Natural choice

With their interesting grains, warm tones and curious features caused by climatic events, Australian hardwood floors have been a popular flooring choice for many years.

And as environmental issues become increasingly important to many consumers, architects and homeowners recognize the value of Australian hardwoods for flooring and furniture-making. Products from wood export company Australwood are sourced from forests that meet the most stringent requirements in terms of forest regeneration, biodiversity and the protection of native fauna.

Part of what makes wood grown in Australia so interesting are the character marks found in each tree.

Australia's forests are often subject to extreme climatic conditions, and the wood shows this. For example, a tree's reaction to a forest fire is revealed as gum veins, and recorded as long, dark red lines in the annual growth rings.

After seasonal events such as droughts and fires, the tree responds to protect itself from further damage. This results in highly sought-after features such as beautiful dark veins and marks left by insect attack. For example, pin hole borers leave small exit holes that often appear as shotgun patterns, and squiggly worms leave S' trails in the grain. Because of this, the tree retains its strength and beauty and provides products that are both hard and unusual. This ensures Australian hardwoods are well suited to flooring, joinery and furniture-making.

Depending on the color and grain required, you can choose from a variety of premium hardwood species. These include Australian Firestreak, Australian Alpine Ash, Australian Wormy Chestnut, Australian Chestnut and Australian River Red Gum.

Australian Alpine Ash is a multi-purpose hardwood that can be found in colors varying from pale pink to straw. Another hardwood, Australian Chestnut, ranges in color from light honey to a rich sycamore. This wood is particularly hard and resistant to denting. Equally hard is Australian Wormy Chestnut, which has a janka hardness of 1810 lbf, making it a durable wood for flooring a key reason it is chosen for this application.

For rich warm tones, wood from the Australian Wormy Chestnut varies in color from light sorrel to deep cinnamon, with pink highlights.

All products are stringently quality tested and controlled to ensure that the resulting floors perform consistently, and easily integrate into the desired look of the home. Australwood has developed literature to assist architects, builders and homeowners specify and lay wood flooring systems.

Because Australwood products are highly stable and durable, they are equally suitable for residential and commercial applications. With the ready availability of 5-in widths, a variety of different looks can be created.

Due to the increasing popularity of hardwood for decorative purposes, Australwood now exports these Australian woods to the United States and has identified a number of local contact points where customers can find out more.

For more information, please contact a distributor near you: Fairfield, CA: Tom Duffy Company, phone (707) 863 8300; Salt Lake City, UT: National Wood Products, phone tollfree (800) 8256 0344; North Carolina: Horizon Forest Products, phone (919) 567 1329; Above All Hardwoods, phone (952) 440 WOOD (440 9663).

Or contact Australwood USA, phone (925) 974 3394 or visit the website: www.australwood.com.

Story by: Trendsideas