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Google Reviews

4.8

Based on 212 reviews

Google Reviews

4.8

Ian Hayes

16:18 31 Oct 24

I regularly use Vastern for purchasing locally grown, sustainably sourced British oak and ash. I then use this for making bespoke fitted and freestanding furniture. The quality of the timber is excellent and reliable. I usually deal with Wolf when I visit who's friendly, knowledgeable and allows time to search for the timber that fits my requirements. The company really cares about what they do, and they promote the conservation and enhancement of British woodlands which is important to me and really sets them apart!

Chris Saberi

21:52 29 Oct 24

I went to Vastern to get a burr oak waney edge board. Their customer service was excellent, I was given a lot of help and advice to pick out the very board that met my needs to make my river table. I went back to get some planed oak for the legs/base. Thoroughly recommended!Edit Oct 2024: Visited again to get some planed oak boards for a custom lounge light. Customer service and the personal touch was still top notch!

J addison

13:20 25 Oct 24

Was really impressed with the service at vasterns, knowledgeable, patient and thorough, my client bought three, 1st grade oak waney edge boards and Wolf was on hand to help guide us to the right choice. Top guy, top gear. Was patient and aloud us time to make decisions and think about our options.No pressure, no rush. Recommended.Look forward to getting stuck in to them.Thanks

Oliver Milne

06:46 24 Oct 24

I used Vasterns for some ash for a kitchen job and was very pleased with the quantity to choose from, the quality of the timber and the price. The customer service was also excellent. A guy named Wolf took time to help me pick out everything I needed. Left feeling pleased with my haul of timber and will definitely be back.

Harry Llewelyn

08:21 18 Oct 24

Brilliant service. Quality product

Ruth Harris

11:55 27 Sep 24

Wolf was excellent today helping Steve and I select a piece of wood for a desk and sorting out getting it cut so we could move it back on our truck. Great service and really nice that he was interested in our project. Thanks so much.

John Lamb

11:24 26 Sep 24

News

November 7, 2022

ACAN Natural Materials Masterclass: Brimstone & Thermal modification

On 7 Nov, the Architects CAN Natural Materials group hosted a free webinar on using local timber.

The Natural Materials Masterclass on Specifying, Growing and Using UK Timber featured expert speakers including our MD Tom Barnes. Read on for more about the speakers, and for Tom’s slides from his talk on thermally modified timber.

About the speakers

🌿 Tab Binding – Timber Development UK

TDUK provides information and support on all things timber! From seed to saw, from forest to furniture, from product to post occupancy evaluation. Tab leads on education and engagement with a focus on future professionals across the UK who are studying any built environment subject – by encouraging, enthusing and educating on how to use timber wisely and effectively.

🌿 Kath Giles – Evolving Forests

Currently studying MSc Green Building at the Centre for Alternative Technology. Kath has over 10 years’ experience in sustainability and a background in horticulture having studied at Schumacher College.

🌿 Tom Barnes – Vastern Timber

Vastern Timber manufactures oak beams, timber cladding and hardwood flooring. Vastern specialise in British grown timbers, including English oak, sweet chestnut, ash, sycamore and larch. Vastern Timber is the largest hardwood saw-milling company in the UK. It’s Vastern’s mission to encourage more use of British timber. In 2016, Vastern launched Brimstone, an innovative range of thermally modified British timber, that offers a sustainable and economical alternative to imported hardwoods.

🌿 Matt Stevenson – Ecosystems Technologies

Ecosystems Technologies Limited is an innovative PropTech company, led by experienced sector professionals and dedicated to digital transformation in the construction industry, applied innovation in timber technology and the democratisation of sustainable, healthy building solutions. Founder Matt Stevenson is a recognised industry leader in digital construction technology and low carbon building designs, having previously founded and developed early industry pioneer Carbon Dynamic.

🌿 Neil Sutherland – MAKAR

MAKAR Ltd is an architect-led design, manufacture and construction company, established in 2002. MAKAR exist to design and deliver healthy, comfortable, beautiful and low-energy homes. MAKAR only use environmentally friendly building materials, including Scottish-grown timber. MAKAR use innovative off-site construction methods, which, given the significant and tangible environmental benefits, and are now widely recognised as the future of new housing.

Who Are Architects CAN?

ACAN is a network of individuals within architecture and related built environment professions taking action to address the twin crises of climate and ecological breakdown.

Find out more at

architectscan.org / instagram / twitter / youtube

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Tom’s presentation on Brimstone Thermally Modified Timber

What is it?

Brimstone is a beautiful range of thermally modified British wood for cladding, decking and joinery.

Why modified wood?

Thermal modification can make wood from a 40 – 70 yr tree behave like that from a 200 – 400 yr old tree… and better… without the use of toxic chemicals

What are the ‘drivers’?

There’s a growing desire for more wood, and we can’t use more slow grown timber. But faster grown wood is often lacking desired characteristics – such as durability outdoors. Chemical regulations make some treatments problematic. Thermal modification is toxin free.

The capacity of our plant is around 1000M3 per year. That’s equivalent of 31K m2 of cladding.

And we have plans to install another.