Engineered timber board quality

[Craka]

Am I expecting too much not to have machining marks /cuts through boards or splits at the ends of boards?

It's not all boards just numerous ones. It's blackbutt from a known Australian company and is labelled there premium product.

[r3nov8or]

Splits, well, I guess they can look natural and 'ok' if not impacting structurally, but that saw mark is not on. I'd probably be emailing photos and calling (or visiting if possible) the company for replacements

[droog]

The first one looks pretty poor for premium product, is it just one or are there multiple examples in such a state ?

Second one does not appear to be a consistent width and I suspect it is not a cut as such. Probably more an insect that bored a tunnel through the tree prior to being turned into flooring. It’s a feature of natural materials.

Have you asked the supplier about the issues ?

[droog]

Here is a pic of one of the insect damage areas in our floor, Blackbutt as well.
IMG_1005[1].jpg

[r3nov8or]

Interesting insect/borer damage, in otherwise great looking timber!

[droog]

Interesting insect/borer damage, in otherwise great looking timber!

Plenty of other similar “features”, picked that particular one as like the OP you can see the channel is narrower in the centre when compared to each end.

[r3nov8or]

Plenty of other similar “features”, picked that particular one as like the OP you can see the channel is narrower in the centre when compared to each end.

When we chose a "feature grade" Tassie Oak solid T&G floor, as expected we got a lot of features (sap lines etc), which we love to this day, but not one perpendicular borer feature like that

[Craka]

Here is a pic of one of the insect damage areas in our floor, Blackbutt as well.
IMG_1005[1].jpg

I have some where there gum veins and where an insect etc has been, which to me is expected for blackbutt but to me the one I have like in the photo above in a couple boards seem to straight on the edges for insects. Maybe I'm wrong, certainly not a timber expert.

I haven't spoken to supplier, but they're the only one in the are for this manufacturer, and had to order these in. Everyone has been on shutdown over the Christmas break, I'll see how many boards have such issue and see. I doubt anyone will do anything about it, I'm just a one off buyer doing a DIY floor, and I don't want cause too much of an issue as now looking for work in a smallish coast/country area and hence don't want a get a bad name for myself.

More I guess, asking if I was expecting too much.

[Craka]

When we chose a "feature grade" Tassie Oak solid T&G floor, as expected we got a lot of features (sap lines etc), which we love to this day, but not one perpendicular borer feature like that

Yes, true, I'm not against feature of gum veins, sap lines etc. I like them.

[Craka]

Does this look like tallowood rather than blackbutt ? The board marked with the arrow I mean.

[droog]

Does this look like tallowood rather than blackbutt ? The board marked with the arrow I mean.

I would not pick it as a different species are you referring to the tiger stripes in the plank ?

Like all timber Blackbutt has a lot of variations
IMG_1006[1].jpg

[Craka]

I would not pick it as a different species are you referring to the tiger stripes in the plank ?

Like all timber Blackbutt has a lot of variations
IMG_1006[1].jpg

Yeah I know , but I have a couple boards with more yelloish hue and less grain/vein detail. Unfortunately that earlier photos doesn't distinguish that much of a difference, naked eye is much better than a camera a lot of the time.

Lets try this one, the board just to the right of my grubby left toe.

[droog]

I think I see what you are pointing out but if you notice that board has a distinct tiger striping in it, compared to the rest which are just mainly straight long grain.

Dont believe it is a different species just a different cut or different tree. One of the features of natural timber I like is the varied grain, structure, pattern and colour that comes with it.

In my opinion the splits in the end of the plank in the first post I think the vendor should address, the others are all just features in natural timber floor.