Toggle Nav

Is douglas fir wood expensive?

Is douglas fir wood expensive?

The unique wood species of Douglas fir is mostly found in the Pacific Northwest region. Even though it has a strange resemblance to a pine tree, still, it is popularly called fir.

Is Douglas fir wood expensive?

The strength and durability of wood are all-important. If that happens to be your priority then choosing Douglas fir wood as opposed to whitewood is a suitable option. Firwood exhibits more strength and hardness in comparison with other kinds of solid wood such as spruce, pine, or hemlock.

Moreover, blemishes or knots do not form on fir. However, fir is relatively more expensive than the other kinds of wood mentioned above.

Naturally, the question arises what is the cost of Douglas fir?

The approximate cost of a 2-year-old, Douglas fir 6-12" seedlings includes the following.

  • 1-5 items         $3.89 / each   
  • 50-99 items     $1.33 / each
  • 100-249 items $1.05 / each
  • 250-499 items $0.73 / each
  • 500-999 items $0.62 / each

Additional read: Introduction of Douglas Fir Lumber

DOUGLAS FIR -BEST WOOD SPECIES IN THE WORLD

How is Douglas fir different from pine?

In fir wood, you will come across closely, tightly spaced grain lines. On the contrary, pine comprises broadly spaced grain lines. This increases the weakness of pine in comparison with fir.

In pine, softwood lies juxtaposed in the grain lines. Eventually, it undergoes expansion as well as shrinkage thereby making the wood getting warped or twisted. Since fir is stronger and more stable, it is less at risk of warping or twisting.

Essential characteristics of Douglas fir

Color or appearance

It varies depending on the location and age of the tree. In general, the color of Douglas fir is light brown with a dash of yellow and/or red and darker rings of growth. Douglas fir has two types of pieces namely:

  • Quartersawn – where the grain lines are usually plain and straight
  • Flatsawn – where the wood has the propensity to display wild grainline patterns

Texture/grain

The grain form is straight or occasionally wavy. Douglas fir is endowed with smooth to coarse texture accompanied by a slight natural luster.

Endgrain

The end grains have resin canals of small to medium sizes. They are infrequently and varyingly distributed. They are either solitary in nature or they club together in tangential groups. The transition from earlywood to latewood happens abruptly. They have high color contrast. The diameter of the tracheid varies from medium to large.

Resistance to rotting

Douglas fir shows moderate durability in connection with decay. However, the wood also shows appreciable susceptibility to pest attacks.

Workability

By and large, machines perform satisfactorily while cutting Douglas fir. But, with time it makes cutters blunt to some extent. The wood can be stained, glued, and finished with mastery.

Odor

Douglas fir gives off a distinctive resin-like smell when worked upon.

Toxicity or proneness to an allergic reaction

Even though the use of Douglas fir barely prompts severe, allergic reactions, still experts believe exposure to the wood can cause nausea, skin irritation, running nose, and giddiness. Also, the use comes up with a heightened probability of infected splinters.

Pricing and availability

The wood is predominantly available in the form of construction lumber at affordable prices. However, latewood or revamped boards can be costlier.

Sustainability

It offers impressive sustainability and is commonly used to create plywood, veneers, and construction or structural lumber.

Conclusion

Douglas fir trees tend to grow very large. They are also high-yielding in terms of the generation of useful lumber, plywood, and veneer. Because of its timber’s high commercial value, Douglas fir wood has widespread use in the construction of buildings. The wood is known for its remarkable strength, hardness, and heaviness, and extreme stiffness.

Share :
← Previous Next →
Удобное приложение онлайн казино Пин Ап позволяет после установки запускать слоты в один клик.