Cypress or Oak?

Oak (European) Quercus Robur

My favourite wood. A heavy naturally durable timber. A chair weighs approximately 25kg. (it shouldn’t blow away!!).

The Heartwood varies from light tan or deep brown with distinct alternating bands of earlywood and latewood. The texture is coarse, rays and growth rings show an attractive figure when quartersawn. The appearance of Oak improves with age.

Oak takes up to 150 years and more to grow into trees sizeable enough to harvest therefore it is one of the more expensive timbers to produce and buy this is reflected in the price of our chairs.

Monterey Cypress is particularly well-known and valued in Europe and America. There is also a large and growing demand for it in Asia today. It has been well known since ancient times for it's durability and decorativeness. This is a durable wood, with trees growing to an average of 25 m it produces a wood that is lighter in weight and colour than Oak and a cypress chair weighs approx 15kg.

The timber is honey brown in colour with a natural lustre the wood has a lovely scent and can be used outside with no protection for many purposes. Monterey Cypress has a natural resistance and therefore does not need any artificial protection against insect or fungal attack.

Cypress has a low shrinkage factor from green sawn to dry and it is also very easily worked, with its rapid growth rate it allows for a very attractive and affordable timber to work with.