Why Using Douglas Fir for Building Is a Solid Idea
Why Using Douglas Fir for Building Is a Solid Idea
The use of wood for building structures dates back longer than recorded history. Archeological evidence of woodworking in humans is estimated to be over a million years ago in Tanzania. Back then, wood was a bountiful resource that people could use to build things like ships, homes, and tools. Over time, humans perfected the practice of building structures and tools using wood. Today, we have more or less perfected the practice of building homes through the knowledge of wood characteristics like strength-to-weight ratios, hardness scales, textures of the grain, exceptional durability, and more!
What does this have to do with Douglas Fir lumber? Douglas Fir trees, also known as Pseudotsuga taxifolia, are actually considered softwood that is more or less its own species. Douglas Fir may be called a “fir,” but it isn’t a true fir tree, and it can be found in North America. The characteristics of Douglas Fir wood and its wide availability are what make Douglas Fir for building so popular! In fact, Douglas fir lumber is considered to be one of the best woods for home building by many woodworking professionals. Let’s cover the wood characteristics before answering what is Douglas Fir used for and why are many homes built with this type of wood!
- Strength to Weight Ratio and Durability: Douglas Fir has an average weight of 32 lbs per cubic foot with a crushing strength of 6900 lbs per square inch. This means that the wood is super durable and strong while also staying relatively lightweight; Douglas Fir is considered one of the strongest woods in the class of softwoods. Douglas Fir lumber has received the highest softwood lumber grades for its ability to bend, tension parallel-to-grain, horizontal shear, and compression. All these factors make Douglas fir lumber particularly adept at resisting harsh weather and also easy to nail and bond together. Strong and lightweight are qualities that make Douglas Fir for building a popular choice!
- Not So Soft Wood: Douglas Fir has a Janka hardness rating of 660, which is a hardness scale used to determine the hardness of wood. This slightly bizarre method of measuring hardness involves embedding a steel ball into the tested wood until it reaches the widest diameter of the steel ball. For comparison, hard maple has a Janka hardness rating of 1450, and red oak has a hardness rating of 1290. Douglas Fir may be lower on the hardness scale, but there are key differences in why Douglas Fir for building is chosen for construction instead of the two aforementioned hardwoods.
- Cost Efficiency and Sustainability: Douglas Fir wood, on average, costs less than other wood that is used for building. Douglas Fir trees are also plentiful in North America, and custom builders like Logangate Timber Homes source lumber from mills that value sustainability.
What Is Douglas Fir Used For?
Douglas Fir is used for building homes, boats, aircraft, and other structures. Douglas Fir is also a popular wood for use in woodworking projects since it is durable, affordable, and readily available (depending on the region/country). Logangate Timber Homes uses Douglas Fir for building for all of the reasons listed above and then some!
At Logangate, we use Douglas Fir for building because Douglas Fir is a beautiful wood that has a mild resin and woody smell. These factors, coupled with vaulted ceilings and amazing views, make for an authentic timber frame cabin ambiance that other woods cannot compete with. At Logangate Timber Homes, our post and beam construction provides vaulted wood ceilings supported by the strength of Douglas Fir timbers. As stated earlier, the benefit of Douglas fir timbers is that they are stronger, more durable, and can handle higher impacts/weight loads.
Post and beam construction is referring to the term for building home frames with large timbers. Typically steel plates often tie members together. This allows for a home to have much more clerestory space to enhance the beauty of wood. The construction style, coupled with the wood choice, equates to super durable homes that can withstand more extreme weather and is built to last longer than other wood types.
What Makes Logangate Timber Homes Different
So what is Douglas Fir used for, and why is Logangate the premier choice for a Douglas Fir timber home? At Logangate, we are proud of our reputation as one of the trusted leaders in the industry. We’ve earned our name because we build amazing dream homes at fair, honest prices, even in uncertain economic times. One aspect that sets Logangate apart from the slew of other builders out there is that we build unique houses that look and feel like forever homes our customers can be proud to live in. Our homes are gorgeous and offer a lot of flexibility to customize the size and floor plan. Many of our satisfied customers tell us that their new home makes them feel like they are on vacation all year long!
Are you looking to build your Douglas Fir timber home from the ground up with Logangate? Contact Logangate Timber Homes to start your journey today!
