High-quality European Hardwood Mats
Our European hardwood bog mats are heavy-duty and designed to provide stable, reliable ground protection in challenging environments. Manufactured from high-quality oak and beech hardwoods, these mats are incredibly dense, offer excellent strength and structural integrity, ideal for outdoor environments.
At Timbermat, we’re committed to protecting natural resources for future generations. That’s why all of our European hardwood mats are sustainably sourced from fully certified timber suppliers across Europe.
We hold a large stock of European hardwood bog mats, readily available for purchase or hire, with fast turnaround to meet your project needs.
27 years’ of experience
Bog mats to suit your every requirement
Competitive hire & sales rates
Fast response and delivery throughout the UK & Europe
Hiab off-loading & Crossrail compliant vehicles
Stock available from our London, Manchester & Edinburgh depots
Beech
Beech is a widely used European hardwood known for its fine, straight grain and consistent texture. It’s hard and strong, offering good load-bearing capacity. However, it’s classified as class 5 for durability, which means it’s more susceptible to moisture absorption, leading to warping, swelling and rotting when used in outdoor or wet environments.
Beech is suitable for short-term applications, with a lifespan between 3-5 years. It performs well initially, but over time, tends to wear out faster than other European Hardwoods like Oak, or tropical hardwoods like Ekki.
Oak
Oak is a highly durable European hardwood relied upon for its strength, density, and natural resistance to the elements. Achieving a Class 2 Durability rating, Oak is highly resistant to moisture and decay, which makes it well-suited for outdoor applications and wet environments.
Oak also performs exceptionally well under heavy loads and lasts between 5 to 15 years, depending on usage, storage and condition, which makes it a great choice for long-term use compared to Beech wood.
Beach and Oak Specifications
| Species | Botanic name | Volume mass in kg/m³ | Elasticity module in N/mm² | Flexibility strength in N/mm² | Pressure strength in N/mm² | Slide strength in N/mm² | Durability class |
| European Oak | Quercus petraea | 700 | 9,900 | 96 | 48 | 9.9 | 2 |
| Beech | Fagus sylvatica | 700 | 12,300 | 113 | 54 | 10 | 5 |
What is the difference between European Hardwoods and Tropical Hardwoods?
European hardwoods
European hardwoods come from temperate forests across Europe and include species such as oak and beech. These grow in cooler climates with defined seasons, resulting in slower, more uniform growth that produces stable and workable timber.
The durability of European hardwoods varies by species—oak, for example, is classified as Durability Class 2 and performs well outdoors, while beech is classified as Class 5 and is less suited for prolonged exposure to moisture.
European hardwoods are generally strong, reliable, and easier to machine than denser tropical species, making them well-suited for a wide range of structural and industrial applications.
Tropical hardwoods are sourced from rainforests and tropical regions, primarily in Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. One of the most common species is Ekki, which is classified as Durability Class 1. Ekki offers exceptional resistance to moisture, rot, and insect damage, and is incredibly strong, making it ideal for extreme environments such as marine construction, permanent bog mats, and heavy-duty infrastructure projects.
Sizing advice
Our European Hardwood bog mats are available in a wide range of sizes, including smaller 1m x 3m and larger 1m x 5m timber mats. Thickness ranges from 70mm up to 300mm, depending on the level of durability required.
| Thickness | Width | Length | Site Use | Loadings |
| 70mm | 1m | 5m | Light / Medium Traffic | 1-30t |
| 100mm | 1m | 2/3/4/5m | Medium Traffic / Outriggers | 35-45t |
| 150mm | 1m | 2/3/5m | Med / Heavy Traffic / Outriggers | 45-65t |
| 200mm | 1m | 2/3/5/6m | Heavy Traffic / Outriggers | 65-75t |
| 300mm | 1.2m | 5/6m | Heavy Traffic / Large Cranes | 75-125t+ |
Unsure which size you need?
FSC Accredited
Timbermat is proudly certified by The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – a globally trusted non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting forests all around the world.
Our certification reflects our genuine commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing and protecting natural resources for future generations.
