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Rough Douglas Fir Lumber |
A Rare Union of Strength and Beauty
 The
straight grained and exceptionally strong
Douglas Fir tree is one of the most
dominant species in the Northwest forests.
After a forest fire, the tree springs
to life, growing thickly in the sunshine
of a newly open area. Over the past
100 years, it has been the favorite
species of silviculturists because of
its fast growth and multitude of uses.
Its stiffness and durability make it
ideal for structural applications. It
also makes a good flooring and paneling
product as well as a fine trim for doors
and windows. Douglas Fir is known for
its distinctive grain patterns, produced
by the varying degrees of spring and
summer wood in the grain. The color
differences between the two range from
yellowish to reddish brown. Douglas
Fir lumber ages to a warm orange-brown
color, ideal for rooms with bright sun.
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is not a true fir at all, it is a distinct species named after Archibald Menzies, a Scottish physician and naturalist who first discovered the tree on Vancouver Island in 1791, and David Douglas, the Scottish botanist who later identified the tree in the Pacific Northwest in 1826. Douglas Fir is North America’s most plentiful softwood species, accounting for one fifth of the continent’s total softwood reserves.
Douglas Fir lumber varies widely in
weight and strength. When lumber of
high strength is needed for structural
uses, selection can be improved by applying
the density rule. This rule uses percentage
of latewood and rate of growth as they
affect density. For equivalent knot
sizes, the higher density generally
indicates stronger wood. Sapwood of
Douglas Fir is narrow in old-growth
trees but may be as much as 3 inches
(7.62 cm) wide in second-growth trees
of commercial size. Fairly young trees
of moderate to rapid growth have reddish
heartwood and are called red-fir. Very
narrow-ringed wood of old trees may
be yellowish brown and is known on the
market as yellow-fir. The range of Douglas
Fir extends from the Rocky Mountains
to the Pacific coast and from Mexico
to central British Columbia. The Douglas
Fir production comes from the Coast
States of Oregon, Washington, and California
and from the Rocky Mountain States.
When architects and engineers look for
the best in structural lumber, their
first choice repeatedly is Douglas Fir.
It is dimensionally stable and universally
recognized for its superior strength-to-weight
ratio. Its high specific gravity provides
excellent nail and plate-holding ability.
The species also enjoys a documented
superior performance against strong
forces resulting from natural phenomena
such as winds, storms and earthquakes.
It is truly the ideal structural and
general purpose wood for framing lumber
in residential, light commercial, multistory
and industrial construction. The Douglas
Fir / Western Larch species combination
has the highest modulus of elasticity
(E or MOE) of the North American softwood
species. This is the ratio of the amount
a piece of lumber will deflect in proportion
to an applied load; it is a reflection
of the species’ high degree of stiffness,
an important consideration in the design
of floors and other systems. In strength
properties, Douglas Fir / Western Larch
has the highest ratings of any Western
softwood for extreme fiber stress in
bending (Fb); for tension parallel-to-grain
(Ft); for horizontal sheer (Fv); for
compression perpendicular-to-grain (Fc);
and for compression parallel-to-grain
(Fc//). These physical working properties,
as well as to the moderate durability
of its heartwood and its excellent dimensional
stability, provide the reasons many
builders use Douglas Fir as the standard
against which all other framing lumber
is judged. It is also tight knotted
and close-grained, adding the bonus
of beauty to its structural capabilities.
Douglas Fir reaches heights of 250 feet
(76.20 m), with a diameter of 6 feet
(1.83 m), in coastal stands that are
between 200 and 800 years old. The largest
intact specimen was recorded at 330
feet (100.58 m) near Littlerock Washington.
Douglas Fir Strength
 Douglas Fir is one of the few species available in large sizes from managed timberlands. It is preferred for heavy timber framing and large members are available in a variety of grades manufactured for construction uses where larger material is needed to meet the engineering requirements of the design. Douglas Fir timbers are best known for their tough fiber, dense grain structure and strength. They are additionally valuable for their rustic beauty and excellent “Heavy Timber” fire ratings in the model building codes. Timbers are can be shipped unseasoned and may be specified rough cut or surfaced.
Thinking about having Douglas Fir flooring
for your home? Contact
us today. |
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"J&W’s a local company, 50 years in Southern California, so you know they’re committed to the community. They’ll actually help you out with your projects. Good company, great products, friendly people…what a philosophy…why go anywhere else."
RJ, El Cajon, CA |
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"I build fences
and patio covers for a living. J&W has quality Redwood, Cedar and
Doug Fir lumber that is a notch above everyone elses. That is what you get
from people that have specialized in outdoor building products for 50
years. They care."
J.C., La Mesa, CA |
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"My wife and I
were really undecided on our backyard improvements. We had talked to so
many people. Finally we got the straight scoop from the people at J&W.
They recommended the right product, helped draw up the plans, and even
gave us the phone number of a local contractor. Totally painless for me,
and my neighbors think I am a genius. Thanks J&W!"
John B., San Diego, CA |
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"We just finished replacing an old deck with brand new composite decking. It changed our whole yard. There were so many choices, but the guys at J&W Lumber helped narrow it down and we got exactly what we wanted. We're thrilled with the way it came out."
Carole, Pt. Loma, CA |
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