Thread: relatively straight native species of wood

Spotted gum is another one.

Respectfully, straight timber and straight trees don't have a lot in common. Doesn't matter what species it is - it will all do what it wants to do when it goes through a sawmill, though some species tend to "lie flat" better then others.
Turpentine ain't one of them.
Thats part of why timber is expensive... the waste factor in cutting boards that bend naturally due to their internal stresses from straight trees, then straightening the boards adds a significant cost to the price of manufacturing straight square sections from round objects.

Look for big eucalypts (including turpentine) with no dead wood in their tops. It might have a higher waste factor, but the product you'll get from them will build a far superior grade of house then stuff made from pine.

Personally, I'd leave the big old turps in the forest for the birds and possums and build with cypress. Nothing eats it, it's as durable as turpentine, but it won't kill you to lug around.

Lots of straight grained timber in the rainforest up here but that is a bit of a drive for you.

If you're after a straight grained timber, Stringy Bark's not a bad option. Especially if you're going to make roof shingles.

Ummm. Just chasing straight grained timber might be a little narrow minded .

What I mean is that "suitability" covers a number of factors As it happens I really like Spotted Gum and back in the fifties it was a common building material for traditional house frames, but it is not white ant resistant. For me that is the number one priority. I build house frames from cypress pine and for roofing timber where strength is more important I use Ironbarks.

There are other resistant timbers. Turpentine has been mentioned, White Mahogany is another and there would be a heap more, but the difficulty is getting supplies of such timber.

The second problem, and this is where your straight timber question comes into play, is finding large diameter trees. Growth stress is a problem of young trees (which inevitably are small trees) and it is increasingly difficult to source material with large diameter. Now this varies with the species. Larger diameter trees from bygone eras are one reason why recycled timber can command high prices. That timber was taken from large trees.

Take Ironbark. A large tree is diameter greater than 700mm DBH (Diameter breast height). Spotted Gum, which I have already said is not white ant resistant, I didn't bother cutting under 600mm and frankly that was pushing it.

Most carpenter/builders accept that they will have to trim wall studs and carefully place floor joists packing and trimming where necessary. This is why many of them now use engineered and manufactured products. They have become more consistent.

Don't let me put you off, but sourcing a suitable property with good timber won't be easy. You may be better off contacting the portable saw millers .

Regards
Paul

Something else I should have mentioned is that builders generally dislike using species like Cypress Pine and Ironbark, because they are difficult to use. Cypress pine splits easily particularly if it has seasoned a little and Ironbark, even green, may have to be pre-drilled when nailing. Nailing guns have a real work out in this timber and the timber is heavy (about three times the weight of radiata.)

Consequently, treated pine (radiata) products have found increasing acceptance because they are so easy to use. I just hope we never get to the stage where they are the only product we are allowed to use.

Regards
Paul

Another is Flooded Gum.

I appreciate your replies.

How long does untreated pine last?

Do you think I am better off just buying the treated structural pine, and milling the other aesthetic stuff?

Originally Posted by ftssjk

I appreciate your replies.

How long does untreated pine last?

Do you think I am better off just buying the treated structural pine, and milling the other aesthetic stuff?

That would depend on how hungry the termites are! and what you are building. As for mould, that would take longer, but if the wood was getting wet or humid it will be faster.

When we built our house we got the builder to use Cypress as it deters termites and only slightly more expensive, after 14 years we haven't had any dramas. If building a house I would not use untreated pine, treated pine would help stop mould and termites.

We built this house using recycled timbers, stone and rammed earth. The timbers we used were 300x300mm ironbark posts, red gum lintels, spotted gum posts, alpine ash posts and bench tops, stringy bark table tops, messmate lintels, red box and messmate window frames and red gum, messmate, brush box, murray pine, alpine ash and Sydney blue gum on the stairway.
We did use some pine in the upstairs plaster walls. I have not nor would I consider using "treated" pine. Back in the day when were building the house pine was treated with CCA whatever letters they use now it's still poison,why people insist on using around their vegie gardens beggars belief.

Originally Posted by HUON

We built this house using recycled timbers, stone and rammed earth. The timbers we used were 300x300mm ironbark posts, red gum lintels, spotted gum posts, alpine ash posts and bench tops, stringy bark table tops, messmate lintels, red box and messmate window frames and red gum, messmate, brush box, murray pine, alpine ash and Sydney blue gum on the stairway.
We did use some pine in the upstairs plaster walls. I have not nor would I consider using "treated" pine. Back in the day when were building the house pine was treated with CCA whatever letters they use now it's still poison,why people insist on using around their vegie gardens beggars belief.

Beautiful house Huon!!
Very lovely.

May I ask where you sourced the timbers?

Thanks master craftsman, most of the recycled timbers came from Barry Donchie of Nullabor Timbers (he's since moved over the Murray to Moama, last I heard). Some of the other timbers came from an old SEC hut up near Mt.Mackay (Bogong high Plains) hence the Alpine Ash. The big redgum lintels were bush milled on a farm down river (Kiewa river).
Cheers

My temporary dwelling, doesn't rot, doesn't grow mould,termite resistant, borer resistant, relatively quick to construct but allergic to the sun over an extended period and difficult to insure, oh and hard to burn down.