April 2026 News from the Sawmill
Welcome to our April Newsletter
Most of what makes a building work, you never see.
The fixings behind the cladding.
The structure holding the weight.
The decisions that don’t shout, but last.
This month, we’re looking at the parts that do the real work.
And why getting them right changes everything.
The Floating Stone – Antique Limestone & English Oak
Some projects start with a brief. This one started with a stone.
An antique limestone slab. Two tonnes. Full of age and character.
David Leviatin of London Timber Frame took the call. Then took on the challenge.
What followed is quiet engineering. A table that makes two tonnes of stone appear to float.
Thermally Modified Black Cladding
Black cladding can be understated or striking.
But it only works if the timber underneath is stable.
Cheap timber moves. And when it moves, paint fails.
Our view is simple. Use thermally modified timber with a factory-applied black finish. It moves less. The paint lasts longer.
Less maintenance. Better looking buildings.
If you’re going to make a statement, make one that lasts.
Thermowood Batten System
Most cladding problems don’t start with the boards.
They start behind them.
Battens and fixings do the real work.
Tile battens are widely used. But they’re not good enough.
Too thin. No drainage when used horizontally.
Our Thermowood batten system does the job properly.
Strength. Stability. Clear drainage.
You won’t see it. But you’ll see the results.
Book of the Month: Hedges by Robert Wolton
Easy to overlook. Hard to replace.
Part science, part love letter to the British countryside. From wildlife habitats to carbon capture, this book shows just how much hedges do.
Read it. Then look again at the field boundary you passed this morning.
Merlin Bird ID
Step outside and listen.
Merlin tells you what’s singing in real time. Press record and watch the names appear.
Blackbird. Chiffchaff. Robin.
Magic.
Wood for the Trees
A big well done to Charly and Tom for the latest film on coppicing.
Nearly 70,000 views in the first month.
Not bad for an ancient craft.
