Timber Information

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Timber Colour Chart

The 30 species below are readily accessible timbers (subject to availability). The swatches in the chart are provided as a general guide to colour and grain. It is important to be mindful that as natural material timber attributes can vary widely. The timber available at the time of your order may be different in colour, grain and other natural features. If you need to match a laminate or veneer it is often better to order Victorian Ash and stain to match the colour. Legend: $$$ = price...

Laminated Pine

Laminated pine is a timber product that has undergone the lamination process. This involves layers of timber glued together with moisture resistant structural adhesive. It is also known as Glulam. Timber is laminated to improve strength and stability. It consists of at least three layers of dried boards with the timber fibres aligned in a parallel fashion. It can be manufactured in larger sizes and longer lengths than solid timber. It is made as structural members such as beams and columns a...

Plantation Grown Softwoods

Softwood is a term that represents timbers from the Pinaceae family of the Coniferae (Conifer) species. Woods of this family include pines, spruces and firs. Common examples of these are known commercially as radiata pine, cypress pine, maritime pine and oregon also known as Douglas fir. As the name implies these timbers are soft, straight grained and lightweight making them easy to transport and work. They have a satisfactory strength to weight ratio and well suited to the housing construction...

Oregon

Oregon, also commonly known as Douglas Fir is native to North America. Now grown in commercial plantations in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and South America it is a sustainable timber source. A non treated softwood suited only to above ground applications. Oregon is rated medium strength AS/NZ 2878 class S5 in both seasoned and unseasoned forms. It has low shrinkage but its high resin content makes it susceptible to some ridging. Oregon has a distinctive appearance, blonde to brown in colo...

Western Red Cedar

Western red cedar or species Thuja plicata is a native of North America. Contrary to its name it is not a true cedar but a member of the conifer family Cupressaceae. It has a long history over thousands of years as a timber used for tools, shelter and more by the indigenous cultures of British Columbia. It is a soft, lightweight wood and easy to work. The heartwood varies from pale to dark brown in colour it is straight grained, course texture, very few knots and distinct growth rings. T...

Radiata Pine

Radiata pine or Pinus radiata, is a member of the Pinaceae family. Native to North America it is also known as Monterey or Insignis pine. Grown in FSC certified forests and classified by Greenpeace as ‘Good Wood’ it is the main plantation species in Australia and New Zealand. Its strength and soft, lightweight properties make it a popular softwood used in the housing construction industry. It is suited to structural and decorative use and when treated with preservative it can be used for above ...

Cypress Pine

Cypress pine is a versatile, durable, termite resistant timber used for housing construction. Australian cypress, Callitris Glaucophylla, is commonly known as white cypress. This species constitutes a large part of Australia’s forestry heritage. It is uniquely Australian timber that had long been used by Aboriginal Australians for tools and medicinal purposes. It is now grown specifically for the timber industry with widely spread forest areas west of the Great Dividing Range. Extending from ce...

Walnut

American black walnut is a premium cabinet and furniture making timber, native to the eastern regions of North America. Availability in Australia is generally limited to the upper grades. It is the trade name for Juglans nigra. Also known as Black Walnut and American Walnut. The heartwood ranges from a golden to rich chocolate brown colour, occasionally with narrow streaks of a darker purplish-brown or reddish cast. Sapwood is a distinctive creamy white colour. American black walnut i...

Merbau

Merbau is a popular hardwood from South East Asia used in a wide range of applications; from construction to indoor and outdoor furniture. Merbau grows naturally in South East Asia, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea and is imported to Australia from these countries. Merbau grows in Australia in a specific region by the Johnstone River and in the Daintree area of Far North Queensland. It is the trade name for Intsia bijuga. Also known as Kwila and Ipil. There are also va...

Blackwood

Blackwood is a medium-sized Australian hardwood. It is also known as Acacia melanoxylon, an Acacia Species native in Southeastern Australia. It also grows in the eastern states. In the wetter areas of Tasmania, it is grown in large volumes for commercial use. It is also known as Australian Blackwood, Paluma Blackwood and Black Wattle. Although called “Blackwood”, the name is somewhat of a misnomer, as its wood is not at all black. The heartwood is a rich, golden brown, s...

Spotted Gum

Spotted gum is the common name for four species which are Corymbia Citriodora, Corymbia Citriodora Variegate, Corymbia Henryi, and Corymbia Maculata that grow along the east coast of Australia. Forests are dotted from northeast Victoria to the northern tablelands of Queensland, with some occurrence in western areas of southern Queensland. It is a premium Australian hardwood with a striking appearance and a high degree of natural durability and strength. The heartwood ran...

Blackbutt

Blackbutt is an Australian hardwood also known as Eucalyptus Pilularis. It is a species of medium-sized to tall trees that are found predominantly in eastern Australia. There are also various other names associated with these hardwoods which are listed below. Blackbutt timber is typically grown in the coastal regions of Queensland and New South Wales. It grows to a height of approximately 70m (230 ft) The common name blackbutt came about due to the tree's appearance after bushfire, whereby t...

American White Oak

American white oak is a hardwood common throughout the eastern United States. It is the trade name for a variety of hardwood species from the Quercus genus. Also known as US Oak, Northern White Oak, Southern White Oak. There are also various other names associated with these which are listed below. Similar in colour and appearance to European Oak. American white oak has light-coloured sapwood and a light to dark brown heartwood. It is mostly straight grained with a medium to coarse textur...

Victorian Ash

Victorian ash is an Australian hardwood and is sourced from two species of eucalypt. Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus Regnans) and Alpine Ash (Eucalyptus Delegatensis) which are similar in appearance and attributes. Tasmanian Oak is often used interchangeably with Victorian Ash however Tasmanian Oak is sourced from three species, Eucalyptus Regnans, Eucalyptus Delegatensis and Eucalyptus Obliqua commonly known as Messmate. Naturally occurring in alpine areas of Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales t...

LOSP Treatment

LOSP or Light Organic Solvent Preservative is used to treat plantation grown softwoods. There are LOSP treatments to meet various hazard levels. Our LOSP products are treated with PROTIM™ H3. Treatment to the H3 hazard level provides protection against termite, fungal decay and is water repellent. H3 treated products are suited to above ground, outdoor applications such as verandahs, fretwork and balustrade. To ensure complete surface coverage and penetration the treatment process is applied...

Timber Certification

The process of certification arose from growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of deforestation globally. In 1992 the Forest Principles were produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. These are principles for a global consensus on management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. As a result a number of endorsement systems have evolved. The process of certification arose from growing concerns regarding the environmental...