Hardwoods: Native
WE CANNOT GUARANTEE STOCK WILL BE AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND.
Click The Irish hardwood resource is very limited, with about 20,000 cubic metres of roundwood harvested each year in Ireland. However, the use of Irish hardwoods has grown considerably over the past decade. New processors and designers have entered and energised the market, and advocates such as Duncan Stewart have opened our eyes to the potential of native hardwoods. As a result, more and more architects and designers are keen to specify Irish hardwoods in applications as diverse as cladding, flooring and furniture. here to edit.
For most purposes, it is essential that timber is dried before use. Undried or wet timber, if put into service, can cause many serious problems. Some reasons for drying timber include: 1. improved dimensional stability – timber dried to the correct moisture content will distort, shrink or expand less in service; 2. increased strength; 3. lower weight; 4. greater durability - timber below 20% moisture content does not decay, and is less susceptible to insect attack; 5. better machining, gluing and finishing properties. Most timber-related standards specify the particular moisture content for particular end uses. This can range from 20%, in the case of structural timber, to 6-8% for hardwood flooring for use with underfloor heating. For moisture contents of 18% or above, it is possible, if not always practicable, to air-dry timber. To achieve a moisture content below this level, kiln drying is essential. Different species dry at different rates and kiln drying schedules have been devised to dry timber in the most effective manner. PRL* Schedules published in Timber Drying Manual (Pratt 1997), and referred to for the individual species in this guide, have been shown to be generally appropriate for use with Irish hardwoods. Movement values are given for each species. These values, expressed as a percentage, give the expected shrinkage (or swelling) as moisture content changes in service. These are given both for the tangential direction – parallel to the growth rings, and for the radial direction – at right angles to the growth rings. In most species, tangential movement is twice the radial movement. Along the grain – parallel to the axis of the tree trunk – movement is negligible and can normally be ignored.
For most purposes, it is essential that timber is dried before use. Undried or wet timber, if put into service, can cause many serious problems. Some reasons for drying timber include: 1. improved dimensional stability – timber dried to the correct moisture content will distort, shrink or expand less in service; 2. increased strength; 3. lower weight; 4. greater durability - timber below 20% moisture content does not decay, and is less susceptible to insect attack; 5. better machining, gluing and finishing properties. Most timber-related standards specify the particular moisture content for particular end uses. This can range from 20%, in the case of structural timber, to 6-8% for hardwood flooring for use with underfloor heating. For moisture contents of 18% or above, it is possible, if not always practicable, to air-dry timber. To achieve a moisture content below this level, kiln drying is essential. Different species dry at different rates and kiln drying schedules have been devised to dry timber in the most effective manner. PRL* Schedules published in Timber Drying Manual (Pratt 1997), and referred to for the individual species in this guide, have been shown to be generally appropriate for use with Irish hardwoods. Movement values are given for each species. These values, expressed as a percentage, give the expected shrinkage (or swelling) as moisture content changes in service. These are given both for the tangential direction – parallel to the growth rings, and for the radial direction – at right angles to the growth rings. In most species, tangential movement is twice the radial movement. Along the grain – parallel to the axis of the tree trunk – movement is negligible and can normally be ignored.
Taken From: Guide to Irish Hardwoods
