European Larch – (Larix europaea)
This has long been used for cladding in Europe. There is more timber available now from UK plantations. It is a very strong, robust timber and good quality wood can be relatively knot free. The timber varies considerably in quality and requires careful selection. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Technical Information
| Wood Type: | Softwood |
|---|---|
| Environmental: | Sourced from well managed forests with either FSC or PEFC Certification. Third party audited by BM Trada, Forest Products Chain of Custody Certification, certificate number BMT-COC-0032 |
| The Tree: | Larch attains a height of 30m to 45m and a diameter of 1m or slightly more and in favourable situations with a long clean cylindrical bole for two-thirds of its length. Essentially a natural tree of the mountains, it requires long, really cold winters for its best development; it is deciduous and appears to depend upon a long winter rest for the ripening of its wood. In the UK the winters are either short or mild, and neither provides ideal growth conditions. For this reason, English larch is generally inferior to that grown naturally in the mountains. |
| The Timber: | The heartwood is pale reddish-brown to brick-red in colour, sharply defined from the narrow, lighter coloured sapwood. It is a very resinous wood, with clearly marked annual rings a straight grain, and a fine, uniform texture. It is rather heavy weighing 590kg/m³ when dried. |
| Drying: | Dries fairly rapidly with an inclination to distort and for knots to split and loosen. |
| Strength: | A hard tough timber, it is about 50 per cent harder than Scots pine and slightly stronger in bending and toughness; in other strength categories it is about the same as for Scots pine. |
| Working Qualities: | Medium – Saws, machines and finishes fairly well, but loosened knots may be troublesome. The wood takes the usual finishing media quite well, but tends to split in nailing. |
| Durability: | Slightly durable Moderately durable |
| Treatability: | Extremely difficult Moderately easy (Sapwood – Larch sapwood treatability may vary) |
| Moisture Movement: | Small |
| Density: | 550Kg/m³ |
| Texture: | Fine |
| Uses: | Cladding, Exterior Joinery, Flooring, Structural use |
| Colour: | Reddish Brown (Pale) |
| Availability: | Readily available from Bryceland Total Timber Solutions Ltd Please contact us for further information on pricing. |
| Sawn Board Sizes: | 25 x 150 50 x 150 Contact us with your specific requirements |