Archive: May 2023
A hat trick of awards for Vastern Timber
March 6, 2023
Normally, we let the quality of our timber products and our promotion of local woodlands speak for itself. But just this once, we’re going to toot our horn, fly our flag and bang our metaphorical drum. Why? Because we’re celebrating winning not one, not two, but three national awards. And, as you can tell, we’re pretty chuffed....
We’re in the final for the ASBP Product of the Year Award
February 8, 2023
The Alliance of Sustainable Building Products (ASBP) has put Brimstone on the list of finalists for Product of the Year 2023. We’re delighted to have reached the final for an award by the Alliance of Sustainable Building Products (ASBP). Our thermally modified wood, which is grown and manufactured in the UK, has been recognised in th...
Brimstone wins Build It award for ‘best cladding’
November 30, 2022
We’re delighted to announce that Brimstone Cladding won the Build It Magazine award for ‘Best Cladding Product’ in November 2022. The Build It Award was presented at a glitzy event in central London, hosted by comedian and writer Mark Steel. Presenting the award for 'Best Cladding', he said "our winner is durable and versatileâ...
Sawmill & Show Home tour for DEFRA delegation
November 24, 2022
Last week, Vastern Timber, Veya Homes and Grown in Britain welcomed a delegation from DEFRA and the Forestry Commission. Guests were taken on a tour of Vastern's sawmill, and then visited a new house build from Veya Homes, highlighting the potential of British grown timber in sustainable construction. The group of DEFRA officials a...
The big reveal: we explain the annual gamble of sawing oak logs
November 10, 2022
After a year of accumulating an impressive stack of oak ‘butts’ (no sniggering), the saws are sharp, the weather has cooled and we’re ready to start sawing some absolutely amazing oak logs. This is one of our favourite times of the year, but the sawing season can also be a bit of a lottery. Because, as Forrest Gump said: “y...
FAQ: What is waney-edge cladding?
August 22, 2022
Waney edge cladding is a rustic style of timber cladding created by overlapping rough sawn timber boards so that the natural edge is left exposed. When installed on your building, the natural edge (wane) is visible on the lower edge of each cladding board. Waney-edge cladding boards are cut directly from the tree and are normally s...
What is the best wood for timber cladding?
August 5, 2022
We're often asked this tricky question, and in truth, there is no "best".... but there are better options depending on your taste, budget and project. The first question to ask is: what wood is available? On the back of Brexit, Covid and the Ukraine war, many wood species have become very expensive and, in some cases, scarce. Canadi...
Vastern Timber joins Business Declares
June 9, 2022
Before we start, let’s be clear. We fully acknowledge the climate emergency. And recognise that we humans are the cause of it. We also understand that our business has a choice right now. We can carry on as normal and be part of the problem. Or take action and be part of the solution. Our decision is to act. And to be accounta...
Future Trees Trust Supporter Day Surprise
May 30, 2022
Vastern Timber doubled its donation to the Future Trees Trust. The surprise announcement was made by MD Tom Barnes at Future Trees Trust Supporters Day, held at Vastern Timber last week. The increased support was welcomed by FTT head of research Dr Jo Clark. Dr Jo Clark welcomes the increased funding for the FTT The Future Trees...
