Wood Species for Timber Framing
Unlock the Beauty of Timber Framing: Your Guide to Wood Species The warm glow of natural wood is the heart of timber framing. From the rich hues of Douglas Fir to the lighter tones of White Pine, each wood species offers unique characteristics and charm. Discover the wood options that will bring your timber frame vision to life and create a space that's uniquely yours.
Learn About Wood Species
There are many woods used for timber framing. Learn more about the characteristics, both good and bad, of many popular choices for timber framing. Hover over to see more details.
Douglas Fir: A Top Choice for Timber Frames
Douglas fir is a popular and affordable option for timber framing. This readily available wood boasts exceptional strength and resists weathering well. With a straight grain and smooth texture, it's easy to work with and offers beautiful light brown tones with a distinctive heartwood accent. While it experiences average shrinkage, its overall stability makes it a reliable choice for building a strong and lasting timber frame.
Affordable
Very resistant
More Strong
Average shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Abundant
Straight grain
Light brown
Smooth
Red Oak: Dramatic Beauty with Considerations
Red oak offers a bold aesthetic for timber framing with its distinctive reddish-brown color and pronounced wavy grain. While exceptionally strong, it's a less common choice due to its scarcity and higher cost. Red oak also experiences more shrinkage than some preferred timbers, requiring careful planning and experienced construction techniques. It's best suited for projects that prioritize the unique visual character of red oak, accommodate its distinctive properties.
Moderate
Less Resistant
More Strong
More shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Scarce
Distinctive wavy grain
Reddish-brown
Coarse
White Pine: Affordable Beauty
White Pine is a cheaper choice for timber framing, prized for its easy workability due to its straight grain and smooth texture. It's abundant and also offers natural resistance to decay. While its average shrinkage makes it a viable option, for larger or structurally complex builds, a stronger wood might be a better choice. White Pine shines in projects that prioritize aesthetics and where it's lighter weight and beautiful light brown with white sapwood is desirable.
Inexpensive
Resistant
Less Strong
Average shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Abundant
Straight grain
Light brown with white sapwood Smooth
Western Red Cedar: Rich Hues & Lasting Strength
Western Red Cedar is a popular selection for timber framing due to its exceptional combination of properties. Superior natural resistance to rot and insects, making it a long-lasting choice. While moderately strong, it offers greater strength than some commonly used options. The straight grain and light reddish-brown color with a contrasting heartwood add a touch of warmth and beauty to any timber frame project.
Moderate
Very resistant
More Strong
Less shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Abundant
Straight grain
Light red-brown w/ darker heart
Straight
Redwood: The Splendor of Strength and Longevity
Redwood is a premium choice for timber framing, offering a luxurious aesthetic with exceptional performance. This naturally beautiful wood boasts outstanding weather resistance and impressive strength, making it a wise investment for a long-lasting structure. Not so prevalent in the PNW, redwood comes at a higher cost. The straight grain, light reddish-brown color, and smooth texture contribute to a truly stunning finished product.
Expensive
Very resistant
More Strong
Less shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Available
Straight grain
Light reddish-brown
Smooth
Western Hemlock: Abundant Straight Grain Option
Western Hemlock is a cost-effective choice for timber framing, due in part to its readily available nature in our area. It's less strong than most but where Western Hemlock shines is in its dimensional stability. With average shrinkage, it remains predictable throughout the construction process. The most prominent physical characteristic for timber framing is its straight grain. The smooth texture further contributes to a quality finished product.
Inexpensive
Resistant
Less Strong
Average shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Abundant
Straight grain
Light brown w/ darker heartwood Smooth
Larch: A Champion of Strength and Durability
Larch is a champion for timber framing. Exceptionally strong, rot-resistant, and readily available, it offers a durable and beautiful solution. While Larch shrinks more than some options, its overall stability makes it manageable for builders. The straight grain with a distinctive pattern adds a unique touch. The "cathedral" grain pattern, while aesthetically pleasing, can require more planning during construction to ensure optimal strength in the finished frame.
Moderate
Very resistant
Most Strong
More shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Available
Straight grain w/ "cathedral" grain
Light brown w/ darker heartwood Straight
Sitka Spruce: Niche Uses in Timber Framing
Sitka Spruce's beauty comes with trade-offs for timber framing. While it has a lovely straight grain and pale yellow color, it's less strong and rot-resistant than many commonly used framing woods. This makes it unsuitable for large or exposed structures. It may also be more difficult to find and expensive. Consider Sitka Spruce for smaller, non-structural elements or applications where weight is a major concern.
Expensive
Less resistant
Less Strong
Average shrinkage
PNW Availability:
Wood Grain:
Natural Color:
Texture:
Cost:
Weather Resistance*:
Strength Grade**:
Shrinkage***:
Scarce
Straight grain
Pale yellow w/ darker heartwood
Smooth
Don't just take our word for it - here's the data!
*Based on study by Natural Durability of Wood: A Worldwide Checklist of Species by T.C. Scheffer J.J. Morrell
**Based on study from the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction, published by the American Wood Council
***Based on study from Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, published by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Get the Complete Wood Selection Cheat Sheet
Ready to make informed decisions about the best wood for your timber frame project? We've put all the key information from this website in a convenient sheet you can download or print to access anywhere!
Download our quick reference guide and get instant access to vital details:
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Strength comparisons
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Resistance to decay & insects
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Cost considerations
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Shrinkage factors
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Availability
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Unique visual characteristics
Why We Mostly Use Douglas Fir for Our Projects
Douglas fir stands as a champion in the world of timber framing, and for good reason. This versatile wood offers a winning combination of properties that make it a favorite among builders and architects alike. Let's delve into the reasons why Douglas Fir reigns supreme:
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Strength & Stability: Douglas fir boasts exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for supporting heavy loads in timber frames. Additionally, it dries evenly and experiences minimal shrinkage, ensuring a structurally sound and stable frame over time.
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Affordability & Availability: Compared to some premium framing options, Douglas fir offers a balance between cost and performance. Its relative abundance ensures a readily available and budget-conscious choice for your project.
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Workability & Beauty: The straight grain and smooth texture of Douglas fir make it a dream to work with for builders. This translates to efficient construction and a beautifully finished product. The natural light brown tones with a distinctive heartwood add warmth and character to any timber frame design.
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Natural Resilience: Douglas fir possesses a natural resistance to decay and insect infestation. This inherent durability contributes to the longevity of your timber frame structure.
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Sustainable Choice: Many Douglas fir options come from sustainably managed forests, making it an environmentally friendly selection for your project.
Douglas fir's exceptional strength, affordability, workability, natural beauty, and durability make it a top choice for building a timeless and impressive timber frame structure.
The Founder's Musings on Different Wood Species
In this video, our owner, Bert, shares his decades of experience working with various wood species for timber framing projects. He'll break down the unique characteristics, strengths, and best applications of popular choices like Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, and more. Whether you're an aspiring timber frame enthusiast or a seasoned builder, get ready to gain valuable insights that will help you make informed decisions for your next project.
Interested in Using Any of These Wood Species in Your Project?
Are you interested in this home or want to learn more about timber framing in general? Contact our team at Arrow Timber Framing for more information. We also provide custom home plans tailored to your needs and preferences. You can reach us by phone at 1-833-212-0202 or using the contact link below. We look forward to hearing from you!