Thread: Paulownia

Why are you lining the inside of the roof?

Will be expensive and tedious. May be a better solution.

Originally Posted by artme

Whyu are you lining the inside of the roof?

Exposed rafters?

http://www.paulownia-timber-sales.com.au/Paulownia.htm mentions that it is more resistant to termites than jarrah or pine.

Originally Posted by Vernonv

Exposed rafters?

http://www.paulownia-timber-sales.com.au/Paulownia.htm mentions that it is more resistant to termites than jarrah or pine.

I own the web site mentioned above and could not remember adding this information to it. Using the link this morning I could not find it there. Puzzling!

Any way it is correct. I have acquired a copy of a report prepared for a specific client by the Curtin Uni WA. I am not sure about copy rights and client privilege etc so I won't copy it. But briefly stated they put 70 x 19 mm Paulownia boards under leaf mulch and within 1 metre of fallen Eucalyptus logs that was infested with termites in 1999. After 9 months they were in the same condition. There was no evidence of attack.

The report has a PYA comment to the effect termites are unprictable and users should apply the same treatments as other timbers. Final comment was to the effect that Paulownia may be better than Jarrah in respect of resisting termites.

Hope this helps
John

Originally Posted by artme

Why are you lining the inside of the roof?

Will be expensive and tedious. May be a better solution.

I've converted the carport into a new room and moved the car parking further back under a shade sail arrangement.

The carport roof rafters are exposed. I want to keep the sloping roof inside the carport. Easiest solution to finish off would seem to be using Glosswood Paulownia boards secret nailed to the rafters on the inside of the roof. This would create an aesthetically appealing look. For the brick walls of the carport I'll either plaster or gyprock.

My concern with the Paulownia is really that I don't want the lined roof to be a magnet for termites. I guess I'm surprised that Paulownia has termite resistant properties given that it is a hardwood which is soft (easy to dent).

Understand now.

I do regular physical inspections around my house, despite having chemical barriers.The termite control people tell me Physical inspection is a very sound method of detection and preventio/remedy.

Originally Posted by whitewood

I own the web site mentioned above and could not remember adding this information to it. Using the link this morning I could not find it there. Puzzling!

Odd indeed. Here is the first full paragraph that I just copied from that page link -

Paulownia is a pale yellow to honey coloured timber with a low density of 260-290 kg/m3 at 11% moisture. It is strong for its weight and is highly resistant to warping and cracking. Paulownia is easy to plane, saw, mould, turn and carve and readily absorbs adhesives, stains, oils and varnishes. It is more termite resistant than jarrah and pine. Our plantation is farmed and the tree trunks are constantly pruned to remove lower branches. This process reduces the number and size of the knots in the timber.

Vernon
Thanks for that. Now I know I'm in the CRAFT time of life. In my case R stands read not remember. Probably the same condition. Thanks anyway.
John

Originally Posted by artme

Understand now.

I do regular physical inspections around my house, despite having chemical barriers.The termite control people tell me Physical inspection is a very sound method of detection and preventio/remedy.

Thanks, good idea.

I'm also taking a look at Modwood (it's made from recycled plastic milk bottles and wood waste). Modwood has termite resistant properties although its fairly heavy, probably similar in weight to Jarrah. Modwood (www.modwood.com.au) can be installed using a stainless steel secret fixing method (http://www.klevaklip.com.au) but unfortunately it can't be used with the hollow version of Modwood (lacks side grooves). So if I use it my carport roof may end up weighing twice what it does now.

I'd think that if the termites have made it all the way up to your roof, then you've got some serious problems; they'd have to have gone through your framing wood all the way, no?

Frank,
You seriously underestimate the determination of our termites.
They will happily build their tunnels along metres of steel framing to get to a juicy piece of pine .....DAMHIK


Ian

Originally Posted by Tonywatters

Thanks, good idea.

I'm also taking a look at Modwood (it's made from recycled plastic milk bottles and wood waste). Modwood has termite resistant properties although its fairly heavy, probably similar in weight to Jarrah. Modwood (www.modwood.com.au) can be installed using a stainless steel secret fixing method (http://www.klevaklip.com.au) but unfortunately it can't be used with the hollow version of Modwood (lacks side grooves). So if I use it my carport roof may end up weighing twice what it does now.

It will be too heavy with Modwood, the stuff weighs a ton and that is the hollow variety. Before you do this get an engineer to check it out as what you are proposing is generally not a good idea. Roofs are strong in compression, that is loaded from the top where all the loads are transferred down into the walls and roof structure. You are going to put it into tension and that is not good. I am not an engineer, just something I was reading the other day and it makes sense when thought about.

Merbau is Class 2 durability and very termite resistant. Just a thought...

Contact "Stopper" on via PM as he has loads of Paulownia logs to mill up.

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

Frank,
You seriously underestimate the determination of our termites.
They will happily build their tunnels along metres of steel framing to get to a juicy piece of pine .....DAMHIK


Ian

Ian,

Wow, those are some hungry critters you have there!