With so many stunning species available on the market, choosing the right timber products can be overwhelming – regardless of whether or not you’re undertaking your first DIY project or you’re an experienced architect, builder or landscape designer. In our opinion, when it comes to deciding on the right species, it’s more important that you consider your application and the requirements and needs that it poses, rather than simply selecting a timber that you think is the most attractive! In this guide, we’ve taken a look at the most common projects that require timber and what features of the timbers are most important, so that you can make your decision with confidence.
INDOOR PROJECTS
As these projects are constantly sheltered from the environment and only subjected to wear and tear from general use, softer, less durable timbers can be used.
Flooring: Offering a warm finish and bringing character to any space, timber products can be a great choice for flooring. We recommend using hardwood or engineered boards, as these can withstand heavy traffic. Consider:
- Tasmanian Oak or Victorian Ash
- Blackbutt
- Spotted Gum
- American Oak
- Engineered Flooring
Architraves: The ideal way to tie your whole build together, architraves and skirting boards can be stained, painted or oiled, offering more flexibility in the timber you choose. As many people look for ornate designs, it’s important that the species is easy to work with. Consider:
- Tasmanian Oak
- Treated Pine
- Cedar
- Medium Density Fibreboard
OUTDOOR PROJECTS
Subjected to constant environmental factors, including harsh weather, damaging UV rays and termites, these timber products need to be durable and long-lasting.
Decking: A must for those who love entertaining outdoors, decking timber products should be durable in the face of constant exposure, and strong enough to withstand heavy traffic and outdoor furniture. Resistance to termites, rot and lyctid borers is also recommended. Consider:
- Ironbark
- Spotted Gum
- Blackbutt
- Silvertop Ash
- Merbau
- Jarrah
- Treated Pine
Cladding: The ideal choice for an architectural masterpiece, cladding is more than just a functional façade. However, as it is constantly exposed to the weather, it must be incredibly durable. As it covers the entire home, it may be more expensive than other options, so budget should be taken into account. Consider:
- Spotted Gum
- Ironbark
- Silvertop Ash
- Blackbutt
- Cedar
- Weathertex
- Weatherboard
Landscaping: Landscaping projects often require the timber product to be placed partially below the ground, so it’s important that the species you choose has a long below-ground lifespan too. Consider:
- Ironbark
- Spotted Gum
- Jarrah
- CCA Treated Pine
STRUCTURAL PROJECTS
Forming an integral part of any build, the structural elements of your project must be incredibly strong and straight.
Framing: Whether you’re building a home, retaining wall or pergola, the timber product you choose needs to be strong enough to support the structure that you’re building. Consider:
- OB Hardwood
- F17 Laminated Veneer Lumber
- Framing or Treated Pine
- Cypress
Whilst we all have our favourite timber products, be it Australian hardwoods or an easy-to-use softwood, choosing the ideal option for your build should be dependent on the requirements of the project at hand, rather than the appearance of the species that you are considering.
If you’re struggling to decide on the ideal lumber for your application, then we recommend speaking with the experienced team at Everist. With over 35 years’ experience in timber products, building materials and hardware, you can be confident that the recommendation you receive will be accurate and well-researched. Call us on 03 5979 1674 or visit our timber yard today!