Red Beech, Silver Beech and European Beech

Red Beech
Trade Name: Red Beech
Other names:
Botanical Name: Nothofagus fusca
Density: 640-690 kg/m³ @ 12-15% Moisture
Price: From $80/m²

Red Beech, a native of New Zealand, found in the East and South of the North Island, and in limited numbers in the South Island.

The timber ranges in colour from a light pink to a deep red in the heartwood, to a light creamy white in the sapwood.

Red Beech machines well once dry and makes for an attractive, though soft, tongue and groove floor. In addition it is often used in furniture such as beds and chairs.

Silver Beech
Trade Name: Silver Beech
Other names: Southland Beech
Botanical Name: Nothofagus menziesii
Density: 590 kg/m³ @ 12-15% Moisture
Price: From $53/m²
Silver Beech maintains many of the properties of Red Beech, although tends to be a little less dense, with a lighter colour base.

The heartwood is a light pink colour, while sapwood is white-cream. Silver Beech machines well once dry and again makes for an attractive floor, although is soft and can mark easily. Traditionally it has been used in furniture and decorative piece manufacturing.

Most Silver Beech is taken from sustainable yield forests in the West Coast of the South Island.

European Beech
Trade Name: European Beech
Other names: Beech
Botanical Name: Fagus sylvatica
Density: 575 kg/m³ @ 12-15% Moisture
Price: From $53/m²

European Beech is an imported timber found throughout Central and Southern Europe and will continue to be available in reasonable volumes.

The timber can vary considerably in colour from white to red brown, and generally the product is steamed to various levels during kiln drying to reduce the colour variation.

The timber machines well and is capable of providing some of the best finishes due to it's fine texture and straight grain.