Thread: Timber for ute floor?

Jarrah is a preferred timber for your application, however be wary that it will discolor very noticably to a mustard color with exposure to sunlight being installed on a ute.
Another option would be spotted gum or red mahogany; both plentiful in Queensland and just as hardwaring.

Cheers, Evan

Don't forget to leave a gap between the boards to allow for expansion.

Thanks for the reply, just realised my profile still says QLD. I'm in VIC now so Qld hardwood might be a little harder to get hold of.

The lengths won't actually but together, rather are held in place with a skid strip (one on the left)

Sugar Gum or Iron bark would be good both hard and strong.

Originally Posted by Lee roy

I would prefer something with a bit of colour and depth to it, ie darker and with some shine to it, but not show type! I had a proffesional easel made for my g/f out of vintage jarrah recently and it looked FANTASTIC. Not sure if Jarrah is realistic for a bed floor?

You didn't say if you had a weatherproof cover over it ?

If not and you don't recoat it every year it will all go grey.

Even though it is used for floors (our house is all jarrah boards), Jarrah is actually softer than it looks and it will tear and scratch up easier than many other hardwoods. For a ute application I'd go with Spotty or if you were here in the west I say Wandoo, that stuff makes great flooring.

Spotted gum, nice mid brown colouring,darker depth when oiled or two packed.Red or brown ironbark, extremely hard wearing and attractive timbers.Lemon scented gum is another option. One of the more attractive native hardwoods is the sydney bluegum, the stuff I've seen used on floors is a deep rich dark red with lighter honey coloured streaks and veins running through it.Good luck with your project mate, hope the above is of some help.

Most truck body manufacturers use Karri, from WA.
A treatment every year with a coat of linseed oil and turps mixed up keeps it looking great.