Cypress

Eco cottages provide an affordable home that supports the production of renewable resources, which promote the retention and sustainable management of termite-resistant cypress forests. (endorsement: Greg Ford, Regional Ecologist, Queensland Murray-Darling Committee)

Eco cottages are built almost entirely from cypress, which has the following properties:

• Naturally termite resistant -- no added chemicals are needed to resist termites, borers and weather exposure.
• Cypress has greater resistance to rot and decay than all other commercially available softwood and most hardwoods.
• It has a hard wearing surface, making it ideal for flooring.
• It has the highest durability classification (Class 1), higher than hardwood.
• Cypress has the lowest shrinkage factor of all commercially used Australian timbers, and high joint value. This provides exceptional stability in use.
• TRADAC (Timber Research And Development Advisory Council of Queensland) is not aware of any single recorded case of a cypress framed house that has been attacked by termites and suffered structural failure of the house or significant part thereof.

These properties make Cypress timber an excellent choice.

Apart from the two main galvanised bearers, all other structural elements of our cottages are made from cypress:

• Floor joists
• Tongue and grooved flooring
• Wall framing
• Roof framing and exposed rafters
• External weather boards
• Internal and external doors
• Windows and glazed entry doors
• Architraves and skirting
• All internal and external trim
• Kitchen cupboards bench tops and doors

This Heritage listed Cypress pole was part of the original Overland Telegraph Line constructed in the 1870s. It still stands today, demonstrating the durability of Cypress timber.