UK Sweet chestnut and construction - Revision history

Editor: moved Sweet chestnut to UK Sweet chestnut and construction

2025-11-30T07:00:01Z

moved Sweet chestnut to UK Sweet chestnut and construction

← Older revision

Revision as of 07:00, 30 November 2025

Designing Buildings at 08:30, 27 June 2022

2022-06-27T08:30:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:30, 27 June 2022
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−	The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain ~~but~~ was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the ~~right~~ lighter soils in southern England. In Kent and Sussex, large areas are still actively coppiced on a 12 to 16 year rotation. The stems are cut back to the base or stool, several new shoots grow up and develop into straight poles for posts, fuel and cleft paling fences. In the recent past, the main market for chestnut coppice was for hop poles, as it is a very stable timber, so movement, distortion or splitting is reduced.	+	The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain and was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the lighter soils in southern England. In Kent and Sussex, large areas are still actively coppiced on a 12 to 16 year rotation. The stems are cut back to the base or stool, several new shoots grow up and develop into straight poles, used for posts, fuel and cleft paling fences. In the recent past, the main market for chestnut coppice was for hop poles, as it is a very stable timber, so movement, distortion or splitting is reduced.

	This species is well adapted to the acid soils of the High Weald, and grows vigorously on well drained slopes. A sustainable yield of 6 m3 per hectare per annum can be achieved - 100 tons of growth over 15 - 20 years. Chestnut grows very straight on good sites, and is valued for durable fencing materials, from paling to post and rail. Coppicing and cross-cutting to length takes place to meet market specifications, at any time from 12 yrs to 25 years. A new crop arises from the cut stumps, and as long as the shoots are protected from animals, this process is renewable for many cycles.		This species is well adapted to the acid soils of the High Weald, and grows vigorously on well drained slopes. A sustainable yield of 6 m3 per hectare per annum can be achieved - 100 tons of growth over 15 - 20 years. Chestnut grows very straight on good sites, and is valued for durable fencing materials, from paling to post and rail. Coppicing and cross-cutting to length takes place to meet market specifications, at any time from 12 yrs to 25 years. A new crop arises from the cut stumps, and as long as the shoots are protected from animals, this process is renewable for many cycles.

−	When allowed to grow to maturity, this tree yields a good quality timber resembling oak, but lighter, weaker and more easily worked. It is prone to suffer from a variety of structural weaknesses. Chestnut has been the focus of Research & Develpment work for a number of years, undertaken by Woodland Enterprises Ltd, to find modern uses for this local product. After development of a finger-jointing technique to create long sweet chestnut cladding panels and mechanical testing by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and structural data are available for its use in structural applications structural products have also been developed. Some of these innovative local products are displayed as part of the Woodland Enterprise Centre Building, located in Sussex.	+	When allowed to grow to maturity, this tree yields a good quality timber resembling oak, but lighter, weaker and more easily worked. It is prone to suffer from a variety of structural weaknesses.

−	Today sweet chestnut cladding is often available ~~isingle peice~~ random lengths (1.8 – 3.5mt+) depending on the cycle or now as a result of the ~~fingerjointing~~ technique it is available in ~~standrad~~ 4.0mt finger jointed lengths. The jointed technique allows shorter lengths of ~~swett~~ chestnut to be used reducing sawmill waste. Sweet chestnut It durable and stable partly because of the high tannin content, which ~~firstly~~ will leach from the boards in the first few month of installation, and can cause streaks and stains~~, secondly and also because~~ of the ~~Tannin~~ austenitic stainless steel fixings should be used to prevent ~~corosion~~.	+	Chestnut has been the focus of research and development work for a number of years, to find modern uses for this local product. A finger-jointing technique to create long sweet chestnut cladding panels was developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and structural data is available for its use in structural applications. Some of these innovative local products are displayed as part of the Woodland Enterprise Centre Building, located in Sussex.
		+
		+	Today sweet chestnut cladding is often available single piece random lengths (1.8 – 3.5mt+) depending on the cycle or now as a result of the finger-jointing technique it is available in standard 4.0mt finger jointed lengths. The jointed technique allows shorter lengths of sweet chestnut to be used reducing sawmill waste. Sweet chestnut It durable and stable partly because of the high tannin content, which will leach from the boards in the first few month of installation, and can cause streaks and stains. Because of the tannin, austenitic stainless steel fixings should be used to prevent corrosion.

	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

Editor at 16:38, 15 June 2022

2022-06-15T16:38:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 15 June 2022
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		+	\| [[File:Sweet Chestnut.jpg]]
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	The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain but was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the right lighter soils in southern England. In Kent and Sussex, large areas are still actively coppiced on a 12 to 16 year rotation. The stems are cut back to the base or stool, several new shoots grow up and develop into straight poles for posts, fuel and cleft paling fences. In the recent past, the main market for chestnut coppice was for hop poles, as it is a very stable timber, so movement, distortion or splitting is reduced.		The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain but was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the right lighter soils in southern England. In Kent and Sussex, large areas are still actively coppiced on a 12 to 16 year rotation. The stems are cut back to the base or stool, several new shoots grow up and develop into straight poles for posts, fuel and cleft paling fences. In the recent past, the main market for chestnut coppice was for hop poles, as it is a very stable timber, so movement, distortion or splitting is reduced.

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	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

−	* Chain of custody.
	* Confederation of Timber Industries.		* Confederation of Timber Industries.
	* Delivering sustainable low energy housing with softwood timber frame.		* Delivering sustainable low energy housing with softwood timber frame.
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	Whole life carbon assessment of timber		Whole life carbon assessment of timber
		+
		+	[[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:Research_/_Innovation]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]

Editor: Created page with "The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain but was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the right ligh..."

2022-06-15T16:31:15Z

Created page with "The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain but was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the right ligh..."

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The sweet or Spanish chestnut is not native to Britain but was probably first transported from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor by the Romans. Here it does best on the right lighter soils in southern England. In Kent and Sussex, large areas are still actively coppiced on a 12 to 16 year rotation. The stems are cut back to the base or stool, several new shoots grow up and develop into straight poles for posts, fuel and cleft paling fences. In the recent past, the main market for chestnut coppice was for hop poles, as it is a very stable timber, so movement, distortion or splitting is reduced.

This species is well adapted to the acid soils of the High Weald, and grows vigorously on well drained slopes. A sustainable yield of 6 m3 per hectare per annum can be achieved - 100 tons of growth over 15 - 20 years. Chestnut grows very straight on good sites, and is valued for durable fencing materials, from paling to post and rail. Coppicing and cross-cutting to length takes place to meet market specifications, at any time from 12 yrs to 25 years. A new crop arises from the cut stumps, and as long as the shoots are protected from animals, this process is renewable for many cycles.

When allowed to grow to maturity, this tree yields a good quality timber resembling oak, but lighter, weaker and more easily worked. It is prone to suffer from a variety of structural weaknesses. Chestnut has been the focus of Research & Develpment work for a number of years, undertaken by Woodland Enterprises Ltd, to find modern uses for this local product. After development of a finger-jointing technique to create long sweet chestnut cladding panels and mechanical testing by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and structural data are available for its use in structural applications structural products have also been developed. Some of these innovative local products are displayed as part of the Woodland Enterprise Centre Building, located in Sussex.

Today sweet chestnut cladding is often available isingle peice random lengths (1.8 – 3.5mt+) depending on the cycle or now as a result of the fingerjointing technique it is available in standrad 4.0mt finger jointed lengths. The jointed technique allows shorter lengths of swett chestnut to be used reducing sawmill waste. Sweet chestnut It durable and stable partly because of the high tannin content, which firstly will leach from the boards in the first few month of installation, and can cause streaks and stains, secondly and also because of the Tannin austenitic stainless steel fixings should be used to prevent corosion.

= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

* Chain of custody.
* Confederation of Timber Industries.
* Delivering sustainable low energy housing with softwood timber frame.
* Environmental plan.
* European Union Timber Regulation.
* Forests.
* Forest ownership.
* Forest Stewardship Council.
* Green Seal.
* Legal and sustainable timber.
* Legally harvested and traded timber.
* Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
* Rapidly renewable content.
* Sustainability.
* Sustainable materials.
* Sustainable Wood.
* Sustainably procuring tropical hardwood.
* Timber.

Whole life carbon assessment of timber