Walk through their timber section, and you’ll feel a primal connection to the Atlantic forests that built this city. Southampton’s maritime history is stitched into every plank of Scandinavian redwood and European oak. Covers sources their timber with a respect for sustainability—a quiet nod to the fact that good wood doesn’t come from luck, but from responsible forestry.
Pro tip: always check your wood for “shakes” (small cracks) before you buy. A seasoned merchant will tell you a little movement is fine; a split that runs the length of the board is not. And here’s a fun fact: the term “heartwood” refers to the dead, darker center of a tree—it’s actually the strongest part, but it’s also less flexible. Decide what you’re building before you choose your plank.
The Hardware Wall: Where Creativity Meets Grip
You haven’t lived until you’ve stood in front of a wall of 200 different screws. Covers’ selection is almost cinematic—like the armory scene in a spy movie, but with more zinc plating. The secret? For outdoor projects, always choose stainless steel or coated screws. Regular steel will rust faster than a biscuit left in the Southampton drizzle.
One cultural reference I love is how British DIY culture was shaped by the post-war “Make Do and Mend” ethos. Covers embodies that spirit today. You can find a bag of 50-year-old sash window weights next to modern low-VOC paint. It’s a conversation between generations of builders, all happening in one aisle.
Gosport MP visits Covers to celebrate 175th anniversary year – Timber Media
Don’t forget the humble masonry anchor. If you’re hanging a heavy shelf on a brick wall and you skip this—well, let’s just say your collection of vintage vinyl might end up on the floor. It’s a two-hour job, but one that’s infinitely better than a 2 a.m. crash.
