Solid Timber Flooring

American Maple
Botanical Name: Acer saccharum

Description: Large hardwoods located throughout Canada and Eastern USA.

Usage: Useful in any situation of high abrasion – flooring, carving and butchers blocks or moving parts where timber can be used. Also used for furniture, paneling, turnery and veneers.

Blue Gum
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus saligna

Description: Blue Gum grows from the southern coast of New South Wales through to Southern Queensland. It is a tall hardwood and one of the predominant species in commercial use. The grain generally straight but interlocked and the texture is moderately coarse and even.

Usage: Flooring, furniture, moulding, decking and turnery. It is available as a veneer.

European Beech
Botanical Name: Fagus sylvatica

Description: Mainly the European mainland but also in the U.K. and parts of West Asia. European beech is straight grained with a fine, even texture.

Usage: Cabinetwork, high class joinery, furniture, laminated boards. Chair making, tool handles, turnery, flooring, plywood and veneers.

French Oak
Botanical Name: Quercus petraea

Description: Medium sized hardwoods distributed throughout the Central and Western Europe and into Russian Siberia. Grain is straight with a coarse and uneven texture. Silver grain figure appears on quartered surfaces due to broad rays. Sometimes Oak logs are recovered from bogs and the timber recovered is called “Bog Oak” Whilst retaining the properties of conventional Oak it has a rich, deep brown color much prized for cabinet work.

Usage: The principal timber for vats and barrels for beer, wine and brandy. European Oak is best for furniture and cabinet making. UK Oak is preferred for sea defence, wharfage, outdoor furniture and exterior joinery. Widely used in Europe for church furniture and carving. Flooring and turnery. Produces very attractive veneers.

Grey Ironbark
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus paniculata

Description: This large hardwood grows along the New South Wales and Southern Queensland coast. Very hard, dense timber with interlocked grain and moderately coarse and even texture.

Usage: Heavy construction, bridge work, wharfage, sleepers, flooring and decking. If handled properly the timber can produce some striking furniture.

Jarrah
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus marginata

Description: Indigenous to the South Western corner of Western Australia. A large hardwood produces a fairly well formed bole and relatively compact, yet open crown. The grain is straight and often slightly interlocked which can present a fiddleback appearance. Flat sawn surfaces may have boat shaped flecks which enhance its decorative appearance. Texture is coarse but even.

Usage: Highly prized as a furniture timber. It is used for flooring, panelling, joinery, decking, and marine work. Available as a veneer.

Karri
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus diversicolor

Description: Limited to the South Western corner of Western Australia. One of the tallest of the Australian hardwoods it can attain 85m (280ft) with diameters up to 3.3m(11ft). The grain is often interlocked with some wavy feature and a somewhat coarse but even texture. A very strong and heavy timber.

Usage: Flooring, furniture, decking, marine construction, structural applications and panelling. It is available as a veneer.

Kwila
Botanical Name: Intsia bijuga

Description: A large hardwood of wide distribution throughout Malaysia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji. It is also found growing in north Queensland. The grain is sometimes interlocked and the texture is moderately coarse. Growth rings are fairly distinct. Kwila has a characteristic oily odour which persists even after drying.

Usage: Furniture, flooring, staircase, decking, turnery, construction, tool handles and decorative veneer.

Sapele
Botanical Name: Entandrophragma cylindricum

Description: A very large hardwood found throughout Central, West and East Africa. Texture is fine and even. Grain is interlocked or wavy, which presents a ribbon figure on quarter cut surfaces. Fiddle back, mottle and roe figure can also be found. Sapele has a cedar like fragrance when cut.

Usage: Furniture and cabinet work, joinery, doors, flooring. Considerable quantities go to plywood and decorative veneer.

Spotted Gum
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus maculata

Description: Very widely distributed – from Southern Victoria through New South Wales into Central Queensland on the coastal plains. The timber is usually interlocked with the marked wavy pattern which produces a fiddleback appearance. The sapwood is distinct – very much paler than the heartwood but there is an unclear zone between the heartwood and softwood which can complicate preservation treatment and grade classification.

Usage: Flooring, staircase, marine decking, furniture, decking, tool handles, construction and the timber is available as a veneer.

Tallowwood
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus microcorys

Description: Grows from the north-east coast of New South Wales to the south- east coast of Queensland. Tallowwood is a medium to large hardwood capable of reaching 70m (230ft) with diameters of up to 3m (10ft). The grain is generally straight but can be interlocked. Texture is coarse and even.

Usage: Principally a flooring and staircase timber. Other major uses have been bridge work and heavy construction. As a flooring timber it is the choice of education departments throughout Australia for schoolroom and auditorium flooring due to its high durability.

Victorian Ash
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus delegatensis

Description: A large cold climate Eucalypt that grows in Tasmania, Victoria and Southern New South Wales. Normally straight grained although “fiddle back” figure may be found on quartered surfaces. Gum veins are common. Latewood is darker than early wood and growth rings are conspicuous. The texture is open and moderately coarse.

Usage: Flooring, cabinet work, joinery, panelling, laminated beams, plywood and veneer.

Vitex
Botanical Name: Vitex cofassus

Description: A large hardwood located in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia through to Malaysia. Grain is interlocked. Texture is fine and even. Slightly greasy.

Usage: Construction, joinery, bridge work, wharfage, flooring and plywood.