Why Use Sapele Wood?

What is Sapele Wood?

Sapele wood is derived from the African sapele tree, which can grow up to 45m tall. It is a dense and lustrous hardwood known for its strength and versatility, therefore, it is unsurprising that it is one of the most widely consumed hardwoods in the UK. With a rich reddish-brown hue that darkens over time, sapele wood exhibits a particularly natural warmth and sophisticated look, and is often used as an alternative to mahogany due to their likeness in both technical properties and appearance. In our professional opinion, it is an even better hardwood alternative to oak due to the following reasons listed out below.

Sapele Wood with Wood Primer

Technical Properties of Sapele Wood:

• Density: Sapele wood boasts a high density, enhancing its durability and resistance to wear and tear.

• Strength: Renowned for its robustness, sapele wood is ideal for structures requiring dependable strength.

• Workability: Despite its high density, sapele wood is surprisingly easy to work with, allowing for intricate designs and precise finishes with low maintenance needed long-term.

Advantages of Using Sapele Wood:

• Durability: With excellent resistance to rot and decay, sapele wood ensures longevity and minimal maintenance requirements. Unlike softwood, sapele hardwood will withstand constant use, as well as the harsh UK weather. It is even cheaper than oak, which tends to warp over time. This is why we recommend sapele the most for front and other external doors (french, patio).

• Versatility: Sapele takes nails, screws and glues extremely well, and it is known for a range of uses, including: windows, doors, floor panelling, indoor furniture and musical instruments.

Sustainability of Sapele Wood

Sapele is a sustainable choice of hardwood for any product due to the tree's long lifespan and slow growth, which, in turn, results in natural carbon sequestration. As with any type of construction, its sustainability also relies on transport distances and whether wood waste is recycled. Since being discovered, sapele wood is in danger of being over-harvested. Woody Man LTD obtain all of our sapele from companies that follow EU Sutainability Regulations. One such regulation is the EUTR, and its objectives prohibit the placing of illegally harvested timber onto the EU market, as well as making sure they are deforestation-free and replaced.