WPC timber tubes: inside and out
Timber tubes are hollow WPC (wood-polymer composite) profiles with a wood-grain surface. Inside, they make slatted partitions, beams and ceiling features. Outside, they make pergolas, canopies, sunshades and façade screens.
What they are
Timber tubes are hollow sections of wood-polymer composite with an embossed wood-grain surface. The current profile is 40 × 60 mm in section and 2900 mm long. They arrive pre-finished, so the look is set before they reach the project. For wider boards with deep grooves, see exterior fluted panels.
They give the look of timber battens in a uniform, repeatable profile, so a long run of tubes looks even from end to end.
Sizes and shades
Every tube is 40 × 60 mm and 2900 mm long. Used with the 60 mm face forward, a tube looks like a broad batten. Turned to show the 40 mm side, it gives a slimmer line. The five shades are:
- Natural Teak. A honey-toned teak.
- Burma Teak and Ipe Wood. Natural mid-tone woods.
- African Walnut. The darkest of the five.
- Ash Grey. A grey-washed wood for cooler schemes.
Inside
Set in a row, tubes form slatted partitions that divide a room without closing it off. On a ceiling they look like beams. On a wall they make a row of vertical lines behind a reception desk or a bar. They also frame a staircase, screen a puja space or mark the edge of a dining area.
Outside
Exterior timber tubes are used for pergolas, canopies, sunshades and façade battens, in five wood-grain shades. Paired with exterior fluted panels, they add relief and shadow lines to an elevation.
Spacing and direction
Close spacing turns a row of tubes into a screen that gives privacy while letting light and air through. Wider spacing keeps a view open and shows the tubes as separate lines. Vertical tubes make a façade look taller; horizontal ones make it look longer and lower. Decide the spacing on the elevation drawing before you choose a shade.
Choosing a shade
Lighter shades keep a screen airy; darker ones look almost solid from across the road. Look at the shade against your façade colour and in the light of the side it faces.
Questions people ask
What size are Inlife’s timber tubes?
The current profile is 40 × 60 mm in section and 2900 mm long.
Can timber tubes be used outside?
Yes. Exterior timber tubes are used for pergolas, canopies, sunshades and façade screens, in five wood-grain shades.
What are timber tubes made of?
WPC, a wood-polymer composite, formed into a hollow section with an embossed wood-grain surface.
What shades do timber tubes come in?
Five: Natural Teak, Burma Teak, Ipe Wood, African Walnut and Ash Grey.
Where are timber tubes used indoors?
Slatted partitions, ceiling beams and feature walls behind reception desks and bars.
Should timber tubes run vertically or horizontally?
Vertical tubes make a wall or façade look taller; horizontal tubes make it look longer and lower. Decide on the elevation drawing first.