Description

Use: used in many contexts: for heavy construction, naval works, window and door frames, flooring and stairs. Also frequently used for furniture, wall-coverings and panels. 

Characteristics: narrow sapwood with a light yellowish-brown colour. Fresh-sawed heartwood is reddish brown, with darker shades of red in seasoned wood. It sometimes has resinous sacks, while the possibility of cracks near the annual rings (so-called nested pores) makes it difficult to slice. As for Italian production, larch grown in the Alps is the best, while larch grown in the Apennines is often more tender. Then, there are the American varieties (Larix Laricina and Larix Occidentalis).

Drying: dries easily and quickly, but attention must be paid to the tendency of this wood to crack and warp.

Surface: possible presence of dry, hard knots on the surface makes working it difficult. Medium texture and straight grain. When applying surface treatments, attention must be paid to the resin, removing it, if necessary, with a suitable product before applying varnishes or lacquers.

Gluing: both types of joints are effective and durable.