Larix decidua
Family: Pinaceae

Distribution: Europe, particularly the mountain areas of Alps, U.K.,
W. Russia.

Commonly thought of only to be suitable for fencing, gates and other exterior applications. Consideration should be given for selected stock to be used more readily in furniture and interior high class joinery work. . It is a very attractive softwood available in long and wide specifications. It’s only real problem is the occurrence in some boards of dead knots which sometimes have a tendency to fall out of the board. It is also proving very popular for flooring. Normally sawn to order and can be available quickly from the round log to kiln dried boards.

General Description: This is a softwood, the resinous heartwood is pale red-brown to brick red in colour, with uniform texture, it is the only European deciduous conifer. Weight about 590 kg/m3 (37lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.59.
Mechanical properties: Air dried timber is about 50% harder than LARCH, EUROPEAN cont. Baltic Redwood and slightly stronger in bending strength and toughness, with similar properties in crushing and impact strengths.

Working Properties: Works well with most hand and machine tools but knotty material can cause severe blunting of cutting edges. It saws and machines cleanly in most operations although loosened knots may be troublesome. Nailing causes splitting and pre-boring is essential. It takes stain, paint or varnish well.

Durability: The wood is moderately durable and subject to insect attack. The heartwood is resistant and the sapwood moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Uses: Pit props, posts, transmission poles, piles, boat planking, exterior work in contact with the ground. Door and window frames, flooring, staircases and ship building. As Larch is harder and tougher than most conifers it is used in preference where durability and strength are prime requirements.