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Douglas Fir Lumber

Douglas Fir Lumber

Douglas Fir is known for its strength, resistance to weather, and rich coloring. It is one of the most durable woods, making it one of the most widely chosen options for wood construction.

Benefits of Douglas Fir Lumber

Douglas Fir has a number of advantages over other types of wood. From its sturdiness to its grain pattern, Douglas Fir tends to be an overwhelming choice of lumber for carpenters and DIY’s. Here are a few of the key reasons why:

  • Strength & stability – When it comes to superior strength and stability, the Douglas Fir is one of the best options available. It is part of the Hemlock family, which means it is stable under extreme temperatures and moisture, and thwarts warping and cracking. Even though it is technically a softwood, Douglas Fir’s ability for handling weight allows it to be used on projects that are typically reserved for hardwoods. If you’ve got something heavy to hold up with a wooden structure, or a room that’s going to see a lot of traffic, you will want to seriously consider Douglas Fir.
  • Appearance – Douglas Fir has a beautiful and consistent straight grain pattern, as well as some interesting coloring. Both of these characteristics make Douglas Fir an eye-catching wood. Its uniformity in grain pattern allows the wood to keep an even look on projects. The look is both sharp and easy on the eyes. The lighter hues create a clean, modern style, while the deeper tones can give your project a timeless feel.
  • Size – The average height of Douglas Fir trees ranges from 100 feet to 120 feet. Because this family of trees grow so tall, Douglas Fir provides the option of having really long pieces of lumber. This is perfect for flooring, exterior siding, and house and building frames.

Common Projects Using Douglas Fir Lumber

Due to its strength, length and look Douglas Fir is used on many different applications, both indoors and outdoors.

  • Furniture – Building furniture out of Douglas Fir offers a reliable source of stability and the opportunity to stain, paint, or leave its natural color out for all to see.
  • Moulding and trim – Douglas Fir’s qualities make it a great choice for moldings and trim. Its range of natural hues offer beautiful options to walls and ceilings. Since it also takes on stains and paints well, it adds another level of versatility when decorating rooms.
  • Windows & doors – Because Douglas Fir stands up to weather changes and looks gorgeous, it’s another wonderful choice for window frames, door frames, and doors themselves.
  • Cabinets – If you want to add some real beauty to your kitchen, cabinets made from this lumber can really pop. Whether you choose to paint them or leave the natural colors exposed, your kitchen cabinets will look great and have a long shelf life.
  • Building frames & exterior siding – Douglas Fir is a prime lumber for building homes and other structures. It provides a strong frame from which to build upon. You can choose to continue with Douglas Fir for your siding since it’s resilient to weather and doesn’t warp with seasonal changes.
  • Flooring – Even though it is a softwood, this lumber does not easily get damaged or bent, making it a great choice for floor boards. It can handle the everyday traffic and extreme temperature changes in the rooms. Also, because of its beautiful straight grain and colors, Douglas Fir floors will look spectacular for years to come.

Handling, Safety Tips, and Maintenance

  • Sawdust & debris – Clean all remnants of your construction and dispose of them properly. For any leftover pieces of raw lumber, contact a wood-waste dealer or your local waste disposal provider for details on recycling or repurposing.
  • Protective gear – Wear a dust mask and goggles when cutting any lumber.
  • Painting & staining – Be sure to give your Douglas Fir a good wipe down to remove any sawdust or lint before applying paints or stains. If you want to enhance the subtle grain pattern of Douglas Fir with stain, it’s important to open the wood pores before application. A medium grit sandpaper is recommended. Once a dull appearance is revealed and the dust is removed, the wood will be ready to properly absorb the finish.

Douglas Fir Lumber Dimensions and Current Stock

View the charts below to see what we currently have in stock:

Douglas Fir

Fir Wainscot

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