Vitex Decking
Our Vitex decking is a great option where you are after a light colored hardwood to enhance your outdoor living areas. It is pale yellow to creamy-grey in appearance, it will still bleed but it is minimal in comparison to something like Kwila. When freshly cut the timber has an odor which has been likened to leather, and the boards have a greasy feel. The texture of Vitex is fine with an even grain.
Vitex is mainly used in outdoor applications, primarily decking, but also boardwalks and exterior joinery. As a kiln dried product it can be used for T & G flooring.
Our Solomon Island Vitex is machined here, in NZ to a 140 x 19mm Smooth Four Sides (S4S) decking profile.
Vitex is a high density timber and has value in uses such as heavy construction, wharf and bridge decking, flooring, boat building, sleepers, and joinery.
Botanical Name: | Vitex cofassus Reinw. |
Standard Trade Names: | Vitex |
Other Names: | Bitum, Garamut (Papua New Guinea) Leban (Malaysia) Kyeto (Burma) |
Origin of Product: | Solomon Is. |
Grade: | Select |
Availability | 140 x 19mm S4S Selling quick, pre-orders encouraged. |
Species information for this product: |
|
Even
Properties | |
Density: | 700 -800 Kg/m3 @ 12% m.c |
Durability: | Class 2: Durable |
Colour: | Pale Yellow – Creamy grey. |
Texture: | Fine and slightly lustrous |
Grain: | Straight |
Figure: | |
Permeability: | Class 4: Highly resistant, comparatively narrow sapwood, or un-treatable heartwood |
Workability | |
General: | Easy to work |
Sawing: | Cutting resistance is reported to be easy, relative to the density of the timber |
Planing: | Excellent characteristics; produces a smooth surface. |
Blunting: | Low. |
Boring: | Fairly easy. |
Turning: | Good turning properties. |
Nailing: | Hold well without pre-boring |
Gluing: | |
Finishing: | Takes oil and stains well |
Mechanical Properties | |
Strength: | SD3. |
Structural Grade: | |
Hardness (Janka): | 5.6kN (seasoned) |
Max. Crushing Strength: | |
Modulus of Elasticity: | 13GPa (seasoned), 11GPa (unseasoned). |
Modulus of Rupture: | 108MPa (seasoned), 74MPa (unseasoned). |
Seasoning | |
General: | Seasons well, care should be taken to reduce cupping. |
Movement: | Very low. |
Shrinkage: | Low. |