Building with stronger, stiffer pine in civil projects

An award-winning timber manufacturer based in Waipu, Northpine is dedicated to providing premium Radiata pine products efficiently, with fast turnaround times for civil, commercial and residential markets. 

Marketed as Northbeam, the product range of treated SG8 and SG10 structural timber is grown only from sustainably-harvested pine grown in the northernmost forests of New Zealand, as Northpine GM Bruce Larsen explains: “The beauty of where we are located is the further north you go in New Zealand, the stronger and denser Radiata pine grows due to the warmer climate. Trees keep growing over winter; this is when they put down thick cell walls, meaning they have more cellulose per cubic metre of product – making it stiffer and stronger.” 

This allows Northpine to produce timber beams and square posts in lengths up to 7.2 metres, treated onsite up to H6 standard (most sawmills stop at 6.0 metres for individual lengths). Northbeam SG8/SG10 Solid Timber range is well-suited not only for residential and commercial projects, but for retaining walls and large structures in public spaces – such as walkways, bridges and wharves. 

As just one example, Northbeam was supplied for the new Kennedy Point Marina at Waiheke Island.

“We are quite manual and old school at our sawmill in that we can efficiently produce smaller batches. We also have the drying, steaming and treatment operations to treat the product for outdoor use, including over water.”

Read more: SG10 can help under new design rules

Parallel to the bridge at Molesworth Drive in Mangawhai and measuring approximately 420 metres by 3.5 metres wide, the boardwalk of the new Mangawhai Shared Path – completed and opened to the public in August 2022 – is the second of five phases to better connect Mangawhai Village with Mangawhai Heads.

“One of the key items for the success of the project was the supply and delivery of the timber,” says lead contractor, Fulton Hogan project engineer Brett Vermeulen. 

The timber for the project was specified as SG8 H4 for the timber above the poles. The poles and main bearers are also H6, while the rest of the timber – the joists, decking, baluster and handrail – are specified at H4. 

“The quality of the timber has been great and the timber is gauged. Our initial concern was the potential differences in the gauging of the timber and we thought we might encounter a slight problem at the end of the job with final finishes and final levels within tolerances – obviously you don't want any protruding timber or any tripping hazards,” says Vermeulen. 

“But as we commenced installing the timber, we realised they have it right in their [Northpine’s] yard and are supplying good quality timber that has a good gauge depth.”

Explore the Northbeam product list

“It takes about two months to get something from a standing tree and through our process to be a product that we can load on our truck,” says Larsen. “This includes sourcing the right logs, cutting them to size, drying, processing and treating. Sometimes we dry the timber at each stage and the chemicals have to ‘fix’ so that they are suitable to go back out into the environment.”

While much planning goes into large projects such as the Mangawhai Shared Path, Northpine also has a standard range of larger dimension timbers readily available from merchants nationwide. 

“We have most common sizes stocked. If a few pieces are needed and it’s a relatively popular size, we should be able to get it delivered within a couple of days, depending on where it’s needed in the country,” says Larsen. 

“The Northbeam model is about having specialist products on call and available within two or three days, but it’s also there for civil and commercial projects that come together over many months.”

Vermeulen adds: “Dealing with the Northpine team I thought was rather refreshing in how they engaged with myself and their willingness to assist the project.” 

Learn more about working with Northpine.