Timber Types 

An introduction to exterior timbers.

Home / Oils / Stains / Paints / Varnishes / Timber Types /
Cleaning and Preparation / Weathergard FAQ / TV Advert

To get the very best results, it is important to understand the characteristics of your timber before you apply a Wattyl Weathergard coating. Some timbers require special treatment before overcoating.

	Merbau or Kwila* An extremely durable hardwood that is popular for use on decking. Merbau is resistant to termites and decay but is prone to tannin bleed. It is rich brown in colour.
	Jarrah A tough, heavy hardwood which is extremely durable. It is popular for furniture, decking and general timber construction. Care needs to be taken when nailing Jarrah as it is prone to splitting. It can vary from a rich red to a deep brown colour.
	Cypress Pine* A hard, extremely durable, oily timber with a high resin content. It is naturally resistant to insect attack and is popular for use on structures, pergolas, decking and paneling. It contains knots and is prone to splitting as it dries.
	Treated Pine* Is Radiata Pine that has been treated to resist insect attack, fungi and decay. Treated Pine must be left to dry completely before it is coated. It is popular for use on fences, pergolas and decking.
	Balau/Batu A very hard wood sourced from Asia which has a unique light colour. It is becoming increasingly common for use on decking.
	Teak* An imported Asian timber which is commonly used for outdoor furniture. It ranges in colour from golden tones to a dark brown with green undertones. It is reasonably durable and is rich in oils, so de-oiling using Wattyl Decking Cleaner prior to over coating is essential.
	Tallowwood* A locally grown timber which is yellow/brown in colour. It is reasonably durable and common for decking. De-oiling using Wattyl Decking Cleaner prior to over coating is essential.
	Oregon An imported softwood timber which is yellow brown to pale reddish brown in colour. It does contain high levels of resin which can bleed through coatings so it needs to be completely dry and devoid of any surface resin crystals before over coating.
	Western Red Cedar A durable soft timber which is used for garden furniture, weather boards, window frames and fascias. It is pale brown to dark brown in colour and is easy to stain but requires coating immediately as it tends to weather instantly. It is termite resistant.
	Blackbutt* A locally grown timber which is becoming increasingly popular for use on decking. It has slightly pink undertones and a moderately coarse grain.

Avoid using green timbers that have not been seasoned or kiln dried. Green timber is more likely to warp and crack as it dries. Oil and Stains will not penetrate fully into green timber.