We would be cautious about wax or oil finishes for a handrail. Such finishes are inclined to become grubby with regular handling, particularly if you are considering a handrail for a commercial building. We suggest a satin grade floor varnish. That will bring out the natural colour of the wood and provide a hard-wearing finish that can be wiped clean when necessary.

We weren't sure how the plywood is supported. If it's laid on a concrete slab and then battened to attach the floorboards, there should be a vapour barrier under the plywood. In that case the limited airspace shouldn't be a problem since the floor system will be protected against moisture from the slab. So nailing the boards would be adequate without gluing, as long as the battens are deep enough to accommodate the nails. If the battens are not deep enough to accommodate adequate nails, then gluing in addition to nailing may be necessary.

There are currently no Australian product standards or design rules for LSL, unlike some other engineered wood products (EWP's). LSL is produced in Canada and the United States and each producer has their own set of structural properties, eg. Wayerhaeuser who produce LSL under the product name TimberStrand or, when treated against termites and wood rot, StrandGuard.

H2 roof and wall framing would usually be Hazard Class H2F if used south of the Tropic of Capricorn, marketed as 'Blue Pine'. Cut ends of H2F treated timber are not required to be resealed. If the timber is used north of the Tropic of Capricorn there is the potential for attack by the more destructive Mastotermes darwiniensis. H2F treatment is not considered to provide adequate protection, and H2 treatment is required. H2 framing is marketed as 'Red Pine'. Cut ends do not need to be resealed if one H2 member abuts another H2 member (eg.

Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL) is similar to LVL with the exception that it uses flakes, and not layers of veneers. LSL is produced primarily in North America. The flakes are pressed together with heat—using a steam injection press—and bonded by adhesives. In the case of LSL, flaked wood strands—the same as the raw material used for oriented strand board (OSB)—are blended with isocyanate adhesive to form billets that can be cut to a range of sizes.