NASH TIMBERS FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Ok I am late with last month's newsletter but I have two good excuses. Firstly, thanks to all our wonderful clients we have been very busy helping them with quotes, orders, floor installation and trying to sort out any problems that tend to arise. Secondly, I have been trying to get my head around how to explain simply  the properties and characteristic of external timber to help our clients make a more informed decision when using external timber.

The last 2 Timber presentations were heavily supported by our clients, it is nice to be able to meet the face behind the voice.

Nash Timbers continue with The Nash Timber Presentation which has been certified by NSW Architectural Board for CPE Activity Formal Points & Builders CPD Event, at our home office monthly.(2 formal Points)

SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE FOR, MARCH, APRIL AND MAY PRESENTATION

When: 25/03/09, 22/4/09  and 20/5/09 At: 5:00pm

Venue: 136 OLD SOTH HEAD ROAD VAUCLUSE (MUST BOOK)

Nash Timbers Regular feature.

1) F.A.Q

2) PROBLEMS THAT ARISE

Send your question and test our knowledge!!!!!

F.A.Q

Does Exterior Timber need protecting and maintaining?" YES.

As Quoted by Timber Solutions "Searing heat, a high ultra-violet factor humidity and moisture movement within the wood cell all combine to take their toll. To preserve its natural beauty, timber needs protecting and maintaining."

A water repellent preservative can be used to stop the entry of moisture into the wood cell, which will minimize swelling and shrinking. Also, a product can be applied  to protect against ultra-violet damage which causes timber to grey.

OOPS!

Staining a floor.

When staining a floor, we have found a serious problem can arise with the stain going up the wall. As we all know the client finds a picture of the stain in a European magazine and to achieve the colour it may take many times of wiping the stain off the floor. To achieve the most effective results the stain has to be spread evenly over the floor right up to the wall.

To avoid this from happening Nash Timber recommends that the painter puts an undercoat on the walls, the floor stainer comes in and applies stain and one coat of clear sealert. The painter returns and finishes painting the walls, then when all trades are finished the Floor Sander returns and buffs & puts final sealer coat on floor.

Also if stone joinery or tiles are been used they must be sealed top and bottom to stop stain been absorbed,

EXTERIOR TIMBER

Table 1 - NATURAL DURABILITY - PROBABLE LIFE EXPECTANCY*

Durability refers resistance of the heartwood to attack by fungi, insects when the timber is exposed to adverse conditions. Durability 1 and 2 recommended for external use.

The above table gives you a guideline when selecting suitable timber for external use.

Understanding the difference between seasoned and unseasoned timber.

Density- As applied to timber density is the mass of wood substance and moisture enclosed within a piece expressed in kilograms per cubic meter. As this mass will vary dependent on the amount of moisture in the piece.

Water in wood

All freshly cut timbers contain water, the moisture content of freshly sawn timber is in the range of 60% to 100%, which means the water component can be a high as one part water to one part wood substance.

Dense hardwoods have relatively low "green" moisture content compared to young  soft sapwood. Example; Ironbark Spotted Gum, Tallowwod and Blackbutt 40-60% MC, whilst radita pine may have a MC exceeding 200%.

Species of high density are slow to dry (higher density timbers are Grey Box and Ironbark

To air dry timber 50mm thick it may take up to nine months to bring it's moisture content down to 25%, than if the timber was to be used as flooring it would have to go into a kiln to bring the moisture content down to 12% for stabililty.

You, may ask why I am giving you all these statistics. You need to understand that when ordering Structural Hardwood that if you want the thickness greater than 50mm, it will not be kiln dried, it is green off the saw and there will be shrinkage in both radial and tangential directions.

Hence, seasoned timber will be seldom available in large cross sections. If requiring large cross sections of timber thicker than 50mm you need to use Recycled Timber and Green Off The Saw.

When using Green off the Saw shrinkage rate allowance to be considered with each species.

Approximate rule of thumb, shrinkage rate:

Ironbark 5%, Spotted Gum 5%, Tallowwood 5% and Blackbutt 6%

What does this really mean?

If you order a piece of Green Spotted Gum finish size 150mm x 150mm it will shrink approximately to 142mm x 142mm

Also, as suppliers of Western Red Cedar is recommended for external use.

It is inherently resistant to moisture, decay and insect damage due to Cedar's naturally occurring characteristics, there are no preservative or chemical treatments applied at any stage. All Western Red Cedar is coming from a sustainable managed forest.

Western Red Cedar is available in cladding, Dressed All Round up to 150 mm x 150mm, it will shrink approximately to 147mm x 147mm (Approx 2% shrinkage rate)

Western Red Cedar is air dried and timber greater than 75mm is classified as part seasoned.

Nash Timbers

PO BOX 163
VAUCLUSE NSW 2030

Telephone: (02) 9337 6800
Facsimile: (02) 9337 1595

Email: info@nashtimbers.com.au
Web: http://www.nashtimbers.com.au/

Showrooms (by appointment only)

ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE

FOREST MANAGEMENT

ENSURES THAT THE FOREST STRUCTURE AND

HABITATS ARE MAINTAINED.