Welcome to the NZWood Frequently Asked Questions.

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If the question/answer you require is not here please contact us.

What alternatives are there to pine? Commonly available alternatives to pine include Douglas-fir (Oregan pine), macrocarpa (Monterey cypress), Lusitanica (Mexican cypress) and Lawson cypress (Oregan cedar).

Can I buy wood from you? NZ Wood is a promotional programme and information provider for the wood industry in New Zealand. As such, we do not sell any product or act as a broker or intermediary

Don’t plantation forests ruin the land? Many forest growers in New Zealand are certified by the internationally recognised by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) which sets a demanding benchmark for environmental protection....

How can I find a specialist supplier for building with wood? The suppliers’ database on this website has a range of suppliers of speciality timber: Suppliers' Database

How does cutting down trees help the environment? Cutting down trees only helps the environment if the trees that are harvested are replaced with new plantings (even if these are not on the same site)...

How is NZ Pine graded? Through good silvicultural management, New Zealand pine logs come in a range of qualities capable of yielding lumber grades to meet almost any requirement.

How much CO2 do trees remove from the atmosphere? Over its lifetime a single tree can absorb much more than its own weight of CO2 from the atmosphere....

What are New Zealand's native species and are they available as timber? Red Beech, Silver Beech, Rimu, Tawa, Miro, Matai, Totara, Rewarewa, Black Beech, Kauri, Hinau..

What are the requirements around using wood for pedestrian access routes? The Building code for slip resistance for pedestrian access routes states that surfaces which provide the direct access route (including where this is a deck) require a slip resistance of 0.4.

What finish do I need on my beams? If your beam is going to be used in a situation where appearance is important such as house interiors, halls etc – appearance Grade A should be specified...