does hemlock make good lumber

Is hemlock a good building material?

Hemlock is a good building material because it is light and strong. It is widely used for framings and sub-floors, as well as for roofing and sheathing. It can also be used for indoor features like shutters, banisters, and stairs. Hemlock is a softwood common in North America. It was used primarily for its bark, which was extracted for tannin ...

Is a hemlock a good wood to burn?

Hemlock is considered an ideal choice for wood stove burning. Even if hemlock is softwood, it can be burnt as firewood after ensuring that the wood is seasoned well. Hemlock is usually considered softwood. But it can be simmered as a good firewood derivation as long as the plank is well-seasoned correctly before using it.

Is hemlock a hard wood?

Hemlock is not a hardwood. Hemlock is a softwood. Hemlock wood has a hardness rating of 540 lbf (2,402 N) which is higher than most softwoods. It grows harder with the age. Even though Hemlock is a softwood, it is stronger than many hardwoods because of its dense grain. But that’s just a quick snapshot.

Is Hemlock good for exterior use?

Hemlock is a great wood for outdoor use, as mentioned pests won’t get in it and it is very rot resistant. Some say it holds up better than treated wood. Some say it holds up better than treated wood.

Is hemlock a good wood to build with?

Hemlock is a great wood that works well with machines and hand tools. Mostly Hemlock is used to make boxes, roofing, crates, light framing, and other sign construction items. It is strong with unique qualities that are so useful in woodworking.

Is hemlock a valuable wood?

Also, the fur-processing industry has a high demand for hemlock due to its high tannic acid content. Many have regarded the bark of the Hemlock tree as more valuable than wood.

Which wood is better pine or hemlock?

Although the US Forestry Service, as stated above, doesn't see Eastern Hemlock as a particularly strong or rot resistant, it is the local “go to” wood for a number of uses. It is much stronger and harder than pine. It is used as cribbing (jacking timbers) and in situations requiring high strength.

What is rough cut hemlock used for?

Rough Sawn Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis) The wood of Eastern Hemlock is moderately light in weight, moderately hard, coarse grained, uneven in texture, Eastern hemlock can be used in construction for light framing, sheathing, subflooring, and roofing. Also Great for raised garden beds.

How long does it take to season a hemlock firewood?

How Long To Season Hemlock Wood? One of the quickest drying firewood out there, hemlock only takes 7 – 12 months to season depending on when in the time of the year you cut it.

How long does hemlock take to dry?

How long does Hemlock take to dry? Green hemlock timber dries out pretty fast. It will be about 80% dried in about five to six weeks. This time frame varies depending on the thickness of the wood and the weather conditions in your location.

How much is a hemlock tree worth?

For a person who wants to buy hemlock for construction,&bsp; sawn, air dried rough hemlock lumber sells for $. 90 a board foot($900/thousand bd. ft.). Kiln dried lumber will bring $1.00 board foot and planed lumber will add another 10 cents per board foot.

Can you build a house with hemlock?

Hemlock is a good building material because it is light and strong. It is widely used for framings and sub-floors, as well as for roofing and sheathing. It can also be used for indoor features like shutters, banisters, and stairs. Hemlock is a softwood common in North America.

How long will hemlock post last?

' Hemlock posts (ground contact) will last 5 - 10 years in the NE. Hemlock Fence Boards (non-ground contact) will be equal to PT.

Is hemlock hard to split?

Hemlocks in Particular The wood of hemlock trees (not to be confused with the poisonous plant of the same name) features extremely hard knots that make the trees difficult to split into burnable logs.

Is hemlock more expensive than pine?

Pine is the not as strong as fir or hemlock. Pine has more knots, but it's more affordable that hemlock or fir. Pine has the advantage of aesthetics if you like rustic lumber for paneling, cabinets or furniture.

Is hemlock better than pressure treated?

Pressure treated will last significantly longer. Hemlock performs about the same as Southern Pine and its above ground life is significantly less than treated pine's in ground life. In ground, you can't expect untreated wood to last more than 3-5 years.

How much is a hemlock worth?

For a person who wants to buy hemlock for construction,&bsp; sawn, air dried rough hemlock lumber sells for $. 90 a board foot($900/thousand bd. ft.). Kiln dried lumber will bring $1.00 board foot and planed lumber will add another 10 cents per board foot.

Is hemlock more expensive than pine?

Pine is the not as strong as fir or hemlock. Pine has more knots, but it's more affordable that hemlock or fir. Pine has the advantage of aesthetics if you like rustic lumber for paneling, cabinets or furniture.

Is hemlock good for anything?

Despite serious safety concerns, hemlock leaves, root, and seeds are used to make medicine. It is used for breathing problems including bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma; and for painful conditions including teething in children, swollen and painful joints, and cramps. Hemlock is also used for anxiety and mania.

How can you tell if wood is hemlock?

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light reddish brown. Sapwood may be slightly lighter in color but usually isn't distinguished from the heartwood. The conspicuous growth rings can exhibit interesting grain patterns on flatsawn surfaces. Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, but may be interlocked or spiraled.

What does it mean when hemlock is hard?

The strength of hemlock means that when it dries, it is quite hard. This is great for something you don’t want to change or see a shift – it’s sturdy and resilient – but if you are working with aged and dried wood or looking to modify an existing fixture, nailing and sawing can become a challenge.

What color is eastern hemlock?

One feature of eastern hemlock that may influence you to opt for it for your siding is that over time, as it weathers, it becomes a pleasing and distinctive brown-red color. This is different from comparable lumber choices such as spruce or fir, which weather to a dull grey.

How does weather affect wood?

Weathers to a Pleasing Color. Over time, exposure to the elements will change the color of the wood. As it ages, it will dry out, fade in the sun, and be exposed to wind and rain. All of this affects how it will eventually look.

Is hemlock lumber strong?

However, hemlock lumber with the smooth grain is actually quite strong. This strength makes it fairly resistant to wear and tear, and consequently, it is a good option for high-traffic parts of a house or building, where it will hold up to frequent use. It is an excellent material for building projects, particularly for framing.

Is hemlock a good material?

Hemlock is a good building material because it is light and strong. It is widely used for framings and sub-floors, as well as for roofing and sheathing. It can also be used for indoor features like shutters, banisters, and stairs. Hemlock is a softwood common in North America. It was used primarily for its bark, which was extracted for tannin, ...

Is hemlock wood stronger than pine?

Hemlock is more resistant to warping or twisting due to weather than pine, so it is a popular choice for trims and moldings. Pine is known as a weak wood, though it has its place. However, hemlock is far superior when it comes to warping and discoloration from temperature fluctuations.

Is hemlock a wood?

Hemlock is a softwood common in North America. It was used primarily for its bark, which was extracted for tannin, but these days its use in construction is becoming more and more widespread. The rest of this article will look at the pros and cons of choosing to build with hemlock and what kind of projects it is best suited for.

What is hemlock bark?

Hemlock. The softwood that toughens up with age. During the last century the bark of hemlock was sometimes worth more than the wood. The leather-tanning and fur-processing industries demanded hemlock bark for its high tannic acid content. Hides and skins infused with a tannic-acid solution become soft and strong.

What color is the bark of a hemlock tree?

The bark of both hemlock species appears cinnamon-red to brown in color and has broad, deep ridges. Seed-bearing brown cones sprout at the ends of branch shoots.

How much does hemlock weigh?

The wood of western hemlock weighs more (about 29 pounds per cubic foot, dry) than that of its eastern relative. Western hemlock also is harder, stronger, straighter-grained, and resin-free. You can work hemlock easily with hand or power tools. In crosscutting, however, expect some tearout.

How big is a hemlock tree?

Trees 100 years old can be 150' tall with a 24" diameter.

Where does Eastern Hemlock grow?

The Japanese word means "yew-leaved," referring to its short, flat, and contrary to legend, non-poisonous needles. Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) plants its roots from Canada south to Georgia and west across the Great Lakes states to Minnesota.

Where does hemlock lumber come from?

And then the eastern hemlock's West Coast cousin provided the raw material. Today hemlock lumber from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (where the species represents 60 percent of the mature coastal forest) feeds home construction and millwork manufacturers.

Where is hemlock found?

Vast logging operations on the Pacific Northwest coast keep hemlock widely available in the West and Midwest. On the East Coast, even availability of local hemlock is spotty.

What is the color of heartwood?

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light reddish brown. Sapwood may be slightly lighter in color but usually isn’t distinguished from the heartwood. The conspicuous growth rings can exhibit interesting grain patterns on flatsawn surfaces.

What is Eastern Hemlock used for?

Comments: In addition to its lumber, Eastern Hemlock is also known for its ornamental value, and hundreds of cultivars are known to exist. Eastern Hemlock is also the state tree of Pennsylvania.

What are the working properties of wood?

Workability: Working properties are intermediate . The wood tends to splinter easily when being worked, and tends to plane poorly. Also, because of the disparity between the soft earlywood and the hard latewood, sanding can create dips and uneven surfaces. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

Does Eastern Hemlock cause skin irritation?

Allergies/Toxicity: Eastern Hemlock has been reported to cause skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Is hemlock a non-native insect?

Currently, the species is threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid, a non-native insect that kills infested trees. When compared to Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Eastern Hemlock generally has wider growth rings, though both species can have tightly spaced growth rings.

Is hemlock a good wood?

Hemlock is used primarily as a construction timber, and is in good supply. Expect prices to be moderate for a domestic softwood. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is reported by the IUCN as being near threatened.

Is grain straight or uneven?

Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, but may be interlocked or spiraled. Has a coarse, uneven texture.

Reasons to Use Hemlock

Cons of Using Hemlock

Final Thoughts

• Hemlock is most certainly a good building material. It performs well in framings, sidings, sub-floorings, or roofing, or you can use it for sheds and saunas, moldings and trimmings, and floors and stairs. Whatever wood you choose will influence your building’s life and longevity, so you know you should choose wisely! As long as you take its strengt...

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