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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where is Design Pine Manufactured?
A. ITI source Design Pine from a select few remanufacturing facilities in Australia and New
Zealand. All of the manufacturers have been set strict guidelines that they must follow in the
manufacturing process. This sets out adhesive types, preservative and paint types to comply
with all necessary Australian Standards.
Q. How is Design Pine made?
A. Essentially it is timber which has had all the visible natural defects removed and glued
back together through a finger jointing process. Lamination is used to increase the size of the
board to allow the production of large profiles e.g. 280x65 beams
Q. Are Finger joint adhesives designed for external use?
A. Some are. All glues used in the manufacture of Design Pine are Service Class 3 compliant,
this means they can go outside in fully exposed applications and will not be adversely
affected by climatic conditions.
Q What Wood Species is used in Design Pine?
A. Design Pine is manufactured from Radiata Pine which is a sustainable plantation grown
species that has been used widely throughout the world with great success.
Q Why use wood when I can use an alternative?
A. Wood is a natural product. It looks good, feels good, works well and is positive for our
environment. Design Pine uses plantation pine, which is environmentally responsible and is
an excellent global economic contributor. Design Pine is a clear, defect free engineered
product, with excellent stability. Design Pine is differentiated through a value adding process
that ensures performance in exterior applications. Design Pine is aesthetically pleasing with
a high quality primer that is easily finished with an exterior top coat.
Q How do I know I have Design Pine?
A. Each piece of the Design Pine product bigger than 66x18 will have a tag stapled on the
end of each board. This tag will have the Design Pine logo and the Australian Standard of
which it complies to.


Q. How big is the positive contribution to the environment?
A. The below table shows the energy used in extraction and the carbon absorbed during
growth of the plantation grown forests versus other common building materials.
Material
Fossil Fuel Energy Used Carbon Released Carbon Stored in Production (MJ/m3)
Q. What are the differences between Design Pine and other pre primed products?
A. There are other treated pre primed products available that have been designed to be
used in similar applications. All pre-primed product can be broken into 4 parts.
Design Pine details are as follows
1. Primer

Many alternatives vary the combinations of the above parts, for example primer quality
varies with some recommending that it be removed and reprimed before top coating can
take place. Some use service class 2 adhesives which limit the applications in which they may
be used, as the standards say they must be under a roof. Other preservatives may be used
including Tin based alternative which can irritate skin and eyes.
Q. Can I paint Design Pine prior to installation?
A. Yes. By applying the first top coat of paint before installation it can save time later as well
as help to protect against moisture uptake during the construction and finishing process. For
weatherboards, it is highly recommended to paint prior to installation or at least the top
50mm is top of the board (the area under the lap) prior to installation as this will prevent the
blue primer showing through if the board does expand and contract as a result of climatic
change.

Q. Is Design Pine affected by moisture?
A. Yes, the Design Pine primer contains a moisture management system which slows the rate
of moisture uptake into a board but does not offer a moisture / vapour-proof coating. When
boards have been exposed to periods of either high humidity or rain while in the primed
state, moisture may penetrate the wood fibre causing the board to expand or swell slightly.
If this occurs it should be left unpainted to dry out until it returns to the original profiled size.
E.g. Rusticated weatherboard is 185x18mm when produced, it may expand by 2-3mm if left
exposed, and an alternate method is to monitor the moisture content of the board until it
returns to 8-14%. This will prevent unsightly lines occurring on the painted wall once the
board normalises from the expanded state. Store boards in a dry well ventilated area, and
prevention measures should be used to minimise the impact of raising moisture from
underneath the boards when stored.
Q. Should I plan for expansion joints?
A. Yes, especially if working with eaves linings, shiplaps or weatherboards. If planning to
cover a full ceiling or large wall ensure you plan for an expansion joint, just like timber floor
board. Plan for an expansion joint at every 10th board across the wall or ceiling whilst the
ends should not be installed tight against a solid point (e.g. frame). These simple steps will
reduce the risk of a problem down the track if the boards do expand in either direction.
Remember Design Pine is a natural product and it will change as climatic conditions change.
We do everything we can to keep it as straight and stable as possible but eaves lining is only
11mm thick which makes our job harder. Site conditioning of the boards prior to installation
should take place to ensure the equilibrium moisture content is reached. The moisture
content prior to installation should be between 8-14%.

Q. How much preparation is needed?
A. Design Pine is quick and easy to install and finish, therefore for best results follow
standard preparation methods
1. Ensure the board is equal to the original size or has the correct moisture content (8- 2. Any surfaces exposed through cutting or notching must be recoated with an approved preservative sealer (Protim Solignum XJ or Tanalised EnSeal). 3. Remove all dirt, dust or any contaminants from the board surface. 4. Fill any defects, damage and or nail holes with an approved exterior filler. 5. Sand any chalky or uneven surfaces. 6. Prime all bare areas (including cuts, and rebates) with Design Pine primer. 7. Apply two coats of quality exterior paint as per manufacturers guidelines (e.g If the primed surface has been exposed to the weather for an extended period of time the
surface may become chalky. If this happens sanding and re-priming will be required.

Q. What sort of primer is used on Design Pine?
A. Design pine uses a genuine primer on the entire product range. The oil based primer is
machine applied in the remanufacturing facility to provide a very consistent finish. This
primer has been specially formulated to coat the organic preservative system to give a highly
durable and flexible finish.
Q. What colour paint should I use?
A. The use of a light coloured topcoat is highly recommended as dark colours absorb light /
heat, which can cause distortion, surface cracking and or resin bleeding. It is recommended
that top coats for Design Pine products have a light reflective value (LRV) greater than 30%.
Paint manufacturers can advise the LRV to assist in selection. The higher the LRV the lower
the rate heat transfer into the substrate and the longer the expected life of the paint finish.
Light / heat reflective paints should be used if a darker colour is specified as they reflect the
light and prevent it from being absorbed, in turn reducing the boards temperature. For
example Resene Cool Colours (www.resene.com.au).
Q. When does Design Pine need to have a top coat applied?
A. It is recommended that Design Pine is painted with a quality exterior top coat as soon as
possible to prevent moisture uptake and primer deterioration but the primer is designed to
withstand up to 12 weeks exposure to the elements, If any chalky primer or bare patches are
located on final inspection they must be sanded and reprimed prior to painting. Do not
forget to make all surfaces are clean and free of any contaminants and that the boards are
the correct size or moisture content.
Note: Refer to ‘Installation Guidelines’ for further preparation requirements.
Q Will I be able to see finger joint or lamination lines?
A. Yes at certain times, All finger jointed products (internal or external) have a risk of showing
finger joint lines as the wood fibre surrounding the joints may expand and contract through
climatic changes. The visibility of the joints can be highlighted further by paint selection (type
and colour) and the direction of light hitting the wall.
Q. Is Design Pine easy to work with?
A. Yes, its timber. Design Pine is easy to handle and install. It has excellent nail-ability, is
stable and is safe. Design Pine is a genuine wood product with substantial added value and
performance benefits.

Q. Where can I use Design Pine?
A. The organic preservation system and selected adhesives used in Design Pine allows it to
be used in all above-ground fully-exposed applications. The preservative is gives the product
a hazard rating of 3 (H3) while the adhesives are all service class 3 (SC3).

Q. How is Design Pine protected against termite attack and decay?
A. An organic preservation system is used to preserve Design Pine for a minimum of 25
years. This resists termite and insect attack, whilst preventing the onset of decay.
The active ingredients in this preservative system are two organic biocides to prevent decay
(Tebuconazole, Propiconazole) and Permethrin to resist insect attack.
Q. Where should I store Design Pine?
A. Design Pine needs to be stored in a dry well ventilated area to prevent moisture uptake.
Stack Design Pine in a flat location on bearers spaced no greater than 1500mm apart, this
will assist in keeping the boards flat. Plastic sheeting should be placed under the stack to
minimise the impact of moisture rising from the ground or concrete slab on which the
timber is stacked.
Q. What are the safe handling procedures?
A. The following recommendations are for the safe handling of Design Pine:
• Keep the work area clean and keep airborne wood-dust below the recommended maximum exposure levels. Use mechanical air extraction if necessary. Brush wood dust off the skin. • Use appropriate personal protection such as dust mask, safety glasses, ear muffs and gloves when using power tools on the timber. • Cotton or light gloves are recommended for general handling. A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is available for further information.
Q. What installation and maintenance practices should I use?
A. Use good building practices in conformance with the Building Code of Australia, safety
codes and local requirements. Use fasteners that are suitable for the intended application
and in line with the fastening manufacturer’s instructions. All H3 treated timber components
should be well clear of the ground.
When a piece of Design Pine is cut to length, rebated or drilled it is a requirement that you a
preservative sealer to all newly exposed surfaces with a suitable spray or paint-on timber
preservative. Design Pine should not be rip-sawn, re-thicknessed or heavily planed as these
actions may reduce the protection offered by the treatment.
Q. What fixings should be used?
A. All fixings are to comply with the Building code of Australia as a minimum, note if fixing
wide boards (e.g. 280x25), we recommend the use of screws not nails as they maybe prone
to cupping over time. For best performance the fixings should be within 50mm of the edges
to the board for maximum support against cupping.
Q. Is the Design Pine preservative corrosive to bolts, nails and plates?
A. No. However galvanised steel, Stainless Steel or other corrosion resistant fasteners are
recommended for weather exposed applications. All fixings should be Australian Standards
Compliant.
Q. Can I use Design Pine with other types of timbers?
A. Yes Design Pine can be used with other timbers (treated or untreated). However the
following should be considered:
• Do not mix Design Pine with wet or unseasoned timber in the construction as this may cause gaps and cracks to form as the wet or unseasoned timber dries out. • Any other timber used with Design Pine should also be of suitable durability and • Ensure that any fasteners, paints, glues or other materials used are also compatible Q. How do I dispose of waste and off-cuts?
A. Design Pine off-cuts and saw dust are classed as non hazardous waste. For normal
domestic and trade users, dispose of waste through normal waste collection and disposal
services. Industrial users generating large amounts of treated timber waste may require
special approval for disposal.
Design Pine off-cuts should not be burnt for domestic heating or cooking. Off-cuts and saw
dust should be not used for mulching or animal bedding.
Q. How Much does Design Pine cost?
A. Design Pine is competitively priced compared to alternatives with pricing available from
Design Pine stockists.

Q. Where can I buy Design Pine?
A. Design Pine has an extensive timber merchant network across Australia. Refer to the
“where to buy” section of the Design Pine web site for your nearest stockist.
Any further questions?
Please contact your nearest ITI Office.
Sydney

Source: http://vestastore.co.nz/Portals/2/CVStoreDocuments/329-3.pdf