Journal

Guides, trends and technical notes

Written for people specifying materials — what to use where, and why the obvious choice is sometimes wrong.

6 articles

Boiling water proof everywhere is a waste of money. A short guide to matching grade to the actual condition.

How to read the ISI stamp on a panel, and why a licence number matters more than the word 'marine'.

What the face veneer actually does, and why a hard face changes how the finished joinery looks in year five.

Both are good panels. Which one you need depends almost entirely on how far it has to reach unsupported.

Swelling, glue line failure and the small detailing choices that prevent both.

If the paint is the finish, the substrate has to be grainless. A short case for engineered board.

Still weighing up a specification?

Guides only go so far. Describe the space and we will tell you which grade actually suits it.