long-lasting and strong
Sustainably sourced
Iroko: Naturally Durable & Exotic
Appearance:
Iroko features a rich, golden to medium brown colour with a smoother, more uniform grain compared to oak. Its tropical beauty gives it a premium feel.
Durability & Performance:
Exceptionally durable, Iroko has a high natural oil content — making it a great choice for exposed or coastal environments.
Best For:
- Outdoor signage in wet or variable climates
- Contemporary or high-end designs
- Customers seeking a typically straight grain
Benefits:
Highly durable
Naturally lower-maintenance
Ethically harvested
Abodo: Sustainable & Modern
Appearance:
The Abodo we stock is a darker warm tone of timber with a clean grain and smooth finish. It accepts paint/treatments well, making it highly customisable.
Durability & Performance:
Although technically a softwood, Abodo undergoes thermal modification to enhance its strength, stability, and resistance to decay — all without chemicals. It’s grown in FSC certified plantations, making it another great sustainable choice of timber.
Best For:
- Eco-conscious signage projects
- Modern homes or commercial spaces
- Customers seeking a darker toned timber
Benefits:
Environmentally friendly and renewable
Great stability and performance
FSC certified plantation-grown timber
All Our Timbers Are Sustainably Sourced
We’re committed to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. That’s why every timber we use is FSC certified, ensuring it comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.
We’re Proud to Be a Carbon Neutral Business
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we’re proud to operate as a carbon neutral business. This means we actively measure, reduce, and offset our carbon emissions to ensure our environmental footprint is as minimal as possible. From responsibly sourced materials to energy-efficient production methods and eco-conscious packaging, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
When you choose one of our bespoke timber signs, you’re not only investing in quality craftsmanship — you’re also supporting a business that genuinely cares for the planet.
If you would like advice on the type of timber to choose for your bespoke sign, please contact us:
Email us at sales@hartwoodtimber.co.uk
Or get in touch via our contact page
