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Main Uses
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Siberian larch is a durable and strong timber ideally suited for use in external conditions.
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Used as cladding, decking and solar shading and can be fire treated and coated.
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The Timber
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Siberian larch varies in colour having tones of yellow brown, light brown through to reddish brown. It is a very resinous wood, with clearly marked annual rings. It has a straight grain, a fine, uniform texture and is rather heavy, weighing on average 590 kg/m³ when dried, it is likely that plantation grown L.sibirica and that grown in more southerly Europe is of lower density.
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Its heartwood is listed as moderately durable, and its narrow sapwood means a high proportion of heartwood can be recovered for use. |
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Coating
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A wide range of coatings can be applied, subject to appropriate profile design, sound preparation and application of the coating in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Its natural stability is not as good as other species and natural movement can create fine surface checks and end split in this material that can compromise coating adhesion. Must be stored and protected correctly on site.
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Fire Retardant
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This species can be treated for Internal and External (leach resistant) use. Can achieve both Euro Class ‘B’ & ‘C’ classifications, by a pressure-impregnation process. This can lead to an increase in brittleness and issues such as end split and distortion, which can increase wastage. This means that an increase in actual length of pieces ordered and/or overall volume may be appropriate.
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1.
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General Information
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Distribution
The native distribution for L. sibirica extends across Siberia to Mongolia and northern China. In Siberia it is extracted from 'natural forest' and most of this timber is extemely slow grown material. In the eastern part of its range it hybridises with L.gmelinii and is known as Larix x czekanowskii. L.sibirica is also grown in plantations in Austria, Norway and Finland yielding more quickly grown material. It has been introduced into Canada and northern USA.
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Environmental
Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as LR – Lower Risk (least concern). Not listed in CITES. Believed available from well-managed sources. Check certification status with suppliers.
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The Timber
The heartwood is pale reddish-brown to brick-red in colour, sharply defined from thenarrow, lighter-coloured sapwood. It is a very resinous wood, with clearly marked annual rings. It has a straight grain, a fine, uniform texture and is rather heavy, weighing 590 kg/m³ when dried, it is likely that plantation grown L.sibirica and that grown in more southerly Europe is of lower density. Its heartwood is listed as moderately durable, and its narrow sapwood means a high proportion of heartwood can be recovered for use.
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The Tree
This is a medium sized deciduous, coniferous tree ranging in size from 20m to 40m tall with a diameter of 1m or slightly more. In favourable situations a long, clean, cylindrical bole for two-thirds of its length can be achieved.
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Wood type
Softwood
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2.
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Timber Properties
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Chemical properties
Fine dust may be an irritant
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Coating
A wide range of coatings can be applied, subject to appropriate profile design, sound preparation and application of the coating in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Its natural stability is not as good as other species and natural movement can create fine surface checks and end split in this material that can compromise coating adhesion. Must be stored and protected correctly on site.
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Colour
Yellow brown (golden brown), Light brown, Reddish brown (pale)
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Density
Average 590kg ( Ranging from 570kg to 650kg)
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Drying
Difficult to dry due to its high resin content. Therefore it should be dried slowly to prevent checking and other drying defects.
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Durability
Heartwood moderately durable, Sapwood should be excluded or can be treated.
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Fixings
Stainless Steel fixings are recommended and Marine grade may be required in close proximity of the sea. Round head ring annular nails are preferred or suitable screws. Please ensure fixing and fixing system is appropriate to species.
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Fire Retardant
This species can be treated for Internal and External (leach resistant) use. Can achieve both Euro Class ‘B’ & ‘C’ classifications, by a pressure-impregnation process. This can lead to an increase in brittleness and issues such as end split and distortion, which can increase wastage. This means that an increase in actual length of pieces ordered and/or overall volume may be appropriate.
The pressure impregnation process can lead to increased brittleness and issues such as end split face checks and dimensional distortion. These are characteristics of the treatment process, will potentially Increase site wastage and means that an increase in actual length of pieces ordered and/or overall volume may appropriate.
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Lengths
Can be supplied from 1.8m to 6.0m in 300mm increments but mostly available lengths are between 2.4m to 4.8m.
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Movement
Small / Medium
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Price
Low
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Sawn Sections
(Machined profiles will be thinner / narrower)
25 x 100 / 125 / 150 / 175 / 200
32 x 125 / 150
38 x 100 / 125 / 150 / 175
50 x 100 / 125 / 150 / 175 / 200
75 x 100 / 150 / 175 / 225
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Strength
Likely to be similar to European larch which is about 50% harder than Scots pine and slightly stronger in bending and toughness. The strength values for slow grown L.sibirica material are likely to be slightly higher than for faster grown plantation sourced material.
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Texture
Fine
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Treatability
Extremely difficult
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Uses
Joinery, Cladding (exterior & interior), Decking, Louvres / Brise soleil
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Working qualities
Similar to European larch in that it saws, machines and finishes well but it tends to split on nailing and therefore drilling is recommended particularly at board ends.
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3.
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Site Expectations – Natural Characteristics
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All timber materials MUST be stored in accordance with good site practice, please refer to our Storing of Timber document.
This material is known to have end split, face checks, occasional resin bleed and some distortion as natural characteristics.
These are therefore not deemed as defects.Please ensure that you order sufficient materials in length and volume to ensure that you can complete your project.
Fine dust may be an irritant
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Sizes are accurate when timber is machined. Timber will move during different climatic changes for which we have no control over whatsoever. We reserve the right to amend profile dimensions without notice. Please check current dimensions with our sales office if you are matching up profiles that have been supplied in the past. |
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