30 Years of MacDirect: Supplying Macrocarpa Weatherboard to New Zealand

This year marks a significant milestone for MacDirect Sawmill – 30 years of supplying macrocarpa and cypress weatherboard to builders, architects and homeowners across New Zealand.

From humble beginnings in the early 1990s, MacDirect set out with a simple goal: to provide a consistent, high-quality supply of macrocarpa timber for building. Three decades later, that commitment remains unchanged. Our team continues to specialise in the milling, grading and supply of premium macrocarpa and cypress timbers used in homes and buildings throughout the country.

Why MacDirect Weatherboard Works

One of the most popular uses for macrocarpa/cypress is exterior weatherboard cladding. Builders have trusted cypress timbers for exterior use for generations because of their natural durability and stability.

Macrocarpa weatherboards offer several advantages:

• Natural durability – resistant to fungus, insects and decay without chemical treatment.

• Stability – properly selected trees and heart timber performs well with minimal movement.

• Versatility – can be painted, stained, oiled or left to weather naturally to a silver-grey finish.

• Warm natural appearance – the honey-brown colour and distinctive grain add character to both traditional and contemporary homes.

• Longevity - MacDirect mac cladding hardens over time which creates a stiff and solid barrier in a dry state. This makes for a very durable cladding.

  
  

These qualities have made macrocarpa weatherboard a proven cladding material for over 100 years in New Zealand homes.

The MacDirect Approach

MacDirect was founded in the early 1990s with a focus on improving the consistency and quality of macrocarpa timber in the market. By selecting high-grade plantation logs and carefully grading the timber, the company helped establish macrocarpa as a reliable building product for the modern construction industry.

Today, the MacDirect sawmill continues to produce a wide range of macrocarpa products including:

• Weatherboards and cladding

• Structural beams and framing

• Sarking and paneling

• Decking and outdoor timber

With strong relationships across the forestry industry, MacDirect maintains a steady supply of quality plantation logs and distributes finished products through timber merchants and directly to customers throughout New Zealand.

The Stability of MacDirect Mac

One of the most common questions we hear is about timber stability.

Macrocarpa/Cypress is a softwood with excellent engineering characteristics and strength ratings comparable to structural timber grades, making it suitable for many building applications.

At MacDirect, stability starts with log selection and grading. By focusing on heartwood and carefully controlling the milling process, we produce mac that performs reliably in weatherboards, framing, and other building uses.

When installed correctly, macrocarpa cladding and structural timber can last for decades – something many New Zealand homeowners have already proven in real-world projects.

Looking Ahead

Thirty years is a significant achievement for any sawmill, but for MacDirect it’s also a reminder of why the business started in the first place — to ensure that New Zealand builders always have the option of using locally grown macrocarpa and cypress timber.

As demand grows for natural, durable and sustainable building materials, macrocarpa continues to prove its value.

MacDirect is proud to have played a part in bringing this remarkable timber into homes across the country, and we look forward to supplying the next generation of New Zealand buildings with quality macrocarpa weatherboard and timber products.

The Macrocarpa & Cypress Specialists

After more than 30 years working with macrocarpa and cypress, MacDirect has become one of New Zealand’s most experienced specialists in these unique timbers.

Unlike many general sawmills, our focus has always been on understanding the characteristics of macrocarpa and cypress and milling them correctly for building use. These species require careful log selection, grading, drying and processing to deliver the performance that builders expect.

Over the years, our team has developed deep knowledge in areas such as:

• Selecting high-quality plantation logs

• Milling stable heart timber suitable for Understanding the natural durability of cypress timbers

• weatherboards and structural use

  Helping architects, builders and homeowners specify the right timber for their projects

  
  

Because mac behaves differently to many commercial softwoods, experience matters. At MacDirect we combine three decades of practical milling expertise with a reliable supply of quality logs, ensuring our customers receive timber that performs as expected.

Today MacDirect continues to be known across the industry as a trusted source of macrocarpa and cypress timber, supplying weatherboards and building products used in homes throughout New Zealand.

After 30 years of supplying weatherboard in New Zealand one thing hasn’t changed — our passion for this remarkable timber and our commitment to doing it properly.