Editorial archive
Everything published so far.
4 articles
2026
Buying Guide
Nominal size vs finished size: why the board is smaller than the ticket
I've been looking into why a 47 × 100 never measures 47 by 100, and it isn't a trick. The ticket is a name. Finished is what a tape reads. Buy, mark, and cut from the second number.
9 min read
Explainer
How to estimate timber cladding: measure the wall, then read the cover
I've been looking into why cladding estimates go wrong, and it usually isn't the arithmetic. You measure a wall, then you buy the width printed on the pack. Cover is how far each row actually climbs. Once you've got those two, the estimator will count the boards.
9 min read
Explainer
Why Timber Moves — and What to Do About It
Every cracked tabletop, jammed drawer, and split door panel has the same root cause: wood movement wasn't accounted for. This isn't a defect — it's physics. Here's what every maker needs to understand before cutting anything to final size.
5 min read
Long Read
The Complete UK Timber Species Guide: What to Use When
Short version: There’s no single “best” timber in the UK — the right choice depends on whether you’re building for outside vs inside, structural vs furniture, and how much movement, durability, and workability you can tolerate.
10 min read