Blackbutt Timber Advantages & Disadvantages

 

Light blonde timbers are popular Australia-wide to complete the Scandinavian look, or Coastal beach feel in modern architectural housing designs.  Australian Blackbutt timber is a fashionable choice for these architectural styles, and unfortunately, there is a chronic shortage of this timber.  The reasons are many and not only due to excessive demand.

For one thing, Blackbutt timber only grows in limited areas of Australia – parts of Queensland and northern New South Wales – and then it is affected by these other factors:

  • With the Queensland plantations, the industry attributes the shortages to flawed legislation, which is affecting their ability to meet demands due to Government requirements to reach carbon reduction objectives.  Queensland farmers also blame vegetation management laws for their inability to convert their grazing land for plantation use.
  • In New South Wales, the reduction in the ability to meet supply is attributed to taking potential plantation lands to provide for new national parks and conservation nature reserves.
  • Add to this extended rain periods, which have prevented log retrieval of feedstock for drying, and decking feedstock being used for internal flooring products such as T&G End Matched flooring as they have a higher recovery, representing a better return on investment for sawmills.
  • And then, obviously, the increased building activity with colour trends of a white/grey palette, thus requiring the lighter coloured features of Blackbutt timber, puts it top of the list.

 

What is Blackbutt Wood, and What Are its Advantages? 

Eucalyptus Pilularis, aka Blackbutt, is native to Australia, and while it is not the only light-coloured wood available, the other options can’t boast the same qualities of Blackbutt and thus can’t be considered equal.   

Blackbutt timber is characterised by its straight grain, and as it accepts oils and polishes very well, it is considered an easy timber to maintain.

Despite its unusual name, the colour of this blonde timber varies from light brown hues to golden yellow. It gets its name from the blackened base on the trunk of the trees that is caused from bushfires or controlled burns.  Fortunately, it grows quickly and in bushfire areas, which makes it a popular choice for plantations. 

Good fire rating of Blackbutt

Another very important reason for its popularity is that a Blackbutt decking has a very good fire rating, up to and including BAL 29.  In fact, it is one of the seven timber types considered suitable for bushfire zones by the Victorian Building Authority.

Another benefit of Blackbutt decking – it is termite resistant. In a country where termites are troublesome pests, this adds value to Blackbutt timber as a building material.

Blackbutt is a hardwood timber variety that is strong, durable, and proven ideal for decks, flooring, and structures like power poles, among other uses.

Photo Credit: Timber Floors

Sounds Too Good to be True!  Does it Have any Disadvantages?

Well, yes, because nothing is ever really 100% perfect, and even this most blessed of timbers has its share of cons. 

It has a high tannin content and may leech when it becomes wet.  It also has a tendency to surface-check and split.  While surface checking does not generally present a structural problem, splits or cracks can be larger and can therefore be more serious. 

It is also supplied in random lengths, which in itself is not a problem unless your project demands boards of equal length.  

Blackbutt timber
Image Source: Narangba Timbers

For installers, another issue with Blackbutt is it can have an adverse reaction to adhesives.  Seems where Blackbutt meets bonding agents, it can develop unsightly stains in the area.  Word has it; Blackbutt also doesn’t react well with paints, and surface cracking is a risk.  Mind you, with such beautiful wood, why would you paint it? Oils, polishes and varnishes are all this timber requires.

Blackbutt Decking

As you’d expect, just like the timber itself, natural Blackbutt decking has its’ pros and cons. That’s why it’s important to do your research, so you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it’s for you.

That being said, the pros seem to outweigh the cons, as it is a very popular choice of timber.

 

Where to Buy Blackbutt timber Decking?

Now you know why Blackbutt is so popular and why it is currently hard to come by.  So, what can you do if this is the only timber you will consider for your architectural masterpiece and you can’t get it? You’ll still want something that can match its famous qualities and perfect colouring.

You’ll be glad you read this blog because we are the bringers of good news. Newtechwood has just introduced a new colour to its Australian composite decking range, and it is… Blackbutt.

Blackbutt Composite decking

NewTechWood’s composite Blackbutt timber decking is available in the US49 Terrace range, which comes in 5.4m lengths, and can be used on either side face up depending on the timber styling that best suits your fancy. 

With a fire rating of up to and including BAL 29, and proven strength, durability and longevity, composite Blackbutt wood holds its own with natural Blackbutt.  NewTechWood is also termite resistant, but an unexpected advantage NewTechWood has over natural Blackbutt timber is that NewTechWood deck boards never need oiling, varnishing sealing or painting.  Plus, you get the security of a 25-year warranty.

The fact that NewTechWood’s composite Blackbutt timber deck boards are manufactured using recycled timber and plastic products also means natural forests are not savaged, and the challenges of existing plantations is irrelevant.  So, if you care about the environment, using NewTechWood will help you sleep easily at night.

NewTechWood’s composite Blackbutt timber decking is available in most Australian states and territories, including WA, NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. For pricing on NewTechWood’s full decking colour range, please contact your local supplier.

Want more information?  Feel free to contact our friendly team.

 

Does a NewTechWood composite deck cost more than a timber deck?

In the short term, it does. However, when you compare the maintenance, material, time and labour cost on traditional timber decks every year the costs really add up. In less than three years, you will be able to see all the time and money you would have saved by using NewTechWood composite timber.

We are the wholesale importers and thus we only supply the stores that sell NewTechWood and are unable to provide pricing because we don’t sell direct to the public. You can find the stores who do sell NewTechWood on our website here: or you can submit an enquiry through our website, and we will make sure to connect you with the nearest NewTechWood reseller to get an exact quote for you.

NewTechWood is an American family-owned company, which began in Houston, Texas. They then built their own, quality controlled, manufacturing plant in China. The American owners now manage the complete manufacturing process on site. (Manufacturing in China enables them to provide top quality products at an affordable price.)

What state are you in? Please send us your postcode and we will advise the closest reseller store to go, see display, get free samples and quote for your deck. Otherwise, you can find where the stores are listed on our Store Locator page. They all carry samples as well. Some have large displays, and some do not – you can give them a call.

We’re wholesalers and we don’t do the installation. However, we have a list of recommended installers on our website and you can find comprehensive Installation Guides on our website.

Whether or not any building product meets an Australian building standard depends on the application and the class of building on which it is being installed. For this reason, it is best to consult your architect, or Planning Officer at your local authority, for the particular standard(s) you need to meet. This will determine how it is to be constructed/used to ensure it meets the required Standard(s).

BAL Fire ratings and energy efficiency ratings are not absolute values specific to a particular product, but apply to the way in which the product is installed, or the system of building in which the product is an element.  

NewTechWood Cladding does not have a BAL bushfire rating. Refer to your building engineer as you may not require a BAL rating, and may be able to be used with an engineered, fire-rated system in place. Refer to the Materials Safety Data Sheet downloadable here:

https://newtechwood.com.au/technical-information/

NewTechWood, like all wood plastic composite products, will expand in hotter ambient temperatures and contract in the cooler temperatures. The degree of expansion will largely depend on the type and ratio of timber & plastics used.

NewTechWood profiles will expand around 1.1mm per metre from a 15°C to high ambients.

Our hidden fix systems allow for this natural expansion & contraction to occur without affecting board creep or the design of the deck.

When installed properly, taking into account the ambient temperature at the time of installation and leaving a sufficient but not excessive gap, the spacings between the boards should always be negligible.

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