Thread: treated pine vs hardwood in north qld?

Womble check it out with TRADAC they are your states experts on timber, I'm still spluttering over the "cleaner sawn than dressed" "superior product" "reliable quality wise" statements and of course those stupid hardwood guys in Australia aren't the current world leaders in Kiln drying techniques either!!. 25 years in this industry and I have never heard anyone make such an illinformed ill advised ignorant statement pine V hardwood, I'm pretty sure he's got his facts mixed completely, either that or he's has shares in a pine plantation . althought the treatment statement does have a basis of truth in it. How about most of his statement reads to me as "it's heaps cheaper to use pine" Tell him he's dreamin'.

Hi Womble

Given the choice, I favour kiln dried durability class 2 or better in hardwood to build with. Sure its more expensive, more difficult to use and many species are in poor supply (and perhaps I'm just prejudiced on the point) but I've never been convinced by the softness and poor engineering qualities of pine.

I'm also suspicious of many of the pine treatments. If a checmical process is employed there is often a possibility of leaching or breackdown of the treatment. I'd be tempted to ask for a good body of documentation on this before accepting the product.

You may find that the builder is specifying pine not only because of cost and availability or even ease of use, but because the manufacturer of the process has provided a sustantial warranty effectively absolving the builder of their own liabilities for such choices.

All the best with your project....

In NZ 95% of houses are built with treated pine. Now we dont have termites, but we do have rain (lots), storms, earthquakes etc and very few problems with houses failing. Except a few years back they decided it was good enough to use untreated pine, AND cheap cladding... WRONG :eek: Leaking cladding and untreated pine = mushrooms eating your house
The idea of the treatment is that it is 'fixed' in the timber by the 2nd kiln drying, so it's permanant and safe in use, disposal of old treated timber is another problem though.
Hardwood is of course stronger, but that just a matter of designing to suit the weaker timber. More or bigger studs and joists than might be used with hardwood, but structural strength isn't a problem.
The pine will come from plantation grown trees... are you sure of the hardwood sources?

But bottom line I guess is it's cheaper and easier to build with

Happily typing from his treated pine house...

Ian

I guess there's benefits of both treated pine and hardwood, its just that if there's a category 5 cyclone passing through I'm not sure I want to have the roof taking flying lessons. They do offer hardwood as an option though, have to wait and see what the finances are like thats all

G'day.
About 5 years ago, we supplied 1 truck load every week of CCA treated 4x1 1/2 and 3x1 1/2 Hardwood for roof truss material to Inisfail (sp?) building supplies.
They used it for Cyclone proof trusses up your way.

It had to be CCA treated cause the termites climb into the roof and eat the house down to the ground.

As far as leaching of treatment goes, there is independent testing done on all treatments for wood preservation. CCA, Tanilith E have the best resistence to leaching of all the H3 and H4 wood preservatives available.
If anyone want the figures, I have all the TCLP data available.
Do not believe all the lies being told about CCA. The people telling them have vested interests in seeing CCA banned.
Just like the people that want to ban guns, duck hunting, 4WD's and fishing.

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Grafton

Hi Trevour of Grafton

Could you post that data on CAA treated pine or send me a copy?

Cheers.....

G'day Slabby.
My data is for treated Hardwood. Not P#*e ( Sorry, that other stuff's name cannot be spoken in Hardwood country).

Hooroo.
Regards, Trevor.
Grafton

Hey Trevor

Um...you're right. P&!e is a four letter word. I shall only use it as a profanity from now on!

Cheers
Slab