Reclaimed parquet flooring:
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)
Jarrah is a heavy, dense, strong hardwood grown only in Western Australia. Its Latin name Eucalyptus Marginata gives a clue as the the size and scale of these trees. It is a much sought after timber in the UK and prized as a reclaimed parquet. The deep mahogany red-brown colour tones are very attractive and generally produce quite an even colour tone across the floor.
Jarrah characteristics
The heartwood is a light red or brown to a darker brick red which tends to darken with exposure to light. Thin sapwood is a pale yellow to pink. The timber is sometimes characterised by dark brown flecks and small black gum streaks which is caused by a fungus, Fistulina hepatica. The markings enhance the appearance of the timber. The grain is generally even with a medium to coarse texture. When freshly cut or sanded it is plum in colour. It does settle to the well-known deep mahogany colour, and has the benefit of resisting sun-fading.
Jarrah is a high density wood, its finishing and working qualities are rated as good. It has a high resistance to wear so is regarded as perfect for flooring. A very durable timber and suitable particularly for domestic wood-block flooring.
It generally found as a parquet in pre-war buildings, from 1920s and 1930s. The earlier blocks were cut longer and often had an acme fixing system, which is a peg and hole mechanism. Eventually the tongue and groove blocks were manufactured. However the fashion for Jarrah seems to have slowed down after the 1950s in favour of more exotic wood types and colours!
You can order a sample. When available, you can purchase reclaimed Jarrah on our Buy page.
Jarrah
