Timber Species

BBS Timbers supplies timbers from New Zealand and the rest of the world.  Whether your project is a new floor, a deck, a pergola, or even a boat or wharf project, you’re sure to find the perfect timber for your requirements at BBS Timbers.

Imported Timbers

We are direct importers of timbers from all over the world.  Over many years we have developed relationships with timber mills to ensure that they supply us only with timbers of the highest grade and quality.

The following are many of the timbers that we import and regularly stock.  Also included is a brief description of the common colour of each species.  Please note that this is not a complete list and other species may be available.  Please check with our Sales team.

The download at the bottom of this page is a PDF file that shows the Botanical name, durability, treatability and possible uses for each species of timber.

Photos of a selection of the timbers listed here can be found in our flooring section.

Ash - American White  USA.  Heartwood is grey-brown sometimes tinged with red. 

Ash - Victorian  Australia.  Pale to light brown with pinkish tinge.

Oak - American White USA and Canada.  Varies in colour from pale yellow-brown to a biscuit colour with pinkish tint.

Anegre  Africa.  Yellowish-white to pale brown or pinkish-brown.  Darkens after exposure.
     
Calophyllum (Damanu) Fiji.  Heartwood is light reddish-brown and sapwood is   straw to pale orange-brown.

Cedar -  Western Red  Canada.  Freshly cut timber varies from dark brown to      salmon pink, turning to reddish-brown and aging to silver-grey.

Cedar - Yellow  Canada.  Pale yellow colour.        

Cherry    USA.  Varies from rich-red to reddish-brown.
   
Douglas Fir   Canada and NZ.  Heartwood is a light reddish-brown and can show prominent growth rings.
   
Fijian Kauri   Fiji.  Heartwood is pale cream to golden brown, with a luster.  Sapwood is straw to pale brown.
   
Greenheart   Guyana.  Varies greatly between yellow, olive, brown and black. 

Iroko    West and East Africa.  Golden orange to brown.
       
Jarrah    Australia.  Rich dark brownish-red.

Jatoba    Central and South America.  Salmon red to orange-brown with dark brown streaks and a golden lustre.

Kwila/Merbau   SE Asia, Malaysia.  Brown to dark brown.

Maple    USA.  Cream-white with a reddish tinge.

Oak - American White USA and Canada.  Varies in colour from pale yellow-brown to a biscuit colour with pinkish tint.

Purpleheart   Guyana.  Deep purple-violet when freshly cut, maturing to a dark brown. 

Sapele    West and East Africa.  Medium to dark reddish-brown.

Teak    SE Asia, Burma.  Varies from golden brown to rich brown and darker chocolate brown. 

Victorian Ash   Australia.  Pale to light brown with pinkish tinge.

Walnut    USA.  Rich dark brown to purplish-black.

Yaka    Fiji.  Uneven colour. Brown to red-brown.

Local Timbers
As well as imported timbers, we supply a range of New Zealand timbers.

Macrocarpa   Honey brown with natural lustre.   

Radiata Pine   Heartwood pinkish-brown, sapwood pale coloured.

Saligna   Light pink.

Pilularis   Straw colour.

Downloads
PDF of different timber types (19.5kb)
Key to ratings (7.7kb PDF)