Spotted gum–  2-8 weeks supply time depending on grade required.

  • Historically used for structural purposes due to it’s high strength rating and durability.
  • Not recommended for joinery- bench-tops, handrails, stairs, windows, doors etc, due to high shrinkage and tendency to twist, bow and crack.
  • Available in f27 k/d m.c. 15-18%. Structural grade, Unseasoned f17 and architectural grade m.c. 10-12% k/d
  • Suitable, superior substitute- Merbau f27 select grade. class 1. Durability.a/g class. 2. i/g

Blackbutt– 2-8 weeks supply time depending on grade required.

  • Historically used for structural purposes due to it’s high strength rating and durability.
  • Not recommended for joinery- bench-tops, handrails, stairs, windows, doors etc, due to high shrinkage and tendency to twist, bow and crack.
  • Available is f27 k/d m.c. 15-18%. Structural grade, Unseasoned f17 and architectural grade m.c. 10-12% k/d
  • Suitable, superior stability and colour substitute for joinery- PNG Rosewood select grade. class 1. Durability a/g.

Ironbark– 3-8 weeks supply time depending on grade required.

  • Historically used for structural purposes due to it’s high strength rating and durability.
  • Not recommended for joinery- bench-tops, handrails, stairs, windows, doors etc, due to high shrinkage and tendency to twist, bow and crack.
  • Available Unseasoned f17 or f14.
  • Suitable, superior substitute for joinery- PNG Rosewood select grade. class 1. Durability a/g. or Merbau f27 select grade- for joinery or structural.

Jarrah- W.A.

  • Historically used for structural purposes, flooring, joinery and fencing due to it’s availability (back-loaded to Adelaide) and class 2. durability i/g.
  • Not recommended for novice joinery- bench-tops, handrails, stairs, windows, doors etc, due to relatively high shrinkage and tendency to twist, bow and crack. Suitable for joinery if seasoned to 6-9% m.c.-
  • naturally termite resistant.
  • Available unseasoned and in some sections k/d or a/d. 

Karri- W.A

  • Historically used for structural purposes, shed rails and fencing rails due to it’s availability in long lengths and high structural strength (f17) and class 2. durability i/g.
  • Not recommended for posts or large sections due to very high shrinkage- 12% radial.
  • NOT termite resistant.
  • Available unseasoned- 100x50 and 75x50

 Queensland Cedar (Toona ciliatavar. australis)

  • Historically used for joinery, skirtings etc.
  • Should be used for heritage restorations instead of imported western red cedar. 
  • class 1. durability a/g.
  • Available seasoned 150-250x 45mm. lengths 2.4-3.0m

Merbau (PNG Kwila) Stocked in most sections. 7-10 working days from order if not in stock.

  • Used for structural and joinery purposes due to it’s high strength rating , stability and durability.
  • Recommended for all joinery- bench-tops, handrails, stairs, windows, doors, decking, structural posts- beams etc.
  • Available a/d or k/d f17-f27

PNG Rosewood– Pterocarpus indicus

  • Traditionally used for joinery but recently used externally due to it’s stability and class 1. durability a/g.
  • Recommended for joinery- bench-tops, handrails, stairs, windows, doors, decking, flooring, beams etc.Available a/d or k/d .
  • Stocked in most sections. 7-10 working days from order if not in stock.

Mahogany– Swietenia macrophylla

  • Historically used for joinery, musical instruments, kitchens and boat interiors 
  • Solomon island plantation Brazilian mahogany
  • Planted by the British Army after WW2.
  • Very stable, low shrinkage
  • Available from us seasoned 10 years 100x25 150x25 200x25 150x50 and some smaller sections. All 1.8m lengths.

PNG Heavy Hopea- Hopea Iriana 

  • Used for structural purposes due to it’s high strength rating and class 2. a/g and i/g durability.
  • Rips extremely well will minimal spring off- saw
  • Seasons to f27 -f34. Structural grade, Unseasoned f17 .
  • Very affordable and suitable for substructure with low shrinkage.

Native White Cypress– Callitris Glauca, Callitris Columellaris, Callitris Hugelii 

  • Shrinkage is low- 2% radial.
  • Supplied unseasoned, boxed heart.
  • Class 1. durability above ground- in Zone B and Zone C. Class 2. Durability in ground- in Zone A and Zone B. –which covers southern South Australia.
  • Naturally termite resistant.
  • Fire resistant BAL 19* (*some southern sourced cypress meets this rating- the mill or merchant must supply certification for your insurance purposes)
  • Native white cypress is not cypress macrocarpa (golden cypress)
  • Native white cypress is not ecologically harvested.
  • Cypress macrocarpa (golden cypress) is ecologically harvested, but is not as durable as Native white cypress.
  • The marketing name Çypress’Gold’ is not cypress macrocarpa.

Native Cypress Design factors – considerations are-

Timber sag–

  • When spanning using cypress beams, unseasoned cypress will sag under load, even under it’s own weight.
  • Increasing section size in thickness will not help e.g going from 200x50 to 200x75mm.
  • Cypress is a relatively small tree so increased the width/ depth may not be available e.g 250x50mm is rare in long lengths.
  • Span tables– It is better to over- engineer when using f7 structurally graded unseasoned cypress  due to potential sag– see above. .

Timber fixing– Cypress is a dense softwood, so has to be treated like a hardwood when fixing. All screws and nails need to be pre-drilled, and bolt holes drilled oversize to allow for expansion/ contraction.

Sapwood–

 

  • The sapwood is not durable.
  • So long as it is regularly maintained with penetrating, anti -mould, anti-fungal oils, sapwood in some applications, can last indefinitely.
  • There is no minimum or maximum amount of sapwood allowed for in the grading.
  • Boards lose their volume when the sapwood degrades, and therefore possibly lose the f7 grade over a short span of years.
  • For in-ground applications it is recommended that all sapwood be removed below ground level.
  • Exposed docked ends should be coated with Log end sealer to reduce splitting.
  • Post faces should have penetrants applied to slow moisture loss and reduce checking.
  • Timber ‘Wane’ Is common and is part of the rustic character when choosing the white cypress species.
  • When the sapwood degrades, most posts will have wane.

Acclimatizing- Cypress seasoned relatively quickly and  is a relatively stable species if installed between late Autumn and early spring. All cut ends should be sealed with Caltex log end sealer to reduce cracking and board/post faces, ideally, deep treated. This species can be installed in the warmer months with a lot of care. The result just will not be as good.

Joinery- Cypress is not suitable for joinery unless it has been correctly seasoned to 10-12% moisture content.Allow for at least 50% waste for selection after seasoning, due to the cracking, bowing and loose knots. Seasoned supply is generally not available.

Lead time- Some post sections are often in stock at the mill and available within 3-5 working days. Lead times are extending out to 6-8 weeks or longer as mills cannot keep up with demand. This year most cypress mills will stop taking orders mid- September. Orders placed after this time may start being processed late January.