About us

How The Macro Factory all started…

 

The Macro Factory was established in 2017 with the majority of timber purchased direct from Macrocarpa Supplies saw mill.

We are based Lincoln, and supply throughout New Zealand.

We work with home owners, architects, builders, clients on special projects as well as commercial and hospitality projects, for example large five metre tables for outdoor areas, bar leaners, table tops and more!

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Why use Macrocarpa?

Macrocarpa has a range of uses including ceiling sarking, exposed beams, flooring, wall panelling, framing, furniture, solid wood bench tops, architraves and skirtings.

It can be used outside for weatherboard, surfeit, facia, pergolas, decking and outdoor furniture. It is not recommended in-ground for construction purposes (including in-ground posts for fencing, decking and pergolas).

Sustainability of Supply

Macrocarpa supplied in New Zealand is grown within New Zealand as an exotic tree.

The timber comes from either a forested plantation source, or farm shelterbelts.

Supplies of good-quality timber are increasing, either milled to specific requirements, or available from specialist suppliers as finished products (for example, mouldings and flooring profiles).

In the early 1950s, it was estimated that there were about 360 ha of pure macrocarpa plantations in State forests, 255 in mixtures and another 405 ha in private plantations.

Well-managed plantations of cypress have since been established. The National Exotic Forest Description (NEFD) (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2006) estimated that, in 2006, there were about 7,000 ha of standing cypress plantations.

Cypress timbers currently make up the third most commonly used exotic timber species in New Zealand, with approximately 20,000 m3 cut per year.

Therefore, for small landowners, the species represents a viable economic alternative to radiata pine for woodlots.

The increase in market demand for cypresses offers farmers both a low-cost way to reduce negative impacts of farming on the environment, and a lower-impact land-use option than radiata pine.

In New Zealand, the timber is graded into Clears, Dressing and Utility grades. Supply of timber milled to larger sizes is limited in certain parts of the country, and sizes larger than 150 x 50 mm can be difficult to source.

Botanical name: Cupressus macrocarpa

Other common names: Macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress

Strength: Macrocarpa is a low-to medium-density softwood that looks and works like kauri.

Durability: Both the heartwood and sapwood of macrocarpa are naturally borer resistant (Anobium) for interior housing purposes. The heartwood is moderately durable for above-ground purposes, but the sapwood is non-durable. The timber cannot be pressure treated with copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA), but sapwood can be boron diffusion treated to resist insects (but not decay).

Finishes: Macrocarpa, when dry, will accept a variety of paints, oils, two pot resins and varnishes.

Working properties: Macrocarpa has a fine grain and machines and sands well to give a high-quality finish.

Appearance: The heartwood is golden brown and has a speckled lustre, which is rare in timber.

Macrocarpa is a low- to medium-density softwood that looks and works like kauri.

Description

The heartwood is golden brown and has a speckled lustre, which is rare in timber.

The sapwood is very light brown and typically occupies about five growth rings.

Freshly cut timber has a fragrant spicy odour, which is typical of cypresses. It is a very stable wood, is easily sawn and has relatively low surface hardness, with good working and finishing characteristics and relatively uniform wood properties.

This allows even small diameter logs of 15–20 cm, and young ‘teenage’ trees, to be sawn to produce quality timber.

Durability

Macrocarpa heartwood is naturally durable for above-ground purposes, but sapwood requires treatment.

The timber cannot be pressure treated with copper, chromium and arsenic (CCA), but sapwood can be boron diffusion treated to resist insects (but not decay).

For this reason, if macrocarpa is to be used for outdoor purposes, heartwood should be specified and supplied.

Above ground, the heartwood timber should be sound for 20 to 30 years, and if exposed to the weather, but protected from direct sun and rain, will last 40 to 60 years.

A 50 x 50 mm stake will last 10 to 15 years in the ground.

Both the heartwood and sapwood of macrocarpa are naturally borer resistant (Anobium) when used for interior housing purposes.

Macrocarpa can be used for interior uses: ceiling sarking; exposed beams; flooring; wall panelling; framing; furniture; solid wood bench tops; architraves; skirtings.

It can be used outside for: weatherboard, surfeit, facia, pergolas, decking and outdoor furniture.

It is not recommended in-ground for construction purposes (including in-ground posts for fencing, decking and pergolas)