Designing with Spotted Gum, American Oak and Australian Ash

Designing with timber is a rewarding experience when you get to enjoy the finished product! To ensure you select the right timber for your design, it’s helpful to be fully informed about the different types of timber species and how their unique characteristics and properties that can greatly influence the design and feel of a space.

Within this blog, we detail the characteristics, recommended applications and design possibilities of the three timber species that we offer at Sculptform, those being: American Oak, Spotted Gum, and Australian Ash. After reading, we hope you have a very clear indication of which timber is best for your design.

American Oak

American Oak is a popular choice due to its durability and versatility. It has a medium to coarse texture with prominent growth rings, and a pale yellow to light brown color. It’s also easy to stain and finish, which makes it an excellent choice for customising the look of your space.

One of the best ways to use American Oak in your design is on walls and ceilings to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. It’s lighter natural color and texture can bring a sense of calmness and comfort to any space. Additionally, American Oak is perfect for modern, minimalist designs because of its clean lines and simple aesthetics. Moreover, it has excellent steam bending qualities.

Spotted Gum

Spotted Gum is an Australian hardwood that’s known for its unique spotted appearance, hence the name. It has a coarse texture, a variable color range from light to dark brown, and a distinctive wavy grain pattern. Spotted Gum is a durable and hard-wearing timber that’s suitable for both interior and exterior applications.

Spotted Gum is an excellent choice for creating a natural and rustic feel in a space. It’s distinctive spotted appearance can add a touch of character to both interiors and exteriors. It’s a popular choice for exterior cladding because of its durability and resistance to decay. So far, Spotted Gum is our most popular species that we craft our materials from.

Australian Ash

Australian Ash is another popular hardwood timber in Australia that’s known for its light color and straight grain. It has a medium texture and a consistent pale color with a slight pinkish tint. Australian Ash is also easy to work with and machine, with a smooth finish easily achievable.

Australian Ash is a versatile timber that can be used in a variety of design styles. Suitable for interiors, it’s perfect for creating a classic and timeless look and is an excellent choice for creating a light and airy atmosphere due to its light color and straight grain with minimal tone variation.

You can’t go wrong with timber

As we’ve chosen American Oak, Spotted Gum, and Tasmanian Oak as our timber species of choice for our range, we certainly believe that they are all excellent choices, each with pro’s and con’s.

Each type of timber has its own unique characteristics and properties that can be used to create a specific look and feel in a space.

Whether you’re looking for a warm and inviting atmosphere, a natural and rustic feel, or a classic and timeless look, on exteriors or interiors, these three types of timber have got you covered.