W h e r e W o u l d Y o u U s e E a c h W o o d ?
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hat makes the Cottesmore home a masterpiece of imported wood is the incorporation of six exotic species into the project . The materials were employed in the building applications that made best use of their unique characteristics .
Dean Coley , Architectural Millwork and Design , built the Cottesmore project to showcase rengas ( Gluta spp . and Melanorrhoea spp .), a very stable bright-orange wood . Its characteristic resistance to shrinkage and warping made it a great material for the beams , ceiling , decking and flooring in the project .
Merbau ( Intsia biuga and l . palembanica ) is a deeply-hued tropical species originating from the Indo-Malayan region that is highly resistant to termite attack , but difficult to saw because of gumming of the teeth . These traits made merbau a good material to use in the straight-framed window , exterior doors , passage doors and garage doors for Cottesmore .
The wood that serves as the base posts for the lower portion of the deck , as well as the garage door side jambs and full-room shelving in the home ’ s great room , had to be heavy-duty . Coley specified the brownishyellow species bangkarai ( Shorea spp .) from Indonesia . Bangkarai has a fine texture with a glossy surface . Do not be deceived by the wood ’ s refined appearance . Bangkarai is durable and extremely hard . In fact , it is two to three times as hard as oak .
For the deck planking and handrails , sipo ( Entandrophragma utile ) was chosen . In addition to offering a broad palette of fairly uniform red to purple-brown , sipo has characteristics that lend themselves nicely to decking . The wood itself works fairly easily with hand or machine tools when its interlocked grain is taken into consideration . It also finishes well , and glues and nails without difficulty .
The top and bottom deck rails and handrail posts are fabricated out of another species of tropical wood . Honduran mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla ) has a straight grain with a fine even texture . Plus , the wood is relatively free of voids and pockets . This internal integrity gives the reddish-brown wood excellent workability . Routered edges , such as those in the top and bottom rails , are crisp and sharp . Mahogany also turns well on a lathe . The wavy rails for the Cottesmore deck are courtesy of the wood ’ s versatility .
Teak ( Tectona grandis ) is a native species in many parts of Asia , and also grows well in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America . Best known for its resistance to water and overall durability , teak has long been cultivated for use in boat building , cabinetry and tanks / vats that require high resistance to acid . Cottesmore features teak in the kitchen for the cabinets and the “ brick ” wall . Despite its oily nature , which is responsible for its characteristic performance , teak also glues relatively well .
What makes Cottesmore a tour de force of imported wood ? It is not the number of species used , or the quantity of material . Instead , it is the careful consideration that placed each species in the role where its best attributes were maximized . Beautiful . Durable . Workable . Functional . Imported wood . iw
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