Gum, Rose

Rose gum is a fast growing Australian native hardwood with a wide range of applications from general construction to fine furniture making.

Other Names

Flooded Gum, Scrub Gum

Botanical Name

Eucalyptus grandis

Common Form
Sawn
Species Type
Hardwood
  • Overview

    • Rose gum (Eucalyptus grandis) is a large, fast growing hardwood timber. When grown in a favourable environment, rose gum is one of the most productive plantation eucalypts. It is a very tall forest tree, reaching 45 to 55 metres in height, with a trunk of between one and two metres in diameter. The trunk displays rough, stringy grey-brown bark at the base, with a white, powdery bark extending above.

    The rose gum grows on the eastern coast of Australia, tolerating sandy through to heavy clay soils. It stretches from Newcastle on the New South Wales central coast to Bundaberg in southern Queensland. Smaller stands of rose gum occur to the west of Mackay on the central Queensland coast and in pockets in the ranges from north west of Townsville to west of Bloomfield in far north Queensland. Rose gum has been grown in plantations in Queensland and New South Wales, making the sawn timber of this sought after species readily available.

    In Australia, rose gum is mainly harvested for panelling, sawn building timber, flooring and joinery. It has decorative applications in high quality furniture, as it is easy to carve and turn. Boats and structural plywood can also be built from this timber. It has a range of general construction uses due to its class 2 above ground durability (15 to 40 years), although it is less durable in-ground (5-15 years). While its sapwood is not susceptible to lyctid borer, the timber is not termite resistant.

    As its name suggests, rose gum has heartwood that is pink to red-brown in colour, with paler sapwood. The timber can be moderately course and is predominantly straight grained.

    Shrinkage

    Very Low Low Medium High Very High
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    Tangential : Provides a simplified rating for tangential shrinkage. This is the measure of the percentage reduction in dimension from the unseasoned to 12% moisture content condition.
    7.20%

    Radial : Radial shrinkage is perpendicular to the growth rings. It is shrinkage in the direction towards the centre of the tree. Measurement is % value
    4.00%

    Unit Movement Tangential: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.34%

    Unit Movement Radial: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.25%

    Strength Group Strength groups are given for unseasoned (S1-S7) and seasoned (SD1-SD8) timber in accordance with AS 2878. S1 and SD1 yield the highest strength and stiffness whereas S7 and SD8 yield the lowest.

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium High

    Medium

    Reasonably Low

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    S1

    S2

    S3

    S4

    S5

    S6

    S7

    S8
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    Seasoned:

    SD1

    SD2

    SD3

    SD4

    SD5

    SD6

    SD7

    SD8
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    Stress Grade A stress grade is defined in AS 1720 as the classification of timber for structural purposes by means of either visual or machine grading. The stress grade indicates the basic working stresses and stiffnesses to be used for structural design purposes. Measured in MPa.

    Structural
    No. 1    		 Structural
    No. 2    		 Structural
    No. 3    		 Structural
    No. 4    		 Structural
    No. 5

    Unseasoned:

    F17

    F14

    F11

    F8

    F7

    Seasoned:

    F22

    F17

    F14

    F11

    F8

    Density per Standard Seasoned density is based on moisture content of 12%. Unseasoned density is an approximation as it depends on the moisture content at the time of measurement. Measured kg/m3.

    Seasoned:

    750kg/m3

    Unseasoned:

    1060kg/m3

    Joint Group The joint group is a classification of the strength of a species in joint design. The values are from 1 (very high strength) to 6 (very low strength).

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    J1

    J2

    J3

    J4

    J5

    J6
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    Seasoned:

    JD1

    JD2

    JD3

    JD4

    JD5

    JD6
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    Colour The colour of seasoned heartwood can vary between species and often within a species. The information provided should be used as a general guide only. In most cases, the colour of sapwood is either a lighter shade of the heartwood or a white/cream colour.

      White, yellow, pale straw to light brown Pink to pink brown Light to dark red Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky
       
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    Mechanical Properties

    Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    81

    Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    119

    Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    13

    Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    16

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:

    Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    41

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    67

    Impact - Unseasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.
    20

    Impact - Seasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.
    17

    Toughness - Unseasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.
    Medium - 15 - 24 Nm

    Toughness - Seasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.
    Medium - 15 - 24 Nm

    Hardness - Unseasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    5.5

    Hardness - Seasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    7.3

    Durability

    Low Moderate Reasonably High High
    (0 - 5 yrs) (5 - 15 yrs) (15 - 25 yrs) (more than 25 yrs)

    In-Ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.

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    (0 - 7 yrs) (7 - 15 yrs) (15 - 40 yrs) (More than 40 yrs)

    Above ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.

    		 Check mark
    (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) (21 - 40 yrs) (41 - 64 yrs) (More than 60 yrs)

    Marine Borer Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to marine borer attack.

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    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: Indicates whether a species is susceptible (S) or not susceptible (NS) to lyctid borer attack.

    Not Susceptible

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other:

    Termite Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to termites.

    Not Resistant

    Fire Properties

    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

    EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: This is a material's propensity to burn rapidly and spread flames based on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 means that the materials will not cause flames to reach the ceiling and 10 indicates that the material could be expected to cause flames to reach the ceiling of a room within 10 seconds of ignition.

    EFH Smoke-Developed Index:This is a measure of the concentration (measured by optical density) of smoke a material emits as it burns. It is based on an arbitrary scale of 0 to 10. The higher the index, the greater the hazard from smoke is likely to be.

    Critical Radiance Flux - Lower: This measures the radiant (heat) energy required to sustain burning. It is used in Australia to regulate floor coverings. The requirements are set out in BCA Specification C1.10a, providing CRF values for floor coverings based on Class of building, the location within the building (general use or use in fire isolated exits) and whether or not the building is sprinkler protected or not. CRF is measured in kW/m2.

    >2.2 and <4.5

    Critical Radiance Flux - Higher: This measures the radiant (heat) energy required to sustain burning. It is used in Australia to regulate floor coverings. The requirements are set out in BCA Specification C1.10a, providing CRF values for floor coverings based on Class of building, the location within the building (general use or use in fire isolated exits) and whether or not the building is sprinkler protected or not. CRF is measured in kW/m2.

    >2.2 and <4.5

    Smoke Development Rate: This is the speed at which smoke increases as determined by testing flooring materials in accordance with AS ISO 9239.1. The rate is expressed in terms of percent/minutes. For buildings not protected with a sprinkler system, a maximum smoke development rate of 750 percent/minute applies.
    <750
    1 - non-combustible 2 - reasonably non-combustible 3 - slightly combustible 4 - combustible

    Fire Properties Group
    Number:

    Group Number - Other:
    Fire Properties - EFH Spread-of-flame Index: 8

    Average Specific Extinction Area: This value is determined by the volume of smoke measured over the mass loss of the tested sample per test carried out in accordance with ‘Cone Calorimeter Test’ AS/NZS 3837. It is measured in units of m2/kg.
    <250

    Bushfire Resistance: Naturally bushfire-resisting timbers are those with inherent bushfire-resisting properties. Some species have been tested and a number are in the process of being tested and are measured by Bushfire Attack level (BAL). BAL -12.5: Ember attack, BAL – 19: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers together with increasing heat flux between 12.5 and 19 kWm3, BAL – 29: Increasing levels of ember attack and burning debris ignited by windborne embers together with increasing heat flux between 19 and 29 kWm3.
    BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications
    Appearance

    Rose gum produces a warm coloured timber with pink hues that are deep without being too dark. The heartwood ranges in colour from pale pink to red-brown, however the sapwood is paler and not always clearly differentiated from the heartwood.

    The wonderful blend of soft pinks and peach tones make this a charming timber, and rose gum may contain evidence of insect trails and pinholes that add to its character and beauty. The grain is fairly uniform: straight to slightly interlocked, creating no distinctive figure. The timber's texture is moderately course and even.

    Common Applications

    Rose gum is an extremely versatile timber for construction and decorative applications. As sawn timber in general house framing, cladding, internal and external flooring and mouldings, rose gum is an ideal choice. It is also ideal for use in linings, joinery, fascia and barge-boards.

    The decorative applications of rose gum are obvious if you're looking for a timber of distinctive warmth. It has been used for fine furniture, as well as durable outdoor furniture. The timber's character features distinctive pinhole and insect marks making it well suited for use in joinery, carving and turnery.

    Other uses of rose gum include structural plywood and in boat building (framing components, planking and decking). Rose gum has also been used for boat oars, dowel rods, broom handles, brush ware and fruit cases.

    Workability

    Rose gum is moderately easy to work with hand tools (rated 3 on a 6 class scale). It can be easily sanded and machines and turns well to deliver a smooth finish.

    This species of timber can be dried satisfactorily with conventional air and kiln seasoning methods, although care should be taken in the early stages of drying to avoid collapse and surface checking. The sapwood is able to accept impregnation with preservative but the heartwood is resistant to contemporary commercial treatments.

    No difficulty has been experienced with the use of standard fittings and fastenings with rose gum. The timber can be bonded using standard glues and it will readily accept paint, stain and polish. In addition, rose gum accepts oiling.

    Origin of timber
    NSW
    Readily Available
    NSW
    Rose gum is widely available as sawn timber. There are several natural sources along the east coast of Australia and it has also been grown in plantations in Queensland and New South Wales.
    Source of timber
    Native Forest
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    Joinery

    Timber joinery offers a classic, stylish touch to any interior or exterior space.
    a wood fence with trees in the background

    Fencing

    When it comes to fencing, timber is a natural choice. A material that is durable, strong and reliable it compliments almost every outdoor landscape and environment. Clear specification, detailed installation and appropriate maintenance will ensure a timber fence provides a natural and lasting property boundary and back drop for years to come.
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    Mouldings

    Mouldings are extremely versatile and durable, enhancing the aesthetics of any interior and functioning as the icing on the cake for designs with a focus on beauty and splendour.
    a staircase with a hole in the ground

    Rails and Balustrades, Interior

    With its natural beauty and inherent strength, timber is a popular material choice for internal balustrades. Commonly built from treated softwoods and durable hardwoods, interior balustrades and handrails are typically finished with a clear lacquer to generate the most natural result.
    a staircase in a building

    Stairs, Interior

    Timber is the material of choice for designers seeking internal staircases of strength, beauty and durability.
    a patio with a deck and chairs

    Pergolas

    A timber pergola is a practical, functional and attractive way to extend living and entertainment spaces into the outdoors.
    a house with a pool in the back

    Rails and Balustrades, Exterior

    This provides general information on member sizes, connections and suitable materials for construction of handrails and balustrades in external applications. Commonly built from treated softwood and durable hardwoods, they can be finished with a wide variety of paints or stains, creating balustrades that with the right care and attention, will comfortably withstand the elements for decades to come.
    a close-up of a building

    Cladding, External

    The natural appeal, versatility and strength of timber makes it the superior choice for external cladding. Through specification, planning, design and finishing processes, timber cladding not only creates a building of superior strength, acoustic and thermal performance but also creates a place of beauty, style and natural appeal.
    a room with benches and paintings on the wall

    Flooring

    The warmth, strength and natural beauty of timber flooring is enduringly popular in a wide variety of domestic, commercial and industrial applications.

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