Choosing the Best Wood for Windows: A Practical Guide
July 8, 2025 | Homeowner | Written by Rob Butterworth
When you’re considering new wooden windows for your home, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is choosing the right type of wood. It’s not just about aesthetics; the best wood for windows will offer superior performance, energy efficiency, and longevity.
At Bereco, we’ve been crafting premium timber windows and doors since 2003, and we’re passionate about helping homeowners make informed choices.
Below, we’ll discuss the types of wood that we choose to work with most often to craft our range of bespoke wooden windows, and we’ll explore the differences between various wood species.
Why choose timber for your windows?
Firstly: why choose timber for your windows over other materials like uPVC or aluminium? Wood is sought after for aesthetics; different wood species boast unique colours, tones, textures, and grain patterns. This natural charm can be customised with finishes & paints to complement your home’s style.
With proper care, wooden window frames can last 60 years or more. This life span makes them a worthwhile investment in the long run.
Timber is also a natural insulator, offering excellent insulation properties, potentially improving the thermal efficiency of your property and reducing energy costs.
Lastly, choosing timber, especially from sustainably managed forests, is an environmentally responsible decision. Timber has the lowest embodied carbon of any window material, helping to reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
Hardwood vs. softwood: what’s the difference?
When discussing the best wood for windows, you’ll hear about hardwoods and softwoods. The names can be a bit misleading; “hardwood” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s harder than “softwood.” Instead, it refers to the tree’s botanical classification.
Hardwoods
These come from deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves annually), like oak, walnut, and mahogany. They are generally denser and more durable, making them an excellent choice for high-traffic areas or exposed elements.
Softwoods
These come from coniferous trees (evergreens), such as pine, fir (like Douglas fir), and spruce. Softwoods grow faster, making them a more readily renewable resource. Many softwoods offer fantastic workability and good strength-to-weight ratios, making them an ideal choice for window frames.
TL;DR: Hardwoods generally come from deciduous trees and are denser. Softwoods come from conifers and are often faster-growing. Both have their place in window manufacturing.
The wood we trust most at Bereco
At Bereco, our primary type of wood for manufacturing our wooden windows and doors is European Redwood (Pinus Sylvestris), also known as Scots Pine. Sourced from Northern Europe, this softwood is a fantastic choice for many reasons:
- Redwood forests are excellent at storing carbon, making them an environmentally conscious option.
- European Redwood has relatively low moisture uptake, which means it’s less prone to dimensional changes and movement – a crucial factor for stable window frames.
- The natural tannins in European Redwood give it a built-in resistance to insects and decay
Other types of wood available at Bereco
While European Redwood is our go-to, we understand that some projects may call for different characteristics. We offer both softwood (our European Redwood option) and hardwood (Dark Red Meranti). Our hardwood is another great option, and it has more of an open grain structure meaning it gives more of a textured finish, particularly when stained.
Why do we use European Redwood?
At Bereco, our mission is to supply beautifully bespoke timber windows and doors that “do not cost the earth.” We strive to make a real difference with naturally renewable, energy-efficient, carbon-saving timber. Our European Redwood, being naturally robust and sustainably sourced, embodies this mission by offering a balance of performance, aesthetic appeal and sustainability.
The journey from forest to factory
We take immense pride in our unique supply chain, ensuring that every piece of timber in your Bereco window has a traceable and sustainable journey.
At the forest: We only use FSC® 100% or 100% PEFC Certified wood. This means our timber comes from forests that are managed responsibly, promoting forest growth and protecting against deforestation. Modern harvesting techniques, like using feller bunchers, are efficient and environmentally conscious, protecting the forest floor and wildlife corridors.
Our dedicated sawmill: We’re unique in having our own sawmill. This allows us to control the entire process, from log sorting by heartwood content to de-barking and precise cutting for different window and door styles to be made at our factory.
This approach means we always have superior timber stock available in the right sizes, ensuring the highest quality for your wood windows.
Crafting our timber windows to perfection
We believe in “delivering the difference” in every aspect of our work. Our beautifully bespoke timber windows are carefully crafted for timeless designs, modern functionality, security, and performance.
Customisation
Each wooden window can be personalised with various bar designs, ironmongery styles (in 10 different metal accents), and thousands of single and dual-colour paint and stain finishes. This allows you to design a window completely unique to your home.
Our diverse range includes flush casement windows, lipped casement windows, sliding sash windows, and tilt & turn windows, ensuring we have the right type of window for your property.
Our double glazing exceeds the new Part L 2023 building regulations, achieving impressive U-values from 1.3 W/m²K. For even greater thermal efficiency, our triple-glazed windows start from 0.8 W/m²K.
For homes on busy streets or under flight paths, our Ambient range offers sound reductions of up to 42dB.
The care we put into our timber, from forest to factory, ensures a 60-year+ life span, backed by a 10-year warranty and low maintenance requirements.
Find the best type of wood for your windows: contact Bereco today
Choosing the best wood for windows is a significant decision, and we’re here to help every step of the way. With our commitment to sustainably sourced timber, superior craftsmanship, and bespoke design options, Bereco is the perfect choice for your next home improvement project.
We have decades of experience and can discuss the different types of wood and help you find the best option for your home.
Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your project and receive a free quote! Use our online contact form, call us on 01709 838188 or email info@bereco.co.uk .