Iroko hardwood / African Teak

[Amanda Randall]

Hi,

The carpenter who has made the nest boxes for our swift project previously used marine ply.  He is concerned that supplies are becoming less reliable, quality-wise, and is proposing to make our next set of boxes using Iroko hardwood, aka African Teak.  To quote him, he says that "Iroko hardwood ... is an excellent, highly durable choice for exterior use, often called "African Teak" due to its stability, oily nature, and high resistance to rot, decay, and insects. It is commonly used for exterior cladding, decking, gates, garden furniture, bird tables and boxes."

Does anyone know of any reason why this may NOT be a suitable material for swift boxes? 

Thank you

Amanda

Harbury Swift Project

[Mike Priaulx]

Hi Amanda,

You should make sure Iroko is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, as otherwise you'll be damaging the environment somewhere else in the world.

The supplier should provide a "chain of custody" certificate as evidence.

As long as it's FSC certified, Iroko should be suitable and long lived compared to other timber products (with the caveat that all timber boxes will have a limited lifetime if rained on, especially if a flat roof).

All the best,

Mike

Islington and Hackney Swifts Groups

+++

Amanda Randall <a.l.ran...@gmail.com>: May 22 10:12AM +0100

[Robin Stokes]

"You are damned if you do and damned if you don't."

Not sure how to avoid the illegal market in Hardwoods. 

Regards,

Rob Stokes.