AUSTRALIAN NATIVE HARDWOODS

Recycled Messmate: What Can I Expect To Find?

Messmate flooring is remilled from recycled construction timbers. These were originally installed as green timber - structural joists, purlins or other framing members and were air-dried over the life of the building, then removed during demolition. Structural hardwoods are usually backsawn rather than quartersawn, and run-of-mill rather than graded for appearance. This means the boards show crown features, irregular colour, gum lines and natural feature instead of the lineal, low-featured and uniform tones of quartersawn timber.

The construction source of recycled hardwoods will determine other 'attrition' features. Purlins will have nail, screw or bolt holes; floor joist will show metal marks on one edge. Truss chords will exhibit boltholes, notches and mortise features; ridge boards and ceiling hangers will show clusters of nail holes across the face of the board. Timber may show discoloration close to original surface intensified by oxidation and surface checking. (Surface checking is fine shallow furrows or fracture on the surface of air-dried board.) Black carbon staining can halo bolt or nail holes and chisel marks remain where metal fragments have been dug out.

Our grading process is not intended to eliminate these features unless they are excessive or affect board integrity. Installation as an overlay floor means none of these attrition features are of any detriment to the finished floor. Gum pockets and voids are retained if small. These can be successfully black-filled prior to sealing - as shown in our displays. High feature boards with long penetrating voids are removed into a 'Wild' grade of flooring.

Displays of finished flooring and production packs are available for inspection and purchasers should inform themselves first-hand - and prior to purchase - of the nature of the product described here, as no claims will be heard in respect of grade, colour or visible feature after purchase.