Botanical Name: Vitex Cofassus
Origin: Solomon Islands
Species Overview:
Vitex Cofassus is one of the most widely used decking timbers. Often sourced from the Solomon Islands, this wood offers a lovely olive-grey appearance and it has excellent bending properties. It holds nails well and offers high durability and strength, making it ideal for decks and boat-building.
This is a durable timber with a pale yellowish to creamy-grey appearance. Some of the benefits of Vitex as a decking timber are:
- Fine, slightly lustrous texture with even grain
- Leathery odour and nice to the touch – perfect for bare children’s feet!
- Sourced from low-impact, village-based operations in the Solomon Islands
- High resistance to shock loads
Available sizes 140x19mm, & 90x19mm (lengths 1.5m to 4.8m).
Main Uses:
- Decks
- Exterior joinery
- Board walks
- Boat building
Working Properties:
The timber is converted without difficulty. It planes and machines well and is easy to cut across the grain. A good finish can be obtained and it has good bending qualities and holds nails well without pre-drilling.
Installation:
Before commencing deck construction confirm with your local council that the proposed deck complies with council regulations and that its design and construction methods are compliant with the New Zealand Building Code.
Ensure your deck design allows for adequate ground clearance i.e. a minimum of 450mm and that the structure is well ventilated allowing good airflow beneath your deck. Building too close to the ground and or closing in the sides of your deck can cause excessive board top versus board underside moisture variations which can lead to warping or cupping of the deck boards. This is particularly important when using decking boards wider than 90mm, as the greater board area amplifies these risks.
- Joist spacing’s should be no more than 400-450mm.
- Gaps between each board (row) should be no less than 4mm for 90x19mm and 6mm for 140×19 boards.
- Gaps at abutments should be no less than 3mm.
- Decking board butts can be joined end to end.
- Finish your deck with a protective penetrating decking oil or oil based stain. Oil the butt ends and underside of your decking boards before they are laid.
