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Quick Facts About Douglas Fir Timbers

June 25, 2012 By Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Often used for structural purposes, Douglas Fir timbers continue to be highly in demand, mostly as a result of their large sizes. Other uses, such as house and garage doors, siding, flooring, and paneling require particular sizes of lumber as well, making them great projects for Douglas Fir timbers. The two basic types of Douglas Firs are Rocky Mountain and Coastal varieties. Because the latter type grows lager and yields more structural timbers able to be used in framing, J. Gibson McIlvain uses mostly timbers from western Canada and the Pacific Northwest U.S., and we buy our wood directly from the mills located in those areas.

Even though the name “Douglas Fir” seems to indicate the tree’s place in among the fir trees, it is more often classified as a hemlock tree. Especially when air or kiln-dried, Hemlocks are very stable and seldom check or twist. Stability and smoothness combine to make the Hemlock the most often-used wood in saunas, where it’s subjected to constant warmth and moisture.

Like other Hemlocks, the Douglas Fir grows in Oregon and Washington. as well as the northern Rocky Mountains and up through Canada to Alaska. Unlike other Hemlocks, the wood of Douglas Fir trees is fairly uniform in its appearance. The wood’s straight grain and wood coloration that varies from creamy yellow to reddish brown give it a generally orange look. In milling, the sharp tools are required, lest tear out and splintering occur.

Because the Douglas Fir tree stands so tall, it is of great usefulness to builders who need large timber sizes for framing and exposed beam buildings. Rustic interior paneling, flooring, and exterior siding can also be achieved with this increasingly popular wood.

Because of the coastal Douglas Fir tree is located so far from J. Gibson McIlvain’s headquarters on the east coast, and moving such large timbers over 3,000 miles can be quite costly, J. Gibson McIlvain retains a large supply in storage on the west coast, ready for shipping to customers closer to that locale.

As a premier lumber supplier, J. Gibson Mcilvain carries an expansive supply of Douglas Fir timbers in an impressive variety of sizes to meet your lumber needs. Sizes we typically carry in stock include the following S4S boards:

• 1”x4” to 1”x12” C and better
• 2”x4” to 2”x12” C and better
• 1”x4”-1”x12” Clear Vertical Grain

We also carry 4/4, 5/4, and 8/4 Rough 4” to 12” kiln dried, vertical grain boards; 4” and 6” tongue-and-grooved beaded edge boards, and 4”-8” x 4”-12” structural timbers. All structural timbers are in #1 appearance and select grades and have been freed of heart centers. We carry all these, and more, in stock at our Maryland headquarters as well as in storage on the West Coast. Lead time on large projects can be helpful, but we can usually provide prompt nation-wide delivery of all stock sizes.

McIlvain has been an important player in the lumber industry for over 200 years. Our expert staff is uniquely qualified to answer your questions and to help you decide on the type of wood that best fits the needs of your project and budget. For more information and to learn about all of our lumbers and services, visit our website today.

Filed Under: Construction

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