BUILDING BY-LAWS

Evening Star, Issue 19778, 31 January 1928, Page 2

BUILDING BY-LAWS

VARIATION IN THE PROVINCES WHAT DUNEDIN USES Tlie differences, us applied to the various provinces of New Zealand, which exist in the clauses pertaining to building permits bring up many interesting points. .In Wellington up till recently it was compulsory to use matai lor both wcatberboarding and flooring, but now western red cedar, which, being soft, is practically the opposite of matai, can be used for weatherboarding. In Dunedin matai, or black pine as it is called here, is not used so extensively, its nse being largely confined to verandah floorings. For ordinary floor-

ing red pine (soft rimu), all good, clean limber, is among the types utilised. Many experts are of the opinion that red pine is the finest building timber in the world, and there is not the slightest doubt that it can be dressed locally to a finish which is much better than that in any imported timber.

But, returning to the question of discrepancies in the various provincial by-laws, it seems as though the factors which determine what timbers are to be used are to a large extent a matter of local supply. With regard to brickwork it is quite evident that the Wellington by-laws, which decree that walls should he of abnormal thickness, are brought into being because of that city’s being within the earthquake zone. In so far as Dunedin is concerned no particular timbers are specified in the by-laws, and there has been no difficulty experienced in the selection or use of any of tho building timbers. The timbers are selected for the various parts of the structure. Scantlings are of “O.B.” class. Flooring, hoarding, and linings are of clean quality. These timbers arc of red pine (rimu), birch, and miro. Very often it is mixed timber, according to tho hush in which ft is cut, and for the purpose of house construction it is quite suitable. White pine (kahikatea) is seldom used now in house construction, being looked upon as a timber likely to bo affected by the borer, although many instances are known of white pine being used in boarding without borer being in evidence.

Heart timber is timber selected for finishings,_ and is termed figured red pine. Being selected for this purpose, it necessarily becomes more expensive, amounting to about 50 per cent, on “ O.B.” price. It is timber of rare beauty.

In designing a building the different qualities of timber should be selected for their respective positions. Timbers that are subjected to damp or are in proximity to the ground should be selected for their resisting qualities, whilst timber not so subjected may be •” or “ dean quality” provided that m all cases adequate ventilation is provided and the timber protected by paint or varnish.

P or tions of the structure 0.8. timber will be as effective as heart timber, and it is only by the judicious use of timber that conservation and value will be attained. One main drawback to the lasting qualities of timber is the want of proper seasoning. The trees are cut at any time of the year, irrespective of the condition of the sap. The peculiar nature of New Zealand timber is that the sap is always more or less flowing. That being so, it follows that a quantity should be cut and allowed reasonable time to become seasoned by the action of water, rain, or snow. Sawmillers say their capital would not allow them to carry such a large stock as would be necessary, and, again, to the waste caused by the timber warping and cracking in their yards. Timber showing evidence of “dry rot ” or borer is not allowed to be used in constructing new buildings, and it would be a very unwise policy to allow such to be done. Unfortunately, unseasoned timber is frequently used for the reasons already mentioned. A few timber merchants carry large stocks of timber, which by being kept a reasonable tune becomes dry seasoned; but should a contractor have a house to build he would endeavor to obtain his timber direct from the sawmill in order to save the expense of yarding. Clients sometimes are desirous of obtaining the cheapest job irrespective of quality, and

this is very evident in speculation, building. Hemlock is 'a timber that has been said to take the borer very easily" but at least one local timber merchant declares that such has not been his personal experience. Some mention should be made of the rata, which seems to grow in two distinct varieties, the one peculiar to the north, the other to the south. In the Gatlins district this timber grows into big trees, but in Auckland it becomes merely a species of vine or shrub. We have some of this shrub like rata in the Waipori Gorge, Here are a few definitions of timber commonly used:— “ O.B.” may be all sap or part sap and part heart, and may contain small shakes, knots, and other slight defects. “ Clean ” may be all sap or part sap and part heart, free from shakes, bark, or large knots. “ All heart ” may contain sound knots and small shakes. “ Clean heart dressing ” is all heart, free from knots and shakes. “Second class” may be all heart or all sap, or part of each and contain knots, shakes and ether defects.