You will notice that each species has its own unique visual appeal, durability and other properties. Used mainly for pulp, it is not used much for lumber except in the manufacture of crates etc. Dave Powell,—USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org. Trees and wood have been an integral part of the development of our civilization. They can reach their full height of 60 to 90 feet within six to 10 years. Douglas fir, (genus Pseudotsuga), genus of about six species of evergreen trees of the conifer family Pinaceae, native to western North America and eastern Asia. It is also used for decorative plywood, decorative veneer, domestic flooring, factory flooring, general carpentry, interior construction, joinery (external). Douglas fir is also one of the more dependable of the softwoods, so use in the shed, or the inside of the home is not only possible but recommended. Its important to choose your wood species carefully, as this is an expensive and long-term investment. A cedar frame can last up to 10 years, but one made of Douglas fir may last only 5 to 7 years. While it is possible for fir to expand or shrink due to exposure to moisture, fir always returns to it’s original shape. Some individuals have been known to have allergies when working on Douglas fir wood, so keep that in mind when planning to use this for the first time. Douglas Fir: If you’re thinking of applying a natural stain or finish to your wooden patio furniture, then go with cedar, white oak or redwood. Treated pilings and boards are used in marine structures and for landscaping. Other common applications include general house framing, flooring, lining, fascias, bargeboards and pergolas. Probably the best conifer for firewood, Douglas Fir has a medium heating value and does not produce too much ash. It is an incredibly valuable commercial timber, widely used in construction and building purposes. Ecology. Firs (Abies) belong to a genus of 48 to 56 species of evergreen trees. Because this genus has no insect or decay resistance qualities after logging, it is generally recommended in construction purposes for indoor use only (e.g. Since it is readily harvested in substantial quantities, the price is reasonable. The wood, which is rich in pitch, burns well and can be used as a kindling Douglas-fir prefers acidic or neutral soils. So the best wood to burn is dry wood! In applications where either wood can be used, such as exteriors, interior trim or even decking, pine will save thousands of dollars over fir. Madrone. In an old growth forest, Douglas fir can be 500 years old and grow over 200 feet tall! Douglas Fir wood smells wonderful and conjures up medium to hot flames ideal for your camping adventure. There is a lot of mystery surrounding this particular species of wood, but there doesn’t have to be. The following is a list of the most common wood species used as siding in the United States. Pine Siding. Wood needs to be well seasoned before it is burnt in a stove, irrespective if you have a woodburning stove, (Woodburner), or a Multi fuel Stove. Douglas fir is commonly found as sawn timber in weather-protected heavy construction applications such as mining timbers, posts and poles. They also grow tall and straight, making it easier to cut long straight planks of wood. It is a moderately hard wood, with decent durability. Common Uses: Construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes. However, if you choose to paint your furniture, you’ll do well to go with Douglas fir. In addition to being used for firewood, Douglas fir is often used for flooring, lumber, railroad ties, plywood, fence posts, and even some types of furniture. It has excellent rot resistance moderately easy to bend and glues well, though some glues may leave a black line. If you are interested in finding a softwood with a beautiful light color (The sapwood is creamy white and the heartwood is light yellow or brown in color. It's also a lightweight wood, which makes it versatile for low-stress applications. Fir wood is widely used because of it’s stability and and non porous qualities. Common Uses: Construction lumber, paper (pulpwood), plywood, and other utility wood purposes. The Wood Database reports that larch is an important timber source and its wood is primarily used for construction lumber, plywood and particle board, paper, flooring and glue-laminate beams. Pine wood is known for its properties in resisting swelling and shrinking. Fir wood is commonly used in the construction industry. It responds well to hand- and power-tool use and, properly treated, is decay-, mold-, and termite-resistant. Right from ancient times, the use of wood has been dependent on cost, quality, and availability. Different types of wood have been used from early Paleolithic times for constructing buildings, woodworking & DIY and manufacturing tools, weapons, and furniture. It is also used in joinery, turnery, carving and plywood. Douglas-Fir is technically not a true Fir (Abies genus), but is in its own genus: Pseudotsuga. For this reason, builders enjoy using fir. These large evergreens are also widely used for rough timber or paper pulp. An excellent cheap substitute for teak Iroko is available in large boards. Softwood comes from gymnosperms, which are seed-bearing evergreen trees such as pine, spruce, fir, cedar, juniper, redwood, and yew. Fir. Maple. Some varieties of spruce offer greater strength, making them useful for different building purposes. Once considered a weed tree, balsa trees grow very rapidly. This tree grows prodigiously in the Pacific Northwest. Kiln-dried Douglas fir wood presents the number one choice for building a rafter-styled roof in a wood frame house. The tree itself grows to be very large, and yields a large amount of usable lumber and veneer for plywood. The Idaho Forest Products Commission states that larch wood is particularly useful in … Pine wood is used for making carpentry items, such as floors, window frames, furniture and paneling. It has a chemical inside the pores that makes it weather-, insect- and rot-resistant. With a clean bark that won’t make a mess on your campsite, Madrone is an excellent choice of wood to help ignite your campfire. It’s a dense hardwood capable of burning blistering flames and creating a fantastic coal bed for overnight burns. The Sitka spruce is a particularly sought-after variety when it comes to lumber and paper production. Because of this, wood from fir trees is generally used to construct indoor wooden frames or plywood. It’s tight, close grain lines means that the wood is strong and less prone to warping and twisting. The wood is usually pale yellow or white, and soft. Fir is a strong soft wood which is good for planking. The typical end-uses for spruce wood are for structural end uses, indoors and outdoors, thus it is the most important building and construction timber in Europe. Comments: Balsam Fir is a favorite Christmas tree species, and its resin is used to make Canada balsam. The wood passes lightness and tensile strength tests with flying colors. It is strong, stable, and can be used for framing a building. Spruce wood offers an even texture that makes it appealing as a building material. Should you finish untreated wood used for raised beds? Plywood, lumber, railroad ties, flooring, fence posts and even furniture are common uses for the wood. With the exception of the noble fir, the wood of most western American firs is inferior to that of pine or spruce but is used for lumber and pulpwood. Cedar, on the other hand, can be quite costly. Balsa trees grow in the rain forests of Central America and South America. Wood of most firs is considered unsuitable for general timber use and is often used as pulp or for the manufacture of plywood and rough timber. For example, the Douglas fir belongs to the genus Pseudotsuga which means that it is a type of pine tree, not a fir tree. affiliate links Iroko. Know more about identifying and distinguishing different types of fir and the basis of its identification. Fir. With wood that's soft, affordable, free from paint or stain, knots and sap, you can enjoy your … It is a fast growing grass that has the strength and durability of a hardwood, this is perhaps something that you could look in to as an option. Spruce can grow to a height of 30m to 50m. Individual trees can grow as old as 600 years, but a generally felled at an age of 100 to 120 years. Both stains and paints can release harmful toxins when the sauna is in use. white fir. Other health-related issues involve chemicals used in the treatment of the wood and require breathing protection during the building process. In the United States, Western larch is the most commercially important member of the Larix genus. Redwood is a premium building wood. In some cases, fir wood is used to create furniture. Leave your wood completely and thoroughly natural. Fossils (wood, pollen) of Pseudotsuga are recorded from the Miocene and Pliocene of Europe (Siebengebirge, Gleiwitz, Austria). ), then whitewood lumber is probably the right choice for you. Pine wood is a type of softwood and there are more than 100 species of pine trees all over the world. As most evergreen trees tend to be less dense than deciduous trees, it is easier to cut them down. The wood is commercially valuable for timber even though it is relatively soft, weak, and perishable. Older trees are easy to split and easy to start. Douglas fir. 13 Wood: Fir. After the deck is assembled and sealed, chemical exposure is not an issue. Douglas fir is not only beautiful but also very strong. What Is Redwood Used for?. Pseudotsuga menziesii var. Consider Cost Make sure to find a variety of wood that combines quality with low cost. The use of balsa wood is common in model airplanes, especially radio-controlled free-flying aircraft. Spruce is a wonderful option. They are classified under the family Pinaceae. indoor drywall on framing). Fir. The first hardwood mentioned on this guide, maple is one of the most popular types of wood for making furniture. As a result, and due to its good technical characteristics similar to fir, spruce wood is used in large quantities for the industrialised production of composite wood materials and for building and construction. It bends well, is easy to work and finish and has good rot resistance. Balsam fir is used in the US for timber and plywood, and is the mainstay of the pulp wood industry in the Northeast. However, it exhibits considerable morphological plasticity, and on drier sites P. menziesii var. Here we have a list of 12 different types of fir wood which are commonly found in the North American region. Pine has long been a standard for exterior siding. Properties of Softwood. Fir tree wood is a type of softwood that has no resistance to decay or disease. Though it is similar in appearance to pine, yet it is more decay-resistant, making it ideal for garden furniture. menziesii will generate deeper taproots. Some builders use pressure-treated pine for all the framing, due to its moisture-resistant nature, and use a different product such as a composite for the deck boards. White fir (Abies concolor), native to North America. Douglas fir paints well, but the best use of douglas fir is in staining—which will bring out the natural beauty of this type and provide all of the elegance of a dark hardwood at a fraction of the cost. The Ollivander family believed fir to be among the most stubborn, in that their masters would be likely to survive extreme duels without much damage. It is not the most common type of wood used to create tables, chairs, and other furniture items because it can be difficult to stain and it does not have much natural character. The trees are important timber trees, and the strong wood is used in boats, aircraft, and construction. This is proven when Professor McGonagall, who employs a fir wand, tolerates no less than four Stunning charms before she is knocked unconscious. Comments: European silver fir can be thought of as the Old World counterpart to North America’s balsam fir: they both share a number of similarities in both tree and wood. In terms of which wood to use, there are many many suitable option but perhaps one that is popular for it sustainability at the moment is Bamboo. 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