1. Materials

2. Mahogany Hardwood Easy to work with Straight grain Looks good when a finish is applied Can be expensive Not environmentally friendly Indoor furniture, front doors, intricate and detailed artefacts

3. Blockboard Manmade board Blockboard is made up of a core of softwood strips The strips are placed edge to edge and sandwiched between veneers of hardwood. Cheap The edges of blockboard are unattractive and cannot be cleaned up well Blockboard may be used to make shelves, doors, paneling and partitions

4. Chipboard Manmade board Environmentally friendly Can be difficult to work with VENEERED CHIPBOARDWater proof when a plastic laminate is applied – VENEERED CHIPBOARD Relatively strong Shelving, knock-down furniture, kitchen units, and flooring.

5. Veneered Chipboard Manmade board Environmentally friendly Can be difficult to work with VENEERED CHIPBOARDWater proof when a plastic laminate is applied – VENEERED CHIPBOARD Relatively strong Worktops, tabletops & self assembled Inexpensive knock down furniture and kitchen work tops.

6. Pine Softwood Easy to work with Knotty grain Looks good when a finish is applied Relatively cheap Environmentally friendly Warps easily Suitable interior use Internal use, bathroom cabinets, building work such as framing, flooring joists and floor boards

7. Plywood Manmade board Environmentally friendly Relatively easy to work with Water proof depending on type Relatively strong Looks good depending on finish Strong General purpose, including security boarding for building sites

8. Hardboard Manmade board Environmentally friendly Cheap Smooth on one side – rough on other. Drawer, wardrobe & picture frame backing. Lining an uneven floor before covering.

9. Beech Natural wood Brownish-whitish wood type with a distinctive flecked grain Easy to work Durable It is widely used for furniture framing and carcass construction, Hardwood flooring, in plywood and in children's toys, but rarely as a decorative timber

10. Teak Hardwood Easy to work with Straight grain Looks good when a finish is applied Very expensive Not environmentally friendly Strong Suitable for outdoor use Outdoor & indoor expensive furniture

11. Douglas Fir Softwood Easy to work with Relatively knotty grain Looks good when a finish is applied Relatively cheap Environmentally friendly Strong Suitable interior use

12. MDF Manmade board Environmentally friendly Very easy to work with Water proof depending on type Cheap Can look good depending on finish

13. Cedar Softwood Easy to work with Straight grain Looks good when a finish is applied Environmentally friendly Strong Suitable interior use

14. Oak Hardwood Easy to work with Straight grain Looks good when a finish is applied Can be expensive Not environmentally friendly Strong Suitable for outdoor use Indoor and outdoor furniture, doors