Project Guide

Find the Right Timber for Your Project

Not sure what timber you need? Start by choosing your project below.

1. What are you building?

Project Recommended Timber Best Category
Boundary fence H4 treated pine posts + fencing timber Fencing / Posts
Privacy screen Merbau, Spotted Gum, H3 treated pine Screening
Outdoor deck Merbau, Spotted Gum, H3 treated pine Decking
Pergola H3/H4 treated pine, LVL, GL beams, hardwood posts Structural Timber / Posts
Retaining wall H4/H5 treated pine sleepers or hardwood sleepers Sleepers
House frame MGP10 / MGP12 pine framing Structural Timber
Floor or roof structure LVL14, structural plywood, MGP pine Structural Timber
External cladding H3 LOSP pine, Spotted Gum, primed profiles Cladding
Garden edging H4 treated pine or sleepers Sleepers
Feature wall Primed pine, plywood, hardwood lining Cladding

2. Will the timber touch the ground?

Answer Recommended Treatment
No, it is indoors Untreated, H2, or suitable internal timber
No, but it is outdoors H3 or naturally durable hardwood
Yes, it touches soil or concrete H4 minimum
Yes, high moisture or heavy-duty use H5 may be required

Simple rule:
If it touches the ground, use H4 or higher.

3. Do you need it to carry weight?

Answer Recommended Timber
Yes, it is structural MGP10, MGP12, LVL14, GL beams, F-grade hardwood
No, it is decorative Screening, cladding, mouldings, non-structural plywood
Not sure Contact Timber M8 before ordering

4. What look are you after?

Finish Best Options
Painted finish Primed LOSP pine, finger-jointed pine, primed mouldings
Natural hardwood look Merbau, Spotted Gum
Budget-friendly Treated pine, radiata pine
Premium outdoor finish Merbau or Spotted Gum
Hidden structural use MGP pine, LVL, structural plywood

Quick Project Recommendations

Building a Fence?

Use:

  • H4 treated pine posts
  • treated fencing timber
  • hardwood options for premium finish

Best categories: Fencing + Posts

Building a Deck?

Use:

  • Merbau decking
  • Spotted Gum decking
  • H3 treated pine for budget projects

Best category: Decking

Building a Privacy Screen?

Use:

  • Merbau screening
  • Spotted Gum screening
  • H3 treated pine battens

Best category: Screening

Building a Retaining Wall?

Use:

  • H4/H5 treated pine sleepers
  • hardwood sleepers for longer-lasting finish

Best category: Sleepers

Framing a Wall, Floor or Roof?

Use:

  • MGP10 pine framing
  • MGP12 pine framing
  • LVL14
  • structural plywood

Best category: Structural Timber

Building a Pergola or Verandah?

Use:

  • H3 treated pine for above-ground framing
  • H4 posts if going into ground
  • LVL or GL beams for spans
  • hardwood posts for premium finish

Best categories: Posts + Structural Timber

Need Help Choosing?

Still unsure? Contact Timber M8 and tell us:

  1. What you are building
  2. Whether the timber is indoors or outdoors
  3. Whether it touches the ground
  4. The approximate size of the project
  5. Whether you want budget, standard, or premium timber

We’ll help point you in the right direction.

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Need help choosing timber? Contact Timber M8 for project advice and a quote.