Pine (Radiata)
Radiata Pine is a versatile and popular softwood, known for its pale-coloured sapwood and pinkie-brown heartwood. The timber is generally straight-grained, but can contain some spiral grain, and shows little contrast in the growth rings, resulting in a uniform texture. Resin ducts often appear as fine brown lines on longitudinal surfaces, and depending on its source, the wood can be knotty. Radiata Pine is commonly used for furniture, joinery, cladding and more, and is a sustainable and legal source of wood.
Radiata Pine is a species of coniferous tree belonging to the Pinaceae family, commonly known as Pine (Radiata). It is a softwood, with a pale colour and a uniform texture that makes it an ideal choice for a variety of uses. Its heartwood is pinkie-brown and the sapwood is wide and separable from the heartwood. The grain is usually straight, but can contain some spiral grain and resin ducts often show as fine brown lines on longitudinal surfaces. Depending on its source, the wood can be knotty.
Radiata Pine is a versatile timber, with
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Material Type:
Softwood
Also Called:
Monterey Pine, Insignis Pine
Durability Notes:
Pine (Radiata) wood is non durable. It is perishable and should only be considered for internal use.
Seasoning:
The drying and seasoning of Pine (Radiata) is dependant on a number of factors; the speed in which it is processed after felling and logging, the method of drying and the specific kilns or location (if air dried). Generally the care taken by those processing the wood will have an impact on its drying and seasoning. As an overview; Pine (Radiata) - dries easily and quickly with little impact on the grade and quality of the wood. Spiral grain can cause warping in wood from immature trees. There is medium movement in use. Please note that all wood is liable to move when in service plus there can be dimensional change. The extent of this will depend on; the stability of the species itself, the conditions it is exposed to, the coating, decoration and protection. You will find more information about the suitability of this wood, for any proposed application, by using our interactive system and the filters shown.
Properties:
Radiata Pine: medium crushing strength and resistance to shock loads, low bending and stiffness properties and is unsuitable for steam bending. Radiata Pine works well with machine and hand tools and has little blunting effect on cutters. Radiata Pine nails, screws and stains well and glues and polishes adequately. A fast growing wood it is not considered suitable for high quality joinery and furniture. It is often used for the manufacture of pallets, boxing and packaging. Significantly Radiata Pine is used for Accoya - it is forested specifically to create this modified wood. The process used changes the properties of the raw material and Accoya ends up as a completely different wood.
Typical Uses:
Furniture, Flooring, Cabinets, Doors, Trim, Moulding, Paneling, Decking, Plywood
Moisture Content:
Guide - 10-18% for KD (+/- 2%)
Commonly asked questions about Radiata Pine Wood
Is Radiata Pine a hardwood or a softwood? Radiata Pine is a softwood. It is the same for; is Radiata Pine hardwood or softwood? - Radiata Pine is a softwood.
Most groups/families of species share the same characteristics but this normally relates to their life as plants. Individual species do not always share the same characteristics as their relatives, in terms of the wood. Many factors influence how we use the wood and what we use it for, including where it grows, how it is forested, how it seasons/dries, etc. The answers to the following common questions, therefore relate to this particular species/wood and not the Pine family as a whole. Even more specific – our answers relate to the wood (as we know it) in its form as a useable resource.
What colour is Radiata Pine? Radiata Pine can be described as light brown, white/cream (very light brown), yellow/brown, orange
Is Radiata Pine good for outdoor use? or is Radiata Pine good for exterior use? Radiata Pine is most suited for interior/interior use. Radiata Pine can be used as an exterior/external timber (without treatment).
Whether the wood is naturally durable or not we would still recommend that it is decorated and/or coated with a suitable product to provide protection and/or maintain its appearance. This even applies when using the wood internally as, even subtle, changes in temperature or humidity will affect the wood. This will depend on the application/purpose of the wood and the user’s desired appearance. We also recommend that a recoating, care and maintenance programme is adhered to, for the life of an exterior wood. Wood cannot rot if it is kept dry – coatings and decoration can provide this protection. All of that said there are many durable timbers that are often left to weather naturally and will last for many years untreated/coated – movement and visual changes will occur but this is sometimes the desired effect. All wood is hygroscopic (it 'wants' to be in tune with its environment) it will therefore take on water from moisture in the air (or when directly exposed to or submerged in water) and ‘release it’ when dry or exposed to heat. This, inevitably, results in movement and dimensional change. For more about moisture in wood please click here - Moisture in wood
WooduWeigh is a real time calculator that uses a wood density algorithm that allows you calculate the weight of any quantity of Pine (Radiata) timber. Visit Wooduweigh
If you would like to buy Pine (Radiata) or have Pine (Radiata) ready to sell then please visit the wood trading section powered by Woodutrade, where you can make timber contacts worldwide. Visit Woodutrade
