Looking for timber that’s smooth, accurate, and ready to work with? Planed timber offers a clean, refined finish that's perfect for visible beams, detailed joinery, and outdoor structures like pergolas. Explore the benefits and see why more builders and joiners are choosing planed timber for high-quality projects.

Discover the key benefits of Yellow Balau decking - a strong, beautiful, and low-maintenance hardwood ideal for UK gardens and outdoor spaces.

Solid hardwood flooring offers an unrivalled combination of natural beauty, longevity, sustainability and timeless appeal. Discover more and find out whether it’s the right choice for you.

Timber decking is sustainable, beautiful and versatile. Whether you want to deck around your home or underneath a pergola, create a new entertainment space or transform a sloping garden – read on to find out more about the benefits of hardwood decking.

From choosing the perfect grain and colour contrast to tried-and-tested timber pairings, discover how to make your next piece truly stand out in our contrasting timbers guide.

Yellow Balau or composite decking? We compare the pros, cons, and costs to help you choose the best option for your outdoor space.

Our timber buyer, Ian Booker, recently visited France to add some inventory to our oak stocks. We are often asked about how and where we source our timber, so we thought it would be helpful to explain the role of a timber buyer and how/why we source much of our oak from France.

Siberian larch was a popular choice for external cladding due to its durability and affordability, however, since 2022 we have looked to British larch as an excellent alternative.

Discover the definition of conflict timber, how to identify and avoid conflict timber, and the benefits of British larch as a replacement for Siberian larch.

Discover the benefits of green oak cladding for your project. From natural beauty and durability to sustainability and low maintenance, explore why fresh sawn oak is the perfect choice for exterior cladding.

Thinking about upgrading your outdoor space with a high-performance hardwood? Yellow Balau is a dense, durable tropical timber that’s become a go-to choice for decking, landscaping, and exterior joinery. In this FAQ guide, we answer the most common questions about Yellow Balau — from its slip resistance and maintenance needs to its sustainability credentials and how it compares with composite alternatives. Whether you're planning a garden makeover or just want to understand the benefits of this golden-toned hardwood, you’ll find everything you need to know right here.

Explore the beauty and durability of exotic hardwoods from Asia and Australia. Discover popular species like Yellow Balau & Macassar Ebony, their unique features, and why sustainable sourcing is essential at WL West.

Learn how to build a bespoke oak porch with WL West’s step-by-step guide. Discover the benefits, planning permission requirements, and expert tips for choosing materials, design, and construction.

Learn about the rich history of Maple wood, its unique properties and many diverse applications - from musical instruments to furniture. Explore its environmental benefits and how it’s become an iconic and treasured tree species around the world. Whether you’re a woodworking enthusiast or simply appreciate nature’s wonders, maple is an great choice fro your next project.

How can you use oak wood in your upcoming projects? Here are the top 10 uses for oak wood; from flooring to wine barrels and everything in-between. Read now.

Whether you're considering roofing or cladding, understanding the 6 key differences between timber shingles and timber shakes will help you make an informed choice for your next project - with unique manufacturing processes, aesthetic qualities and installation methods these traditional materials offer sustainable options, timeless charm and can be utilised for contemporary designs.

African hardwoods offer us an incredible choice in terms of their appearance, their properties and their versatile range of applications. In this blog, we focus on six stunning exotic african hardwood timbers that both we (and our customers!) love.

Douglas Fir wood stands out as one of the most versatile and reliable building materials available today. Find out what makes it so special, from its remarkable characteristics to its practical applications and sustainability.

Our retail shop stocks a huge range of native and exotic woods, but elm is special to us and to many of our customers. Explore why.

With increasing popularity, discover the properties and benefits of opting for European larch in your projects.