Help me identify this timber

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BruceHamilton

77 posts

Master Geek

#1557997 23-May-2016 14:53

For those that like to browse for second hand books, I'd highly recommend watching out for:-

New Zealand Timbers Exotic and Indigenous by N.C. Clifton, from NZ Govt Print 1990, and also a later 1994 edition.

He has large colour photos of polished timber of each type. Obviously a skilled timber yard person could be better, due to the wide variety colours and textures ( heart can be very different ) for each type of wood, however I've found the book has helped me identify most typical building timbers correctly.

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JonnyCam

643 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1558002 23-May-2016 15:03

Fred99:

Plenty of us wrong about that then - but I'm sure he's right.

You've even got me wondering now if my floors are matai - not rimu - but I don't think so. Grain, colour etc on your first photo looks just like our floors.

The matai I saw down at the timber yard was quite pale, so maybe the varnish in the rest of the house makes it look more like rimu.

It's going to be beautiful once I get it all refinished. Have removed all of the nailed & glued hardboard from the kitchen, and sanded all the glue off. Just need to decide between a matte / satin / high gloss finish.
Any recommendations for a good floor re finisher?

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1558037 23-May-2016 15:55

JonnyCam:

Fred99:

Plenty of us wrong about that then - but I'm sure he's right.

You've even got me wondering now if my floors are matai - not rimu - but I don't think so. Grain, colour etc on your first photo looks just like our floors.

The matai I saw down at the timber yard was quite pale, so maybe the varnish in the rest of the house makes it look more like rimu.

It's going to be beautiful once I get it all refinished. Have removed all of the nailed & glued hardboard from the kitchen, and sanded all the glue off. Just need to decide between a matte / satin / high gloss finish.
Any recommendations for a good floor re finisher?

I don't know refinishers in Wgtn area - I'm in Chch. I used Garnet Campbell here, but that was a long time ago.

Eventually I'd get the floors redone here. I tried a water-based polyurethane satin about 10 or more years ago, and IMO it was a complete disaster, flaked off, scratched, wore off - and didn't look great to start with.. I was told it's "much better now". So with some scepticism I've tried it again, sanded back the laundry floor, then three coats of the new fangled stuff. Done about a year ago. That gets a fair bit of traffic, sometimes spillage/splash etc. It's holding up very well and looks much better - the older stuff had a slightly "milky" look to it and seemed a bit uneven. If it's still looking okay by the time I do the rest of the floors, I'll probably use it - for a couple of reasons. The stink of solvent-based moisture-cured urethane is pretty horrible - I think I'd not want to DIY (after getting pros in to do the sanding), and if they put the urethane on, I'd want to leave home for at least a month. I know that stuff lasts though - it's very tough. The other reason is that the rimu is a rich/golden colour and quite dark with moisture cured urethane, SWMBO insists that the lighter colour finish from the water-based urethane is much nicer, and if I was allowed to disagree, I still wouldn't. But I do not want to have to refinish it every few years.

Disrespective

1921 posts

Uber Geek

#1558058 23-May-2016 16:38

BruceHamilton:

For those that like to browse for second hand books, I'd highly recommend watching out for:-

New Zealand Timbers Exotic and Indigenous by N.C. Clifton, from NZ Govt Print 1990, and also a later 1994 edition.

He has large colour photos of polished timber of each type. Obviously a skilled timber yard person could be better, due to the wide variety colours and textures ( heart can be very different ) for each type of wood, however I've found the book has helped me identify most typical building timbers correctly.

I managed to find one of these in a small bookshop near my office. A friend showed me his one a few years back and i've been keeping an eye out ever since. It's a pretty nice book with some interesting info, but the colour photos are definitely the most useful part for me.

SepticSceptic

2153 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1558598 24-May-2016 12:49

Fred99:

JonnyCam:

Fred99:

Plenty of us wrong about that then - but I'm sure he's right.

You've even got me wondering now if my floors are matai - not rimu - but I don't think so. Grain, colour etc on your first photo looks just like our floors.

The matai I saw down at the timber yard was quite pale, so maybe the varnish in the rest of the house makes it look more like rimu.

It's going to be beautiful once I get it all refinished. Have removed all of the nailed & glued hardboard from the kitchen, and sanded all the glue off. Just need to decide between a matte / satin / high gloss finish.
Any recommendations for a good floor re finisher?

I don't know refinishers in Wgtn area - I'm in Chch. I used Garnet Campbell here, but that was a long time ago.

Eventually I'd get the floors redone here. I tried a water-based polyurethane satin about 10 or more years ago, and IMO it was a complete disaster, flaked off, scratched, wore off - and didn't look great to start with.. I was told it's "much better now". So with some scepticism I've tried it again, sanded back the laundry floor, then three coats of the new fangled stuff. Done about a year ago. That gets a fair bit of traffic, sometimes spillage/splash etc. It's holding up very well and looks much better - the older stuff had a slightly "milky" look to it and seemed a bit uneven. If it's still looking okay by the time I do the rest of the floors, I'll probably use it - for a couple of reasons. The stink of solvent-based moisture-cured urethane is pretty horrible - I think I'd not want to DIY (after getting pros in to do the sanding), and if they put the urethane on, I'd want to leave home for at least a month. I know that stuff lasts though - it's very tough. The other reason is that the rimu is a rich/golden colour and quite dark with moisture cured urethane, SWMBO insists that the lighter colour finish from the water-based urethane is much nicer, and if I was allowed to disagree, I still wouldn't. But I do not want to have to refinish it every few years.

I'd seriously look at a pure 2 part epoxy seal, specifically designed for boat decking. West Systems Epoxy and Special 207 hardener. Advantageous for no smell, and a day or two curing time. Would be resistant to spills, high heels and general scratch.

I have used the West Systems Epoxy and the standard hardeners ( 205 and 206 ) for a wooden boat repair, and even these standard hardeners give a really tough gloss finish - with a slight tinge of yellow after multiple coats. The 207 hardener doesn't yellow.

I have also refurbished a dining room table, and used a good quality 1-part urethane coating. Never seems to be as tough as the 2-part, and always seems somewhat softer. This is after 3 months ....

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1558675 24-May-2016 14:09

SepticSceptic:

I'd seriously look at a pure 2 part epoxy seal, specifically designed for boat decking. West Systems Epoxy and Special 207 hardener. Advantageous for no smell, and a day or two curing time. Would be resistant to spills, high heels and general scratch.

Caution is still needed with epoxy - despite less smell (unless diluted in solvent). The "hardeners" are usually (poly)amines, they can cause sensitisation/allergy and subsequent risk of anaphylaxis similar to the free isocyanates in 1 pack moisture cure and 2-pack polyurethanes. (Once sensitised - you face a serious risk of dying in future if exposed to even tiny traces - someone opening a can at the other end of a room etc) I'd be very careful indeed if ever using 2-pack epoxy indoors on a large area like a floor. (this not the same as 1-pack "epoxy" and water based-polyurethanes - sometimes water based floor finishes etc which shouldn't carry that risk). Reading the MSDS or general use / safety instructions on the cans is always a good idea.

antoniosk

2357 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1558702 24-May-2016 14:46

JonnyCam:

Fred99:

Plenty of us wrong about that then - but I'm sure he's right.

You've even got me wondering now if my floors are matai - not rimu - but I don't think so. Grain, colour etc on your first photo looks just like our floors.

The matai I saw down at the timber yard was quite pale, so maybe the varnish in the rest of the house makes it look more like rimu.

It's going to be beautiful once I get it all refinished. Have removed all of the nailed & glued hardboard from the kitchen, and sanded all the glue off. Just need to decide between a matte / satin / high gloss finish.
Any recommendations for a good floor re finisher?

We had the same at our place - the old carpet was lifted, the floor was quick sanded (meaning you got all those black holes near the nail heads), and a quick urethane coating was applied which yellowed over the last 10 years.

Had it resanded and stained walnut last year after reno, with a semi-gloss finish:

We used Paragon Wood Flooring in Petone. Swears a lot but does an awesome job an has heaps of samples and ideas :-)

________

Antoniosk

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