Sapele vs Meranti

[Yukster]

I got a qoute for hardwood sash windows in Meranti and Sapele. The naranti qoute is £900 (10%) chepear. Is the Sapele superior to Meranti? Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

Sapele is significantly tougher than meranti - definitely the choice for outdoor products such as windows.
It's slightly more awkward to work with, due to interlocking grain......meranti is much straighter grained timber as it grows tall and in gentle climates wind wise.
I used sapele to make my own windows, back in 1986 and they are all as good as ever.....I made a French door from meranti and it's gone now.
I would have thought that sapele would be quite a bit more expensive now.....maybe meranti is getting scarce.
John

 

[crank39]

Now I'm not a timber person but i remember fitting some cheap meranti front doors once and couldn't help noticing how light they were, was led to believe although classed as a hardwood it was more akin to a softwood grain wise, not really surprised it doesn't last long outdoors

 

[Burnerman]

I would doubt if I have the skills now, never mind the bench space and machines I had back in '86 to make windows then.....it would be upvc every time now.
John

 

[Yukster]

I would doubt if I have the skills now, never mind the bench space and machines I had back in '86 to make windows then.....it would be upvc every time now.
John

I really don't like the look of upvc although it might be a super window function wise

 

[Burnerman]

I thought the same too, but I replaced the meranti French door with a rosewood grained upvc, white on the inside.....one door, two panels, two opening lights, quality locking and glass.
Bloody marvellous, £1700 all done.
John

 

[Dave54]

Afraid I agree with the others. Wood looks great, but UPVC for me every time. No maintenance apart from cleaning and occasionally lubing the mechanisms.

 

[chappers]

If you're painting them I wouldn't worry, so long as you maintain them, even pine sashes last over a hundred years if maintained

 

[Gazman16]

Take a look at these http://www.residence9.co.uk/doors

 

[crank39]

Take a look at these http://www.residence9.co.uk/doors

I think it's one of the coolest systems out there, you'd struggle to tell it's PVC even up close, from the street you'd say that's wood all day long

 

[Gazman16]

Yep I'm fitting quite alot of them recently.
Only problem is they are about 3x the price of normal PVC (which has shot me over the VAT threshold Grrrr) but still much cheaper than a decent quality wood

 

[crank39]

Yep I'm fitting quite alot of them recently.
Only problem is they are about 3x the price of normal PVC

I know they've got you over a barrel if a customer wants the true timber look