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Karri (Western Blue Gum)
Wood Flooring Species
Scientific Name:
Eucalyptus diversicolor
Other Names and Species:
Western Blue Gum
Origin:
Western Australia and South Africa
Appearance:
The sapwood of karri is whitish while the heartwood is pale pink to a reddish brown in color. The species has an interlocked grain and is moderately coarse in texture.
Properties:
Karri has a natural resistance to decaying. The wood is reported to have no discernable odor. Karri is very difficult to dry properly due to its tendency to check or warp when the process is rushed. This particular species has a propensity to move over time with changes in temperature and humidity, and as such should be used in areas with a stable climate.
Janka Hardness: 2030
As a flooring option, karri is a very hard and durable wood. It is forty percent harder than hard maple, a little bit more than fifty-seven percent harder than red oak, just over ninety-two percent as hard as santos mahogany’s ranking of 2200, and is just over eighty-six percent as hard as Brazilian cherry.
Workability:
Karri can dull cutting tools rather easily and as such can pose some difficulty when sawing. Nail installation requires holes to be pre-bored beforehand. Glue holds somewhat well with karri flooring. This wood requires some effort to sand properly but yields a good polish.
Principal Uses:
Karri’s uses include framing, shipbuilding, plywood, and joinery.
Learn more about available grades of
Karri hardwood flooring »
