Blackbutt

Blacktown Building Supplies – Blackbutt Hardwood

A large Australian hardwood that is often used for both exterior and structural applications, Blackbutt is also referred to as Coastal Blackbutt or Pink Blackbutt. It got its name from the fact that the butt — or in more correct terms, the buttress — is drastically darkened after having been caught in a bushfire.

Thanks to how quickly it grows and its versatility, Blackbutt is a popular choice for timber plantations. This means that it is a readily available species of commercial hardwood in southern Queensland and New South Wales that is often used for building framework.

The heartwood of the Blackbutt ranges from a golden yellow shade to a pale brown — although if you’re lucky you may find a slightly pink shade as well. It can be hard to distinguish from the sapwood which is actually paler in appearance. One of the things that make this timber a popular choice for framing is the fact that it is naturally resistant to lyctid borers.

Blackbutt timber has an even texture and the grain is usually quite straight. This makes it an appealing choice for interior applications. The timber can be polished, stained, or painted but it should be noted that there could be some issues with painting due to Blackbutt’s tendency to surface check.

Mature wood also has high extractives that can be problematic with some adhesives. These can cause painted surfaces that have been exposed to the weather to appear stained. The timber can be easily machined, but the success with steam bending is fair at best.

Thanks to the fact that Blackbutt provides good resistance to fire, it is one of seven species of hardwood timber that the Building Commission in Victoria found to be suitable for use in the construction of homes within known bushfire areas, provided it is more than 18 mm thick.