Hem-fir a true western lumber

fiFIEN regarded as Douglas fir's \r"little brother." hem-fir is expanding its presence with a growing volume of lumber made and sold each year. The wood is both handsome and versatile, and today more hem-fir lumber is produced than at any time in modern history.

If you go to a westem forest, you won't find a hem-fir tree. "Hem-Fir" is actually a species combination of western hemlock and five of the true firs: California red fir, grand fir, Noble fir, Pacific silver fir and white fir. While western hemlock and the true firs are sometimes marketed separately in products graded for appearance, these species share similar design values, making products graded for structural applications interchangeable.

White fir is one of the most common species that is sold separately from the Hem-Fir group. While it is assigned the same design values as Hem-Fir, White Fir is more popular with some in the marketplace because it is considered a more dimensionally stabile product (see sidebar, p.28).

The Hem-Fir species combination is one of the most important in the western region, second only to Douglas Fir-Larch in terms of timber abundance, production volumes, strength and versatility in end use. Western sawmills produced 5.4 billion bd. ft. of Hem-Fir lumber in 2005, representing one-third of the lumber produced in the region.

Bob Shepherd, sales manager for Sierra Pacific Industries, Redding, Ca., noted that Hem-Fir is a perfect combination of strength and beauty. "This versatile wood performs well in a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential applications, from light framing to heavy construction such as architectural timbers in Southwestern-style homes and commercial buildings," Shepherd said. "White fir shop and moulding lumber is used in a number of millwork products, including door parts, frames and trim."

Hem-fir lumber is light and bright in color, varying from a creamy, nearly white to a light, straw-brown color. It can be as light or lighter in color than some western pines and is often considered, by those seeking a strong wood with a light color, as the most desirable of the western softwoods.

Sometimes western hemlock has a slight lavender cast, especially around the knots and in the transition area between spring and summer, growth rings. Attractive, delicate, dark grey or black streaks may be apparent in the wood. There is little variation in color between the heartwood and sapwood.

Hem-Fir lumber products are available in structural, appearance and remanufacturing grades. In strength properties, western Hem-Fir is slighr ly below the Douglas fir-larch species combination, and above both the Douglas fir-South and spruce-pine-fir ( South) species combinations.

Hem-fir is useful for a multitude of general-purpose framing applications and is capable of meeting the span requirements of many installations. More than two-thirds of the Hem-Fir lumber produced each year is cut into framing lumber, mostly Standard & Btr. and No. 2 & Btr.2x4 and 2x6 products. Another 26Vo is cut into Hem-Fir studs.

"Just as important as the superior performance of Hem-Fir lumber is its availability. With numerous manufacturers in the West producing a full range of Hem-Fir products, you shouldn't have any trouble sourcing the products you need," said Shepherd. "Go ahead and use all you want. We'll make more."

Treated Hem-Fir products are visually appealing, strong and, in comparison to the naturally durable western cedars and redwoods, among the more economical species considerations for decks and other outdoor amenities. Within the western species groups, Hem-Fir is a preferred species group for preservative pressure treating. Treated Hem-Fir can be found in products ranging from framing sizes used for sill plate to fence boards.

Historically, Hem-Fir products were shipped to inland U.S. markets, (Please turn to page 26)