Carpentry: What wood should you use

Whether you are putting new doors on the kitchen cupboards, building a cubby house, or installing some shelving, the type of wood you will need for your carpentry job depends on several factors. The use, environment that it will be in and the strength needed are several variables that will determine what type of timber you need.

Types of wood for carpentry

There are several possible types of wood and wood product that may be appropriate for the application that you have in mind. Consider what is best within the budget that you have.

• Chipboard is one of the cheapest general purpose timbers. Its strength is not high, and it is not appropriate for outdoor uses as it warps and eventually falls apart when exposed to moisture. It is ideal for shelving, for light loads (such as inside kitchen cabinets) and other general interior uses
• Solid timber is available in a variety of widths and types of timber. It retains all the strength of the original timber, and is best joined with dowels or a tongue and groove arrangement. It will withstand some weathering, but to avoid warping and shrinking should be treated for outdoor use. This is ideal for indoor shelving for heavy loads, for outdoor uses, and for constructing timber furniture and decking
• Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is similar to chipboard, but is stronger. It is manufactured with some chemicals, including formaldehyde, which are dangerous if inhaled, so wear a mask if cutting it.
• Plywood is also stronger than chipboard, and can be painted. You may need to trim the edges, as the layers used in manufacturing it can be seen here.
• Blockboard is another manufactured wood that is stronger than chipboard and can be painted or varnished to finish.
• Treated timber is solid timber used for robust outdoor uses such as fencing and outdoor furniture. It is soaked in chemicals which protect it from weathering for a relatively long time

The manufactured woods are all ideal for use indoors for shelving (although not with very heavy loads), cupboards, children's furniture and other interior uses. Solid timber is best for exterior carpentry projects.

Wood: How to choose the right type

Solid timber is the strongest carpentry material, and should be used for any robust purpose, and for outside jobs, where it will withstand the conditions. The manufactured timbers such as chipboard, plywood, MDF and blockboard are easy to cut and work with, light, inexpensive and easily finished with paint or varnish. They are not very strong or robust and should not be used for jobs where they will be exposed to weather or to heavy loads or need to be very robust.