Karri

Karri is a hardwood timber native to Australia. With its durability and distinctive red hues it is suited to a broad range of applications. Most commonly used in construction, it is also valued by designers in the manufacture of indoor and outdoor furniture. Karri timber also features in the design of indoor and outdoor joinery.

Karri trees are native to the southwest corner of Western Australia, but are also cultivated in plantations internationally. As one of Australia's tallest hardwoods, karri trees grow to a height of between 45 and 70 metres and are found in areas of high rainfall. Their botanical name derives from the tendency, as their dark bark is shed, for the predominantly white trunks to take on a patina of colours from white to grey to deep brown.

Karri timber has an appealing golden appearance. The heartwood varies from reddish browns through to pale pink hues with the sapwood being a clearly distinguishable creamy white. It is moderately durable, but resists impregnation with preservatives or other treatments. The sapwood is susceptible to borer attack and is known to be susceptible to termites.

Karri is currently used extensively for flooring, panelling and internal joinery. Its strength and appearance has a wide appeal for fine furniture designers. It has been used extensively for general construction, framing, joists, shipbuilding, sleepers, guides or side beams in mines, structural plywood, roofing timbers and pulp and paper. Greater lengths are available than from any other Western Australian hardwood. The timber also lends itself to use in roofing because it can be milled in extensive lengths that are uninterrupted by knots.

Karri makes a versatile and aesthetically pleasing decking board based on its natural durability and bushfire resistance properties (BAL 12.5 and 10 per all AS3959 applications; BAL 29 when used in conjunction with non-combustible wall cladding and enclosed subfloor.  A copy of the EWFA Certificate of assessment can be downloaded here.