Is Rimu A Hardwood Or Softwood

Not to be confused with karri eucalyptus diversicolor a completely unrelated australian hardwood with a very similar.

Is rimu a hardwood or softwood.

Rimu is a medium density softwood with a fine textured grain the heart wood is reddish brown. It is found mostly on the west coast of the south island currently only a portion of this timber is available to bring harvests in line with sustainable levels. Hardwoods come from broad leaved trees either. Rimu has moderate durability with the heartwood class 3 being more durable than the sapwood class 4.

The seasoned heartwood which can be beautifully figured is reddish brown or occasionally yellowish with irregular pigmented streaks while the sapwood has a lighter brown tone. Softwoods are less dense and also tend to be more resinous. Rimu timber has barely discernible growth rings averaging 14 per centimetre. Medium earlywood to latewood transition.

Hardwood usually costs more gives off more heat but takes longer to dry than softwood. Rimu is a fine even textured medium density softwood. In general hardwood comes from a deciduous tree which loses its leaves annually and softwood comes from a conifer which usually remains evergreen. This means they ignite much faster and thus can be good as a starter wood to get your wood fire going.

Rimu is a dense native timber of nz. The terms hardwood and softwood refer to the botanical origins of woods and not to their density or physical hardness. It is deep red in colour and is strong and durable. Softwood and hardwood are distinguished botanically in terms of their reproduction not by their end use or appearance.

The heartwood is highly decorative with a close even texture and is harder than the sapwood and very stable. Softwoods come from cone bearing trees often with evergreen needle like leaves belonging to the botanical group gymnosperm plants with naked seeds. All trees reproduce by producing seeds but the seed structure varies. We have an extensive range of over 40 timber species including nz natives such as rimu tawa kauri matai with exotic favorites macrocarpa american white oak american hard maple american walnut cherry jarrah saligna purpleheart iroko american white ash french oak including solid wooden flooring decking and plywood.

A stunning timber one of the most beautiful in the world.