Larch bridge decks are very useful for all wooden bridge structures. At the customer’s request, we can deliver larch bridge decks planed, sanded, milled edges to the radius. Larch bridge planks, but also smaller prisms have a wide range of applications in the production of structural elements of various building structures.
Larch has a very nice and decorative appearance, but especially high durability when used outdoors. Larch lumber has the highest resistance to weathering of our coniferous woods. Larch lumber has a high durability even without surface treatment, due to its high content of resin and oily substances, which impregnate larch so well that it repels water. We also cut larch bridge planks to order in whole metres up to 12 metres in length. We supply a certificate of structural lumber for larch bridge beams.
WHICH LARCH DECKS CAN WE MAKE FOR YOU DEPENDING ON THE PURPOSE?
rustic look with a higher proportion of twists and curves
Larch bridge boards in the rustic style highlight the natural beauty of larch wood without the perfect industrial edge treatment. Beams treated in this way will transport you back several centuries to a time when the emphasis was not on perfection. The more or less bark-free edges, small and large healthy knots remind you every time you look at this beautiful piece of wood that in the beginning it was a tree that grew for decades, with a natural curve rising behind the light with a lush branching in the crown. Logs with more branches (knots) cut off and not completely straight, but not knots that would cause structural defects, are used to make rustic-looking larch bridge decks.
Rustic larch bridge boards are suitable for larger square and rectangular dimensions of 150mm or more.
sharp-angled appearance with fewer knots
In the production of larch bridge boards we put emphasis on the quality of processing, so that all edges are sharp without curves and a large number of large twists. The clean appearance and quality of the larch bridgeplates show the beauty of larch wood and are suitable for structural and design elements of various small and large building elements.
The logs used for the production of the look larch beams are the first and second pieces from the bottom of the tree with fewer cut branches (knots) and minimal curvature.
Larch bridge decking is suitable for use from smaller square and rectangular dimensions of 100mm and more.
Freshly sawn (tarred) larch bridge decking with unspecified moisture content
The disadvantage of using unprocessed lumber may be the high water content and the subsequent volume changes and deformation when drying to equilibrium moisture content. The higher water content can also be problematic in terms of increased risk of attack by wood-boring insects, moulds and fungi, but this is to a small extent in larch, as larch is resistant to these attacks, as is oak.
When buying raw lumber, it is a good idea to choose the right quality for the application. In general, centre sawn timber, ideally radial with no pith content, will be the strongest and most stable.
On the other hand, the incorporation of elements made of uncured wood containing pith can cause undesirable effects in the form of twisting, drying cracks, etc.
This product of basic sawmill processing does not lose its popularity in traditional carpentry constructions, where a relatively wide range of cross-section dimensions is applied – their use is in gazebos, pergolas, roof trusses, exterior constructions, larch beams in the garden.
We’ll be happy to advise you on the selection of suitable material…
Technically dried, planed larch bridge decks
The profiles are manufactured from technically dried larch lumber with guaranteed moisture content (usually 15% ± 3%). For larger dimensions above 120mm, they are produced as center lumber or for smaller dimensions, the primary cutting of the logs is done by cutting through the pith (center of the log). This guarantees higher dimensional stability.
Four-sided planing or sanding and chamfered edges are a matter of course – we supply larch prisms with planed, sanded, decoratively milled edges, anti-slip grooves or hand planed.
We’ll be happy to advise you on the selection of suitable material…
TREAT THE LARCH BRIDGE DECKING OR LET IT TURN GREY?
Larch does not need surface treatment in outdoor conditions, as it will last about 15 to 25 years without decay without direct contact with the ground. Untreated larch will turn grey in about 2-3 years due to sunlight and moisture. The colour changes first from the points that are most exposed to the weather and evens out over several years, depending on the conditions. The greying of wood can be slowed down by treating the wood with transparent wood preservatives. A beam made from larch also does not need to be surface treated, as the larch material can withstand UV and moisture stresses. Over the years, however, the wood will turn grey. Remember that during greying, the tone of the surface may be uneven.
