Price & Spec
Understanding Timber Species Colour Variation and Grading
One of the most appealing aspects of timber is its natural aesthetic, however, it is important to remember that as an organic material, variations are inevitable. The descriptions on this page are designed to help you understand how the completed project will look, to help avoid any unexpected surprises.
The biggest factors which influence the aesthetic of the timber are the colour variation and the grade. Timber colour variation provides variety and a natural look to a feature wall or ceiling, but it is important to understand the range of colours each species can provide. Timber is graded depending on the visible features present, placing the timber into one of three grades.
Timber Colour Variation
Timber battens and cladding of the same species can vary greatly in colour and grain. The beauty and character of timber come from this variation, as no two trees grow exactly the same. Certain aesthetic features are more common in certain species, just as some species are more consistent in colouring than others. Our selection of coatings can help provide more consistency throughout a project, or help bring out the natural variation.
The below examples are to be used as a guide, as other variations will certainly occur. Please view our project gallery to see examples of timber variation in completed projects.
Spotted Gum
Spotted Gum timber can range from light to medium browns, with red hues. Some white to very light brown colours can also run through it at up to 50mm wide. Colour varies greatly depending on the location of the source forest. Spotted Gum is a moderately coarse and uneven textured wood and can feature a wavy grain, giving rise to an attractive fiddleback figure.
Wallan Veterinary Hospital uses Spotted Gum coated in Clear Oil to create this amazing facade.
American Oak
American Oak has a light to medium brown heartwood with slight pink undertones and sapwood in white to light brown tones. The grain is straight but with a coarse, uneven texture and large pores. It is rated as non-durable and can stain when in contact with water, particularly the porous growth ring areas.
The Sir Zelman Cowen Centre For Science uses White Oak coated in Clear Poly for this stunning timber feature. Very similar in colour to American Oak.
Grandis
Botanical Name: Eucalyptus Grandis, also known as Flooded Gum, Scrub Gum or Rose Gum, originally native to Australia, Eucalyptus Grandis is a sustainable plantation grown FSC timber grown around the world. It ranges from blond/subtle pink tones to a warm, pink tones. The grain is usually straight with shallow interlocking, and machines exceptionally well.
Grandis Timber feature ceiling and wall in this remarkable Gallery Space.
Download our handy Timber Variation and Grading Guide
When specifying timber products, it’s important to know that natural variations in colour are normal. Each tree grows differently and under various conditions, leading to slight differences in hue and texture.
Timber Grading
At Sculptform we grade our timber as per the Australian standard, AS 2796.2-2006. The grades specified in this relate to aesthetic features within the timber, such as knots and gum veins. To achieve the best combination of timber’s natural charm and consistency throughout a project, we guarantee each order maintains a strict ratio of a minimum of 2/3 select grade and 1/3 Standard grade.
Each batten or board that goes through our factory is hand-graded in accordance with the standard and designated into one of three grades.
Select Grade
Select grade timber contains the least amount of visual features, providing the cleanest look at the expense of the timber’s natural variation.
Your Sculptform order will consist of a minimum of two-thirds Select Grade timber.
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| Gum Veins of less than 250mm in length and 2mm in width are acceptable. | Tight Knots of less than 15mm in width are acceptable. |
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| Borer Holes are acceptable provided there are less than 10 holes per 900mm depending on width. | Checking is acceptable provided individual length does not exceed 250mm and width does not exceed 1mm. |
Standard Grade
Standard Grade timber offers a more natural aesthetic by providing timber containing larger and more frequent features. These features provide the timber with unique qualities and emphasise the natural look and feel. Your Sculptform order will contain a maximum of one-third Standard Grade Timber.
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| Gum Veins of less than 1m in length and 60mm in width are acceptable and less than 2mm in depth. | Tight Knots of less than 40mm in width are acceptable. |
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| Borer Holes are acceptable provided there are less than 24 holes per 900mm depending on width. | Checking is acceptable provided individual length does not exceed 250mm and width does not exceed 2mm. |
High Feature Grade
Sculptform does not use High Feature Grade timber in our orders.