Why we use untreated timber.

When comparing manufacturers of timber structures one obvious point of difference is in the type of timber used in construction.  If using pine cladding you will need to decide between choosing a manufacturer that uses treated pine or like us, untreated pine.

After many years in the business and using both products we have decided to use untreated pine for the construction of all of our products.

While the use of treated pine is still acceptable within Australian Safety Standards we have made a concious choice to:

  • provide a healthier environment for our builders.  Our builders use this material everyday and breathe in fine particles.  When we use untreated pine we can be assured that they are not breathing in copper and ammonium which is used in treated timber.
  • recycle, reuse and dispose our offcuts.  We end up with a lot of offcuts which we provide to other businesses or individuals who are able to reuse them.  We can also send the excess off to be processed and recycled into woodchips.  Disposing of treated pine in landfill is not environmentally responsible.
  • ultimately create a healthier environment for you, your kids and your pets to work, play and live in.
  • provide you with a better looking structure.  During the process of treating pine, chemicals are pumped into the wood at high pressure to impregnate it, this causes the palings to swell.  We have found that after construction as the palings dry out they can warp.  Also the chemicals leave a very distinct green tinge to the wood, which fades to grey very quickly.
Please note that we do use treated pine bearers, these are the lengths of wood that run the length of the cubbies and sheds and raise the floor off of the ground.  This is necessary to ensure that your flooring is not placed directly on the ground and to ensure that the bearers do not rot.

How to care for your untreated pine structure:

No matter whether you choose treated or untreated pine you will still need to protect the timber from the elements to prevent discolouration and deterioration of the timber over time.

We recommend that you protect your investment with one of the three methods listed below:

  1. Weatherproofing Oil:  A clear oil will provide long lasting protection against the elements whilst still maintaining the natural light colour and grain of the timber.
  2. Staining:  A stain will also provide protection and maintain the natural grain of the timber while taking on the colour of the stain.
  3. Painting:  Just like a house, painting will provide lasting protection and you can match your structure to suit your own property.

We can weatherproof or stain your structure for you prior to collection or delivery, or we can provide you with a tin of the product that we use.  Contact us for a quote.