The designation is hemfir covering a broader range of harvested specieas mixed in same load, much the same wauy that spf does spruce, pine, fir it stands for hemlock and fir mixed. Hardwood vs softwood difference and comparison diffen. Seems like most manufacturers use either pine from the northwest, but some more expensive use douglas fir. Durable wood for porch decking woodworking information at. Characteristics fir is a light pink color and is straight grained. The more central layer of each growth ring is made during the early part of the growing season. Douglas fir flooring is a very durable type of hardwood flooring. Pine trees have needle clusters and scaled, platelike bark.
Generally, though, softwoods are cheaper and easier to work with than hardwoods. American lumber company is a full service supplier of quality lumber. The soft wood between the grain lines shrinks and expands, making the wood cup or twist. Old growth heart pine pine is one of the most beautiful, versatile, and plentiful building materials in use today. If your project requires a oneofakind look, we offer unique species like black walnut.
Douglas fir is the strongest of our homegrown softwoods. Douglass fir 660 beech, european 0 ebony, brazilian 3692 beech, american 0 gingerwood 1600 ash, domestic white 20 goncalo alves 2160 amendoim 60 grapia 2053 white oak, north american 60 heart pine 870 910 cypress, australian hard 75 hickory 1820 walnut, caribbean 1400 imbuia 950 walnut, mayanaztec 1400. When freshly milled, the douglas fir is a light, rosy. Once you get into the southwest, you may use sprucepinefir spf. Heart wood is light reddish brown when dry although quite pink when fresh. Heart pine is milled from the center of very large trees that are becoming scarce and hard to find.
Faqs about douglas fir timbers fir lumber from mcilvain. The forum is a free service, and much like the free content on public radio, we hope you will support woodenboat by subscribing to this fabulous magazine. Straightgrained and moderately heavy, with limited resin, this is one of the most attractive and strongest of the western softwood. You will want to allow the stain plenty of time to dry. The one second from the left old board is written on it. It is generally fast growing, takes nails well, and is heavily used in construction. Shelling is most likely to occur in flatsawn yellow pine and douglasfir that is installed barkside down. This particular green wet douglas fir timber, dried to a final moisture content of 8%, would be expected to shrink a little less than 916 on each facefrom 12 x 12 to a final size of 11716 x 11716. It is an excellent choice if you enjoy walking into your home and having the wonderful fresh pine christmas aroma greet you. There were a lot of douglas fir plywood plants that sent plywood all over the usa as southern pine plywood was not common much before 1960 as the adhesive issued was not resolved, in addition to rail shipping costs. Properties and distortion of douglasfir with comparison. In this case, you are going to want to refinish the floor. Douglas fir about the timber species with english woodlands.
Douglasfir versus whitewood lumber for framing areas. Available grades in all species lumber grades, assigned on the basis of visual inspection andor mechanical testing, are divided into three basic classifications which reflect the intended end uses. Keep it maintained by painting regularly, inspecting for signs of insect damage or rot, and make sure the footings are installed correctly so its elevated off the ground, she advises. Pine and fir are two softwood species harvested in the northern hemisphere. In this study, nine 60year old douglasfir trees and thirteen 26year old radiata pine trees were selected from forests in canterbury region. The board to the left of it is a piece of cvg douglass fir floor, and the two on the right are heart pine reclaimed boards. As you move east, lumberyards stock both dfl and hem fir hf. This reliable and workable wood brings out the very best for your customer. I have been using exclusively vg doug fir for years but good stock is getting really hard to find. Pine flooring, however, is a softwood so it has its own setbacks. Douglas fir and white fir wood products, floors and more.
Douglas fir the texture of this softwood is smooth with a straight, even grain and. Pound for pound, douglas fir is one of the strongest western soft woods. Facts about douglas fir douglas fir product brochure. The two most popular types of wood windows are pine and douglas fir, although other types of wood windows are available. The soft pine, fir and other white woods that are used to construct most. Wood from all pinus species is considered a softwood. Weve been wanting to do a woodstain study for years now and in my head, i wanted to do every type of wood with about 20 different stains each. I have decided to install hardwood flooring in utah but didnt have any idea on wood finishing materials like polyurethane base, lacquer, shellac. Pine has broad grain lines that wander, making it far weaker than fir. How to identify hardwoods and softwoods ask this old house. This strong, reliable and workable wood is perfect for use in many projects. Douglas fir has has a warm and homey atmosphere when decorated with christmas lights and your family ornaments. Clear, coastal douglas fir is the wood of choice for top performing wood windows. Eight of ten conifers west of the cascades are douglasfirs.
These woods are typically dried in a kiln to prevent. From this article, i came to know some important information on wood finishing steps. You can apply the stain with a brush or with a rag. Understanding framing lumber grades pro construction guide. Our treated yellow pine decking and most dimensional treated yellow pine boards on our yard are treated to aboveground treatment, intended to be used 18 or more above the ground. Ive left sample pieces of several species in ground contact in the humid southeast for months and years at a time and i can tell you that white pine will rot dramatically faster than hemlock. Their wood is resilient and therefore a favorite choice for many people in various trades. Douglas fir on the other hand, features a tight, flowing grain pattern that resists warping and twisting.
However, in some cases, it can be scratched and start to look a little bit old. Only small quantities of heartwood lumber are available. White fir, or sprucepinefir 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Pound for pound, douglas fir is one of the best western soft woods. The hf mix is slightly more brittle than the doug fir and definitely less strong if you were looking at roof raters or joists, but it is fine for stud materials. The chapters include lumber grades, working stresses and stress grades, design data, structural glued laminated lumber, wood preservation, and design loads. Heart pine is a common name for two species of southern yellow pine, the longleaf pine pinus palustris and loblolly pine p.
Redwood lumber that is 100% heartwood is designated heart. Douglas fir clear lumber is able to be painted if desired or needed. They are both widely used in the building industry to provide lumber and plywood for homes and framed structures as well. How to identify hardwoods and softwoods ask this old. Douglas fir christmas trees valley view christmas trees. Several kinds of pines native to the southeast loblolly, slash, shortleaf and longleaf are classified in the lumber industry as southern yellow pine and are widely used in construction. The dense grain of the fir wood make it ideal for use in construction, as it holds a nail well and can be used for flooring, windows, panels, trim. We specialize in heart pine, antique oak, chestnut, hickory, elm, and maple.
In california, for example, the predominate species of dimensional lumber used for home building is douglas firlarch dfl. Pseudotsuga menziesii is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, pinaceae. The size material you will need for this project will be readily available in whitewood and will be less expensive. In california, for example, the predominate species of dimensional lumber used for home building is douglas fir larch dfl. Douglass fir vs yellow pine the woodenboat forum is sponsored by woodenboat publications, publisher of woodenboat magazine. Pull off a needle, and roll it between your fingers. In some parts of the world notably europe, heart douglas fir is prized as a naturally durable timber cladding and recognised as an eco choice. Custom millwork atlanta marietta, dunwoody, kennesaw. Douglas fir is used mainly for long length applications rafters or floor joists. Softwoods grow fast and straight so they are a good option for framing material like fir and spruce. From these trees, 36 discs of 200 mm thick for douglasfir and 23 for radiata pine and 388 boards with dimensions of 100mm x 50mm x 4. We are getting all wood windows for our addition to our 1918 house that has original windows, which we love. In many cases, hardwoods and softwoods are both used for many of the same purposes, with more emphasis placed on the type of hardwood or softwood and how dense it is.
It is typically used as alternative to siberian or european larch. Effective for treating the sapwood of pine but not the denser heartwood, douglas fir or hardwoods. Douglas fir is a conebearing softwood, meaning that it is not a true fir. Wood windows are usually only exposed on the inside because the outside is protected from the elements with materials like pvc, aluminum, or fiberglass. Choose from a selection of highquality standard wood options, including pine, cherry, douglas fir, mahogany, white oak and vertical grain douglas fir. The needles are dark green or blue green and soft to the touch and radiate out in all directions from the branch. California white fir is one of the most versatile soft woods in america. Fir is a group of tree species related to pine, just as spruce, hemlock, tamarack, and other coniferous trees are. Fir uses fir is used for doors, windows, cabinetry, flooring, paneling, siding, architectural trim and millwork. Old growth douglas fir lumber is the finest grade of douglas fir available, with a clear vertical grain and very tight growth ring patterns, averaging 9 or more rings per inch. Douglas fir lumber and logs are often dried to meet the specific requirements of clients wanting to have customized doors and windows.
Mar 05, 2018 its often used as a construction or structural building material, and yellow pine studs and beams used in framing are comparable in strength and stiffness to douglas fir. Since the wood you will be using will not be getting wet and will be in an insulated wall, spf spruce, pine, fir lumber is sufficient. Douglasfir pseudotsuga menziesii, perhaps the most common tree in oregon, is the most important conifer in the state because of its ecological and economic significance. Natural, clear or light stain finishes work well for species such as pine, while. No two woods are the same so consider the pros and cons of each one and just how much they can add value to your home. The douglas fir is a stiff, stable wood, making it perfect for handling harsh weather conditions under considerable structural weight and pressure. The heartwood is tan or reddish while the sapwood is white to cream with fine brown lines.
This particular green wet douglas fir timber, dried to a final moisture content of 8%, would be expected to shrink a little less than 916 on each facefrom 12 x. It is well known that the heartwood of douglas fir is durable. Oct 26, 2018 while regional variations and date of construction meant that the trim might be pine, oak, chestnut, heart pine, walnut, douglas fir, or gumwood, this is quality material. Spf is a species stamp it means sprucepinefir and they dont care,they consider them the same as far as strength goes. Low cost timber weatherboards and cladding abodo wood. Is western hemlock suitable for doors and window sash. You will find in this heading of our website some of the items that we sell.
Since many timber frames are built from douglas fir, lets start by looking at a 12. If you do not see what you need, please give us a call, we can order special order many products including long lengths and large timbers such as 8x8. If youre not concerned with longevity, you could use doug fir, says terry. The beauty of wood is its main benefit as a window material.
Dec 28, 2018 pine and fir are two softwood species harvested in the northern hemisphere. Another source of heart pine comes from reclaimed lumber, such as beams or structural lumber. Guide to natural durability and treatability of selected wood species of importance in europe. Homegrown custom cut and commonly available in widths or sections. Can be used for residential and commercial projects. How 6 different stains look on 5 popular types of wood. In addition to its strength, douglas fir has rich coloring with the heartwood aging to. Redwood lumber that is 100% sapwood rare or usually pieces with both sapwood and heartwood lose the heart designation. The oregon legislature recognized this when it designated douglasfir the official state tree in 1936.
For stability and strength, fir is much less prone to warping or twisting, and much stronger than pine. Gibson mcilvain has gone through in our decadelong relationship with carrying softwoods, weve come to understand the up sides and down sides of using douglas fir. Here they are in april, with the typical open grassland understory. Foliage characteristics are the best way to differentiate the two, focusing on needle clusters and lengths.
If the twig carries its needles singly, its a good bet youve got a fir or a spruce. Fir, which will usually rate the highest in terms of the span tables mike smith rhode island. Widely used due to its fine characteristics, fir is dense, hard, stiff, durable, and strong. Initially, any woodwork or trim that wasnt painted was either left bare or treated to a protective mixture of linseed oil and wax. The process is known to enhance the general appearance of the lumber, providing it with a naturallooking staining image. White fir is widely used in residential and light commercial construction. In addition to douglas fir, there are also some species that are called true firs, such as balsam fir, subalpine fir and so on. Cherry, black douglas fir maple walnut, black pine, eastern white1 poplar oak, white spanish cedar oak, red mahogany, american 1 eastern pines are largely second growth with a large proportion of sapwood. The designation is hem fir covering a broader range of harvested specieas mixed in same load, much the same wauy that spf does spruce, pine, fir it stands for hemlock and fir mixed. Its lightweight and easy cutting properties make douglas fir great for home improvement. Quality lumber modesto, ca american lumber company.
Douglas fir seedlings thrive in an open, sunny environment. Southern yellow pine grades northeast lumber sales. How to choose the right wood for your fence or deck. These are very important for the finishing process. Untreated painted softwood joinery can last for decades but. The ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa is found in the dry interior of bc. Vast pine forests dominate the landscape of the american south stretching from the coastal plains of virginia to east texas providing a multitude of timber products, from dimensional lumber and. The wood typically has a strait or slightly wavy grain pattern.
Douglas fir see our douglas fir stock douglas fir, friend of the forester, sawmiller and woodworker alike but taken for granted in its own back yard. Trees that spring up in a forest setting dominated by douglas firs are likely to be hemlocks, which. Sometimes referred to as southern pine, the straightgrain strength and resiliency make it suitable for exterior window and door trim, fascia and other exterior trim. Authentic wood flooring for early homes old house journal. In addition to douglasfir, there are also some species that are called true firs, such as balsam fir, subalpine fir and so on. While regional variations and date of construction meant that the trim might be pine, oak, chestnut, heart pine, walnut, douglas fir, or gumwood, this is quality material. Heart pine flooring, on the other hand, has over 200 species and was the primary choice for building products during the industrial revolution. Look for the number of needles that come out of the same spot on a twig. Very similar to silver maple, red pine, or box elder 17. Douglas fir about the timber species with english woodlands timber. Jun 25, 2019 the timber durability chart contains 5 classes of timber, with each class determining how long each timber listed will last these are all to bs en 3502. Read douglas fir lumber specs and information here at sustainable lumber co.
Its crush strength was better than douglas fir but not as good as yellow pine, but 40 psf vs 41. Similar in general form, basic differences exist between fir and pine trees, including botanical name, native ranges, and cone shape. Strenth of southern pine and douglasfir compared author. Beautiful looking wood though, so it might be a shame to paint it, but arent they all. Make sure that the stain is applied evenly to the entire area. Selecting the right wood finish the craftsman blog. Heart grades of redwood are more expensive than grades. The douglas fir use book is intended for the use of architects, engineers, and students preparing for these professions. Douglas fir woods are strong and ideal, with straight grains that are the result of long, straight trunks. Old growth douglas fir lumber is the finest grade of douglas fir available, with a clear vertical grain and very tight growth ring.
This wood is used in the manufacturing of more products than any other lumber species. It is nonresinous, fine textured, mills accurately, and remains straight. I think it would make sense to use some locally grown wood if there is anything that is grown for construction. They are both widely used in the building industry to provide lumber and plywood for.
The flowers and greenery come out in spring, and then ev. Mostly clear, but could have an occasional pitch pocket or small tight knot. Spf is a species stamp it means spruce pine fir and they dont care,they consider them the same as far as strength goes. Douglasfir is a hugely important lumber tree, grown widely in plantations well outside its native range. Once you get into the southwest, you may use spruce pine fir spf. Jan 06, 2014 we are getting all wood windows for our addition to our 1918 house that has original windows, which we love. To me, it looks like my board that i scabbed up and sanded looks more like heart pine. As far as what the differences are between fir and pine, i live in the east and we dont have much in the way of fir where i live, so i cant tell you what the differences are in living trees.
Pine tends to have broad grain lines that wander, and if not properly prepared and dried the soft wood between those grain lines may expand and contract, causing cupping and twisting. In comparison to hemlock, pine, or western red cedar, douglas fir is much stronger and harder. Lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, western larch, or grand fir with high. A guide to wood species reliable and energy efficient doors and. Douglas fir does not take stain as well as pine, so its best to go this route if you plan to paint the finished product or keep it bare, with a clear. If a twig bears needles in groups of two, three, or five, you can safely call it a pine. Here are the basics of how to refinish douglas fir flooring successfully. It is native to western north america and is known as douglas fir, douglasfir, oregon pine, and columbian pine.
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