Grading + Treatment

Most of the timber we sell at Softwoods has been treated in one way or another. While the chemicals used for treatment change, the treatment process is always very similar.

Grading + Treatment

Most of the timber we sell at Softwoods has been treated in one way or another. While the chemicals used for treatment change, the treatment process is always very similar.

Softwoods Select Grading

Softwoods Select Glulam H3 Timbers and Beams

These superior timbers and beams break new ground in safety, looks, performance and durability, and they’re extremely cost effective compared to LOSP alternatives. Manufactured using industry leading Koppers MicroPro™ treatment, which provides outstanding preservation and is 100% arsenic-free, this treatment meets government compliance standards and is backed by a massive 50-year limited guarantee. Engineered to exceed GL8 strength standards, Softwoods Select GLULAM timbers are made in New Zealand from select visual graded timber. Incredibly straight and stable, they’re available in a huge range of sizes and lengths and are supplied ready to paint or stain – or pre-primed. This timber is safe for use in school and daycare applications.

Softwoods Select Premium Grade Decking

Our select grade premium decking is a superior plantation grown pine product with a clear smooth face and clear edges for a clean, knot-free look. This timber can be stained to look like hardwood.

Softwoods Select Premium Grade Screening Products

Our select screening products are a superior range of boards with one clear face and two clear edges with possible minor blemishes only on the reverse face. Ideal for a clean, knot-free look, this timber can be stained to look like hardwood. Available in the following sizes: 42×19, 70×19, 90×19, 140×19.

Softwoods Select Solar Battens and Rhombus Battens

Select grade glulam micropro battens are ideal for privacy screening and pergola shading applications. Both come from responsible sources and are beautifully finished.

Softwoods Select LOSP Primed

Select grade LOSP Primed is a range of dressed double primed products ideally suited for applications demanding the highest quality finish. Available in F7 structural, GL8 Glulam Beams and a range of 18mm boards and finishing profiles. Structural sizes available in lengths up to 7.2m.

Treatment Information

All Softwoods timber is plantation grown. Left untreated, pine placed inground will rot within a year, however treated pine will last up to 40 years. Softwoods timber has undergone some kind of treatment to increase longevity and protect against rot, fungus and insects.

Prior to treatment the timber is kiln dried to 15% of its original moisture content to allow the treatment solution to absorb. Once dried, it is vacuumed to extract as much air as possible. Then, the preservative is pumped into the vacuum and applied to the timber with pressure until solution uptake reaches the right level. At this stage, the solution is pumped from the tank before the vacuum is reapplied to extract any excess solution. Finally, the timber is kiln dried once more to return its moisture content to 15% ready for packing and shipping.

Dressed Treated Pine (DAR)

Most of the timber used in pergolas and decking substructure is CCA DAR treated pine. DAR indicates that the timber is dressed all round, which means it has been planed smooth on all surfaces. CCA treated timber is pressure treated and designed for outdoor use or use in areas of increased moisture or insect habitation.

CCA stands for Copper (23-25%) Chrome (38-45%) and Arsenic (40-37%), a water-borne solution designed to protect timber from rotting and attacks from fungus, termites or other wood-boring insects. Copper guards against rotting and decay, arsenic is used as a pesticide to ward off insects, and chromium binds the agents together to make the treatment insoluble and prevent it from leaching from the timber. Post CCA treatment, pine will have a slight green tinge, however natural discolouration will still occur if the timber is left unpainted or unstained.

Treated timber is available in several different finishes (finish = surface appearance) to suit different needs, the most common being micro-reeded or rougher-headed – a finely bevelled machine finish to smooth the appearance of knots or imperfections and prepare for easy painting.

CCA Safety

In accordance with APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) recommendations, CCA treated timber is no longer used in the production of: garden furniture, picnic tables, exterior seating, children’s play equipment, decking boards or handrails. Softwoods does not stock CCA decking and only sells LOSP treated handrails.

LOSP Treated Pine

LOSP (Light Organic Solvent Preservative) is a white spirit-based solvent treatment containing copper naphthenates and synthetic pyrethroids as well as other chemicals to protect against insects and decay.

LOSP treated pine is usually machined to required lengths and shapes prior to treatment application which means less pressure is used in the treatment process and the solution penetrates a little less.

This doesn’t impact the timber’s longevity, however LOSP timber must not go inground and if the timber is cut, its ends must be re-sealed. Unprimed LOSP timber has a natural appearance with no discolouration. Like CCA, the timber will weather and discolour if not stained or painted. LOSP treated timber is occasionally treated with an oil-based protective primer called ‘Pink Primed’ which is applied on kiln dried DAR-finished LOSP as a protective coating before sanding and painting.

Alternative Treatments

ACQ or Alkaline Copper Quartenary is a newer water-based treatment which uses copper to protect against rot and fungal attack and ammonium quartenary as a pesticide. Like CCA timber, ACQ treated timber can be used in inground applications.

Tanalith E or Copper Azole treatment is another water borne solution using copper as a fungicide and azole as a pesticide which can be used in inground applications and has similar properties to CCA treated timber.