22.04.2026
Maritime Pine: The Complete Buyer's Guide to Cladding and Flooring
This guide explains everything a buyer needs to know about maritime pine cladding and floorboards — including the difference between clear grade and reject/B-grade timber, how to choose between the four available floorboard widths, what oiled maritime pine means, and whether untreated maritime pine is suitable for outdoor use. Products are available from Snowdon Timber online at snowdontimber.co.uk and from our trade depots in Bangor and Mochdre, North Wales.
What Is Maritime Pine and Why Is It Popular for Cladding and Flooring?
Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) is a fast-grown European softwood prized for its tight grain, resinous density, and natural resistance to moisture. Grown predominantly in the Landes forest of southwest France and across the Iberian Peninsula, it has been a go-to choice for both interior flooring and external or semi-external cladding for decades.
The reasons it sells consistently are practical ones. Maritime pine is harder and more resinous than most construction-grade redwood or whitewood, which means it takes paint, oil, and varnish well and holds up better in damp or humid conditions. The tongue and groove profile that runs through our cladding and flooring range locks boards together cleanly, reducing movement and giving a professional finish without specialist joinery skills.
At Snowdon Timber, we stock maritime pine in two product categories — T&G cladding and solid floorboards — and across three finish grades: clear grade, oiled, and reject/B-grade. Understanding the differences will save you money and help you choose the right product first time.
What does clear grade maritime pine mean?
Clear grade refers to timber that has been selected and graded to minimise visible defects — knots, resin pockets, splits, or discolouration. It is not necessarily perfectly blemish-free, but the visual quality is consistent and suitable for applications where appearance matters: painted or stained cladding on a summerhouse or garden office, for example, or a feature wall inside a property.
Our Clear Grade Maritime Pine T&G Cladding is available at 10mm thick x 90mm wide x 2.0m in a pack of 10, priced at £99.95. If you need longer boards for a larger elevation, we also carry the Clear Grade White Varnished T&G Cladding at 10mm x 90mm x 2.5m in a pack of 8 at £99.95 — the factory-applied white varnish finish saves you a preparation step and suits contemporary painted-look projects.
What is reject or B-grade maritime pine?
Reject, or B-grade, timber is material that has been downgraded from clear grade due to visible characteristics — heavier knots, minor surface checking, resin streaks, or slight variation in width or thickness. Structurally, it is the same species and the same density. It will perform identically in terms of strength and durability. What you are buying is cosmetic imperfection at a significantly lower price.
What is reject or B-grade maritime pine?
Reject, or B-grade, timber is material that has been downgraded from clear grade due to visible characteristics — heavier knots, minor surface checking, resin streaks, or slight variation in width or thickness. Structurally, it is the same species and the same density. It will perform identically in terms of strength and durability. What you are buying is cosmetic imperfection at a significantly lower price.
Our Reject Maritime Pine T&G Cladding (10mm x 90mm x 2.0m, pack of 10) is priced at £70.00 against £99.95 for the clear grade equivalent — a saving of £29.95 per pack, or around 30%. For projects where the timber will be painted, stained dark, or used in a secondary space where aesthetics are less critical, reject grade is the straightforward value choice.
Which Maritime Pine Floorboard Width Should I Choose?
We stock maritime pine solid floorboards at four widths, all at 21mm thickness and 2.0m length.
Narrow boards (120mm) — where do they work best?
120mm boards are the most traditional width for solid pine flooring. They move less than wider boards with seasonal humidity changes, which makes them a safer choice in older buildings with variable heating or in spaces that are not climate-controlled year-round. They suit period properties, workshops, and utility rooms.
Mid-width boards (140mm) — the most versatile option
140mm is the practical sweet spot for most residential installations. Wide enough to read as a feature floor, narrow enough to stay stable in centrally heated rooms. Available in both clear grade (£45.00) and reject grade (£42.50), this width offers the best starting point if you are undecided.
Wide boards (170mm oiled, 200mm clear grade) — statement flooring
At 170mm and 200mm, these boards make a visual statement. Wide-plank flooring reads as premium in living rooms, open-plan kitchens, and commercial settings. The oiled finish on the 170mm board (£50.00) offers immediate protection and a natural, low-sheen appearance — no sanding or oiling required before laying. The 200mm clear grade (£50.00) gives the widest plank option for those who want to apply their own stain or finish.
Is Oiled Maritime Pine Worth the Extra Cost?
The oiled 170mm floorboard is priced identically to the 200mm clear grade board at £50.00, which makes the decision straightforward. If you want a 170mm board and intend to apply a natural oil finish — which is the right treatment for solid pine flooring in most domestic settings — the pre-oiled board saves you an entire preparation stage.
Factory oiling penetrates the wood during production under controlled conditions, giving more consistent coverage than site application. It also seals the timber in transit, reducing the risk of surface checking before installation. For a rustic or natural aesthetic, it is the cleanest route to a finished floor.
Maritime Pine Cladding: Indoor or Outdoor Use?
This is the question we get most often. The T&G cladding in our maritime pine range is not pressure treated and is therefore best suited to interior use or sheltered exterior applications — summerhouses, garden offices, log cabins, interior feature walls, saunas, and ceiling lining.
For cladding that will face full weather exposure — rain, UV, frost — you need either a pre-treated product or a robust paint or exterior oil system applied on site. If you are comparing options for a fully weathered exterior, speak to the team at our Bangor or Mochdre depots about treated cladding alternatives.
The white varnished 2.5m boards are factory-finished and suited to interior installations where you want a clean, bright aesthetic without having to source and apply a separate primer and topcoat.
How Much Maritime Pine Cladding Do I Need?
For T&G cladding at 90mm face width, each board covers 90mm of wall height (or width, depending on orientation). To calculate the number of packs required for a wall:
- Calculate the total area in square metres (height × width)
- Divide by 0.09 (the face coverage of each board in metres)
- This gives you the number of linear metres required
- Each pack of 10 boards at 2.0m gives 20 linear metres of coverage
- Each pack of 8 boards at 2.5m gives 20 linear metres of coverage
Add 10–15% for waste, particularly if cutting around windows, doors, or corners.
Reject Grade vs Clear Grade: Is It Worth Paying More?
For most outdoor structures and secondary spaces, no. Reject grade maritime pine at £70.00 per pack versus £99.95 for clear grade represents a 30% saving with no structural compromise. The knots and character marks that cause a board to be downgraded will often be invisible once a dark stain or opaque paint is applied.
For interior feature walls, visible flooring in living spaces, and projects where a uniform appearance matters, clear grade is worth the premium. You are paying for visual consistency, not structural superiority.
Shop Maritime Pine at Snowdon Timber
All maritime pine products are available online at snowdontimber.co.uk and from our depots in Bangor and Mochdre, North Wales. Whether you are cladding a garden office, laying a character floor, or fitting out a workshop, our team can help you select the right grade and quantity.
Published by Snowdon Timber Products Ltd. Prices correct at time of publication. Contact us for current stock availability.
