Which Wood Should I Use? Types of Wood and Their Best Use Cases

Walk into any timber market in Nigeria and every seller will tell you the same thing: "This one na the best wood." The truth is that there is no best wood. There is only the right wood for the job. A species that gives you a stunning dining table can fail you as a bathroom cabinet. A board that works perfectly for a wardrobe carcass would be a waste of money on a front door.

We process over 150 boards a day and have delivered more than 1,000 projects. This is our honest guide to the woods we work with every day, and where each one belongs.

Solid hardwoods

Iroko

If West Africa has a signature hardwood, it is iroko. It is naturally oily, highly resistant to termites and rot, and stable in our humidity. Many people call it "African teak", and it earns the name.

Best use cases: entrance doors, outdoor furniture, window frames, staircases, and any piece that has to survive weather and time.

Workshop tip: Iroko's natural oils can resist some finishes. We always degrease the surface before sealing. If you skip that step, the varnish can start peeling within a year.

Mahogany

Mahogany has a rich reddish-brown colour that deepens with age, a straight grain, and excellent workability. It machines cleanly and takes a premium finish better than most woods.

Best use cases: statement furniture such as dining tables, executive office desks, bed frames, panelled doors, and decorative interior trim.

Teak

Teak is expensive, but it is worth it wherever moisture is the enemy. Its silica and oil content make it almost immune to water damage.

Best use cases: bathroom furniture, shower benches, luxury outdoor sets, and poolside woodwork.

Engineered boards

Here is something many clients do not realise: most modern kitchens, wardrobes, and offices around the world are built from engineered boards, not solid wood. That is not a compromise. Boards do not warp, crack, or shrink the way solid planks can, and they make clean, modern designs affordable.

Marine plywood (marine board)

Layers of wood veneer bonded with waterproof glue. It is strong, holds screws well, and tolerates moisture better than any other board in the market.

Best use cases: kitchen cabinet carcasses, bathroom vanities, wall cladding, and anywhere spills and steam are daily events.

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)

MDF is perfectly smooth and uniform, which makes it the best surface there is for spray-painted finishes and precise router profiles.

Best use cases: wardrobe doors, TV wall consoles, decorative wall panels, office furniture, and painted kitchen cabinet doors.

Workshop tip: The weakness of MDF is that raw edges drink moisture. This is why professional edge banding is protection, not decoration. Every MDF component that leaves our factory has its edges sealed and banded.

HDF and particle board

HDF (High Density Fibreboard) has a harder, denser surface than MDF and suits flooring and high-wear panels. Particle board is the budget option. It is acceptable for light shelving and short-life furniture, but we are honest with clients: keep it away from water.

The quick-reference table

Wood	Water resistance	Termite resistance	Cost	Best for
Iroko	Excellent	Excellent	₦₦₦	Doors, outdoor, stairs
Mahogany	Good	Good	₦₦₦	Premium furniture
Teak	Outstanding	Excellent	₦₦₦₦	Bathrooms, outdoor luxury
Marine plywood	Excellent	Good	₦₦	Kitchen and bath carcasses
MDF	Poor (unsealed)	Fair	₦₦	Painted doors, panels, consoles
Particle board	Very poor	Poor	₦	Light shelving only

So what should your project use?

The professional answer is usually a combination. A kitchen we would be proud to stand behind might use marine plywood carcasses in the moisture zones, MDF doors for a flawless sprayed finish, and an iroko or mahogany worktop feature where you touch the wood every day. That is how you get durability, looks, and value in one build.

Matching each material to each component is exactly what our technical advisory service is for. Send us your drawings, or just describe the space, and we will specify the right board for every panel before any cutting starts.

Planning a kitchen, wardrobe, or office fit-out? Request a quote or chat with us on WhatsApp. Bring your questions. We enjoy the hard ones.

Nightowl Woodworks Ltd. Precision in every cut.