Thread: "Shining gum" or "Nitens" - anyone heard of this

G'day Ash.

Low density. Durability class 3. Not the best for External exposed conditions.

Mainly suited to T&G and internal aplications.

If I was you, I would be looking at Tallowood, Spotted Gum or Grey Ironbark for external Decking.

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Grafton

And don't overlook Cypress Pine.

Spotted gum's good. Glad to hear you're steering clear of the south-east Asian rainforest timbers like Merbau.

Yes, Mono is right. Cypres is insect resitant and durable. Its also low cost. There are sources direct from mill if you wonder up near Narranberra.

Red Iron Bark is worth a look. More expensive, more difficult to get, but very hard, very strong and Durability Class 1 even in contact with the ground. The best stuff I've seen comes from North of where you are.

Silvertop Ash has a Class 2 rating above ground (Class 3 in ground). This milled throughout the East gipsland, NSW South Coast and up into the soutehrn tablelands. Costs somewhere between Cypres and Red Iron Bark.

Hi Guys - thanks for the replies. I appreciate your advice on this matter.

The "deck" is actually going to be flooring in an "Alfresco" area under cover at the back of the house. I am not sure if this will make any difference to your suggestions.

SWMBO particulary likes the look of red timber e.g. Merbau. Do any of these suggested timbers have that type of color and if not would I have to stain and top coat them to get the effect ?

Thanks

Ash

Suggestion - Ironbark – nice reddish if oiled regularly.

"Shining gum" - wanna run a spell check on that? :eek:

Cheers,
Theva

Spelling is correct.

I looked it up in "Wood in Australia' By Bootle.

It is actually Durability Class 4.
GD 1050Kg/M3
ADD 700 Kg/M3

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Grafton

Hi Trevor

Please explain ??

Durability Class 4.
GD 1050Kg/M3
ADD 700 Kg/M3

Thanks

Ash

Ash, if I may interject, what Trev is trying to say in a most polite manner (very uncharacteristic for him too, I might add)is that Nitens (Shining gum) is far from the optimal timber for your use, probably be a headache within a few years, if not months. In my experience it's a great indoor medium, but performs very poorly in exposed situations.
Depending on the budget try Tallowood (yellowish, but the best for many applications) or for the red colours Ironbark (any of the 3 red subs)Turpentine, Grey Gum as a start, these are but a few avialiable from ecologically sustainable operations, whereas the imports.........well who can know.

G'day.

Ummm... Yeah...What Bruce said.

GD=Green density
ADD= Air Dry Density at 12% moisture content.

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor
Grafton