Project Description
Red Bloodwood
Other Names
Bloodwood, Pale Bloodwood, Pink Bloodwood, Pale Kulcha Bloodwood, Small-flowered Bloodwood, Eucalyptus gummifera, Eucalyptus corymbosa, Corymbia intermedia, Eucalyptus intermedia, Corymbia polycarpa, Eucalyptus polycarpa
Red bloodwood is a medium-sized Australian hardwood occurring along the coast of New South Wales and Queensland. It is commonly used in the production of round timber.
Taking its common name from the appearance of its heartwood, red bloodwood ranges from a dark pink to dark red colour, with much paler sapwood. It has a course texture, with the grain usually interlocked.
Due to the presence of concentric gum veins, red bloodwood is not ideally suited for use as sawn timber as gum veins – or the red-coloured kino veins – can open up during drying. This species is mainly used for round timber applications such as poles, piles and posts, however due to its attractive grain pattern, red bloodwood is also used for veneers and decorative paneling.
Red bloodwood can be painted, stained and polished. It glues satisfactorily, but any surface preparation or machining should be done so immediately prior.
A highly durable and dense species, red bloodwood is well suited for in-ground applications such as posts, although untreated sapwood is susceptible to lyctid attack.
Red bloodwood is generally readily available, especially close to the areas it grows.
Shrinkage
| Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangential | 3.30% | ||||
| Radial | 2.50% | ||||
| Unit Movement Tangential | 0.33% | ||||
| Unit Movement Radial | 0.25% |
Strength Group
| Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unseasoned | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | |
| Seasoned | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
Stress Grade
| Structural No. 1 | Structural No. 2 | Structural No. 3 | Structural No. 4 | Structural No. 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unseasoned | F17 | F14 | F11 | F8 | F7 |
| Seasoned | F27 | F22 | F17 | F14 | F11 |
Density per Standard
| Seasoned | 1005kg/m3 |
| Unseasoned | 1140kg/m3 |
Joint Group
| Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unseasoned | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
| Seasoned | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
Colour
| White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky |
|---|---|---|---|
Mechanical Properties
| Modulus of Rupture – Unseasoned | 114 |
| Modulus of Rupture – Seasoned | 122 |
| Modulus of Elasticity – Unseasoned | |
| Modulus of Elasticity – Seasoned | 22 |
| Maximum Crushing Strength – Unseasoned | 56 |
| Maximum Crushing Strength – Seasoned | 79 |
| Impact – Unseasoned | |
| Impact – Seasoned | |
| Toughness – Unseasoned | Medium – 15 – 24 Nm |
| Toughness – Seasoned | Medium – 15 – 24 Nm |
| Hardness – Unseasoned | 8.6 |
| Hardness – Seasoned | 9.4 |
Durability
| Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (0 – 5 yrs) | (5 – 15 yrs) | (15 – 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
| In-Ground | ||||
| (0 – 7 yrs) | (7 – 15 yrs) | (15 – 40 yrs) | (more than 40 yrs) | |
| Above Ground | ||||
| (0 – 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 – 40 yrs) | (41 – 64 yrs) | (more than 60 yrs) | |
| Marine Borer Resistance |
| Lyctid Borer Susceptibilitiy | Susceptible |
| Lyctid Borer Susceptibility – Other | |
| Termite Resistance | Resistant |
Fire Properties
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFH Spread-of-Flame Index | . | ||||||||||
| EFH Spread-of-Flame Index | . |
| Critical Radiance Flux – Lower | > 2.2 and < 4.5 |
| Critical Radiance Flux – Higher | ≥ 4.5 |
| Smoke Development Rate | < 750 |
| 1 – non-combustible | 2 – reasonably non-combustible | 3 – slightly combustible | 4 – combustible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Properties Group Number | . |
| Average Specific Extinction Area | < 250 |
| Bushfire Resistance | BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications |
| Botanical Name | Corymbia gummifera |
| Preferred Common Name | Red Bloodwood |
| Species Type | Hardwood |
Appearance
Red bloodwood ranges from a dark pink to dark red colour, with a much paler sapwood. It has a course texture, with the grain of red bloodwood usually interlocked.
Concentric gum veins, or kino veins, feature prominently and make this an attractive feature for decorative veneers and paneling.
Common Applications
While the presence of concentric gum veins is an attractive feature for decorative veneers and paneling, this also limits the other applications of red bloodwood to round timber. Poles, piles and posts are the most common and red bloodwood’s high durability makes it well suited for in-ground applications. Red bloodwood can also be used for sleepers, fencing and house stumps.
Common Form
Sawn
Workability
Red bloodwood can be painted, stained and polished. It glues satisfactorily, but any surface preparation or machining should be done so immediately prior.
The presence of concentric gum veins means red bloodwood is rarely used in sawn timber form – mainly round timber and decorative veneers or paneling.
Red bloodwood can be seasoned satisfactorily, however there is a tendency for the gum veins to open up during the drying process.
Origin of Timber
NSW
Readily Available
NSW
Availability – Further Information
Red bloodwood is generally readily available, most commonly near the areas it grows, being the coastal districts of New South Wales and Queensland.
Native Forest.
Fencing
The inherent appeal and strength of timber makes it the obvious choice for fencing. Timber fencing not only provides a natural look in keeping with the outdoor environment but it also enables the construction of a long lasting, durable property boundary. Fences come in many forms including the traditional paling, picket, post and railing styles. Most rely on a structural frame of posts embedded into the ground and two or more rails spanning between the posts. The ultimate selection of a suitable fence type or style is determined by application and aesthetics. A fence can serve a variety of purposes, including the provision of security, privacy and safety in addition to defining property boundaries. Specification for durability is important, especially for posts, given their exposure to high moisture in the ground.
This section provides an overview to best practice methods in specifying, installing and finishing a timber fence.
Structural Timber Poles
Timber pole construction is typically utilised to provide support for gravity loads and resistance against lateral forces. The natural appeal of timber ensures that its role is not purely structural however, with timber poles complimenting architectural designs aimed at harmonisation with the natural environment. The small number of footings required in pole frame construction also ensures minimal disturbances to the site.
With a double bearer system, poles can be spaced further apart than is usual, creating a more spacious building interior, that allows greater interior design flexibility. While poles are usually placed in a grid like system this is not compulsory and the flexibility of the application means the system can cope with a wide variety of designs, enabling designers to take full advantage of beautiful outlooks.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the process involved in specifying, designing and constructing a solid timber pole construction.