Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Are these frames green or blue? 4Jul 06, 2019 10:05 am That's H2 "blue pine" The actual colour is irrelevant as it's a dye in the LOSP finish. It's the level of termite treatment and it's application that is important. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Are these frames green or blue? 7Jul 06, 2019 1:31 pm The treatment on the pine is LOSP treatment. That's H2 level that gives you termite resistance in protected situations like framing. H3 treatment impregnates right through the timber and is far more expensive but can be used in exposed situations. As a carpenter we get to know.😉 Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Are these frames green or blue? 8Jul 06, 2019 3:02 pm I always wondered who and why will be building a house made of structural timber in termite infested areas. This just doesn't seem to be logical, even though the timber is considered to be "treated". This LOSP thing is quite nasty, so avoid direct contact with it. Re: Are these frames green or blue? 9Jul 06, 2019 3:27 pm Plantation grown timber that is sustainably harvested is much kinder on the environment. Steel production produces huge amounts of CO². Any issues with timber (such as termites) can easily be overcome with proper building techniques. Timber is also far easier to work with. The LOSP treatments used are non carcinogenic usually based on pyrethrins. Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Are these frames green or blue? 10Jul 06, 2019 6:06 pm That's why the elevated slab too. It is up to the owner to ensure the termites aren't breaching the slab edge. My understanding is that although a steel frame isn't eaten by termites any timber you have in that home, your gyrock, skirting boards etc can still be eaten. Re: Are these frames green or blue? 11Jul 07, 2019 3:18 am Bricks are also sustainable and most brick veneer constructions use them anyway. Why not to build houses from bricks? LOSP may not be carcinogenic but certainly are not adding to the health of residents and also off-gas. They also pollute environment, too: "LOSP-treated timber often contains hazardous PCP (penta-chlorophenol), or TBTO (tri-butyltin oxide). Another problem with LOSP is that, for every cubic metre of timber treated, the result is 30-40 litres of hydrocarbon solvent evaporating into the atmosphere." https://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/good_wood/pres_not.htm By the way, thermally modified timbers provides better protection than LOSP treated ones for the whole life of the timber. Re: Are these frames green or blue? 12Jul 07, 2019 9:04 am Our frame is supposed to be blue pine. The NSW EPA says this is a waterbased pyrethroid treatment. LOSP is different. It is light organic solvent preservative. The lightweight cladding on Qld subtropical homes is supposed to ensure the house cools off quickly at night. I've only been here a month or so but considering it is nearly the middle of winter I think it is great. I've been barefoot inside as the polished concrete slab hardly varies in temp. I have short sleeves day and night because the temp hardly varies. The Qld government recommends lightweight cladding for passive energy reasons in subtropical regions. We could debate forever about the sustainability of various construction materials. Digging clay out of the ground then heating it in huge kilns requiring a lot of energy doesn't seem very environmentally friendly to me. At least trees for timber are a good thing to grow, although there are problems with plantations and the effects of monoculture. If we wanted to be sustainable we'd be using renewable resources available locally and building it by hand, without power. I wonder about the weight of double brick on floating slabs too. I don't know whether I'd like that in these high rainfall regions and highly reactive soils. Just my thoughts based on a few weeks of reading. Re: Are these frames green or blue? 13Jul 07, 2019 1:39 pm chippy The treatment on the pine is LOSP treatment. That's H2 level that gives you termite resistance in protected situations like framing. H3 treatment impregnates right through the timber and is far more expensive but can be used in exposed situations. As a carpenter we get to know.😉 Agreed, I sell the stuff and most of the "green" pine, which is H3, is almost colourless now that theyve moved on the CCA treatment. H2 or blue pine is very obvious in colour however Re: Are these frames green or blue? 16Jul 08, 2019 5:55 pm http://www.timberqueensland.com.au/Usin ... tment.aspx Apparently it should be written on them. I’m just in the process of replacing 2 stud walls that have been severely damaged by termites and am planning to use h2 blue pine. I just wanted to if anyone can advise… 0 52911 That sucks! Hope it all works out. Good to move away from steel anyway for all your reasons, but it's also thermally poor. 16 18075 |