Wood types for doors: which timber to choose

Solid timber or veneer press

Every door we make is either fully solid timber, built from laminated stiles and rails of one species, or a solid core with a veneer press, where a real wood veneer of the species you choose is pressed onto an engineered core and lacquered. Fully solid is the heavier, more traditional build and the one to choose for an exposed main door in teak. A veneer press is more stable across a very large leaf, lighter on the hinges or pivot, and gives a continuous bookmatched grain that solid boards cannot. Both are real wood on the face. The difference is in the core and in how the door behaves across the year.

Teak

The exterior timber of the Gulf. Teak is dense, naturally oily and highly resistant to moisture, insects and movement, which is why it has been the main door timber here for generations. It weathers to a silver grey if left untreated and keeps its warm golden brown under a UV stable lacquer. We recommend teak for any main door that faces the weather, as fully solid timber or as a thick teak veneer on a solid core for oversized leaves. It is the most expensive of the common door timbers and worth it on the entrance.

Walnut

The timber of the modern Dubai villa interior. Dark chocolate brown with a fine, flowing grain that bookmatches beautifully across a wide pivot door or a run of wardrobe fronts. Walnut is moderately hard and stable as a veneer press on an engineered core. It suits covered or recessed entrances, apartment entrance doors and every interior door where the grain is meant to lead. In full sun it will lighten over time, so for an exposed entrance we pair it with a UV stable finish or steer you to teak.

Oak

Pale, straight grained and hard, oak is the most versatile interior door timber. It takes a clear lacquer for a Scandinavian look, a stain for a deeper tone, or a wire brushed and limed finish for texture. Oak is strong and stable as a veneer press and works well for bedroom, living and study doors, matching frames and skirtings. Not our first choice for an exposed exterior door in Dubai heat, but excellent for everything inside and for covered entrances.

Ash

Lighter still than oak, with a bolder, more open grain. Ash is very hard, flexes without splitting and takes stain exceptionally well, so it can be finished in almost any colour while keeping its grain visible. A good choice for pale, contemporary interiors, for doors that will be stained grey or black, and for grooved and reeded designs where the grain adds texture to the pattern.

Mahogany and meranti

Red toned hardwoods from the same family, used widely for traditional panelled main doors and for painted exterior doors. Meranti is the economical option for a solid timber door that will be painted. Mahogany gives a classic, rich look under a clear or stained finish. Both are stable and easy to work; neither matches teak for weather resistance on a fully exposed entrance.

Painted doors and the core underneath

When a door is to be PU painted, the species on the face matters less than the quality of the core and the smoothness of the skin, which is why painted interior doors and hidden doors are built on an engineered core with a paint grade face. Grooves, reeds and mouldings are cut into the face before priming so the paint runs cleanly through the detail.

Our recommendation

Exposed main door: teak, solid or thick veneer press. Covered or apartment entrance: walnut or teak on a solid core. Interior doors with visible grain: walnut, oak or ash veneer press. Painted interiors and hidden doors: engineered core with a paint grade face in PU matt or gloss. Service and utility rooms: laminate on an engineered core. If you are not sure, send us a photo of the opening and the look you want and we will recommend the species, the build and the finish.

See our main doors, wooden doors and interior doors, or try a species in the designer.