Wood Species for Timber Framing

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.