What are the pros and cons of Hemlock wood?
It looks great rough sawn. Hemlock is very strong, has a long grain and is a renewable resource. It is resistant to rotting and it is also much less expensive than douglas fir for timber frame homes. However, it does have one character flaw: certain stands of hemlock can have a defect called shake.
How much does hemlock cost per square foot?
The price of hemlock is a fraction of the $15-$16 per square foot for reclaimed lumber, he said. Hemlock boards planed on one side with a shiplap edge is one of Parker Lumber’s most popular products.
Where is Hemlock wood found in the US?
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. Hemlock even gives some hardwoods a run for their money as a lower cost, yet strong, easy-to-work furniture stock.
Is Hemlock good firewood to burn?
Although it's not the most popular firewood choice, hemlock firewood can be a great wood to burn during the shoulder season months of fall and spring when the outside temperatures are cool but not bitterly cold.
Is hemlock a valuable wood?
But it has a reputation as a difficult wood to work with, which has limited its use in other applications. Hemlock is also relatively inexpensive, which is noteworthy in this pandemic era of spiking lumber prices.
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 wood durable?
Eastern hemlock wood glues easily and holds paint moderately well but not as well as cedars and white pines. It is not durable when exposed to condi- tions favorable to decay. The wood tends to separate parallel to the annual rings.
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.
Is hemlock better than cedar?
One reason is that hemlock is prone to splinter. In the construction of a sauna, it's important to use wood that is both pliable and strong. Cedar is reflective of both of these traits and works very well in all aspects of the sauna. Hemlock is better suited for framing use within a building such as a home or a barn.
What is hemlock good for?
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.
Is hemlock better than pine?
It is much stronger and harder than pine. It is used as cribbing (jacking timbers) and in situations requiring high strength. Green hemlock is very heavy but is easily worked with tools. Once dry, hemlock is very difficult to work.
Is hemlock good for furniture?
Due to its strength and wear-resistance, hemlock also becomes reliable ladders and stair components. Ease of machining and finishing have made hemlock an increasingly popular alternative to hardwood for furniture and cabinets. Lack of pitch and resin also make hemlock ideal for the dry heat of saunas.
Is hemlock a good wood to build with?
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.
Is there a market for hemlock?
Markets for hemlock have rarely been strong and are not likely to become so. Therefore, forest management plans that require the removal of hemlock may require opportunistic harvesting decisions. Eastern hemlock's nonmarket values must also be incorporated into management plans.
What trees are worth the most money?
The Paulownia may currently be the world's most valuable sustainably harvested hardwood tree. A single 12-foot log can easily bring three thousand dollars. Paulownia lumber is resistant to fire, with a combustion point nearly twice that of other lumber.
Can you burn hemlock trees?
Hemlock makes a great firewood for campfires because it burns hot, it smells good and it crackles and pops, giving you the ideal campfire experience.
What is Hemlock Wood?
Hemlock is a softwood and a member of the pine family. There are about 10 species of hemlock, with the most popular and commercialized Eastern Hemlock and western hemlock.
Characteristics of Hemlock Wood
There are plenty of reasons to use hemlock wood in your next project, and discussed below are just a few.
The Best Alternative to Hardwood
If your budget is not enough for the high cost of hardwood, you can use hemlock as it has almost similar features.
What are the Downsides of Using Hemlock Wood?
Like every other type of wood, hemlock also has its downside. So do your research before buying or cutting your hemlock tree. So what complaints do people have on hemlock?
5 Facts that Show Hemlock Wood is Good
If you are not sure if hemlock wood is good for anything, here are 5 facts to prove that you can use it to make the following items.
Final Thoughts
Hemlock is a solid softwood and an excellent building material with many pros than cons. It can be used as an alternative to hardwood makes a better choice for people with a low budget. And a bonus to boot, it’s good to look at.
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 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 good for subflooring?
This means it will not last well over time in prolonged damp or fluctuating temperatures, which is one reason it is largely used in subflooring and framing. Keep this in mind when choosing a lumber option for outdoor building projects, and if you do use hemlock outside, make sure to give it preservative treatment.
Is hemlock wood good for laminate?
Good for Lamination. Hemlock wood holds glue very well, which makes it very easy and effective to laminate. It has been used to make laminated beams and edges to great effect. Since it’s porous, glue holds onto hemlock much better than non-porous materials.
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.
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.
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.
How tall is a 100 year old hemlock tree?
Trees 100 years old can be 150' tall with a 24" diameter. 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 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.
Is hemlock a hardwood?
Hemlock even gives some hardwoods a run for their money as a lower cost, yet strong, easy-to-work furniture stock. In fact, this softwood actually grows harder with age! Botanist Stephen L. Endlicher in 1847 christened hemlock with the genus name tsuga.
What is the hemlock advantage?
The Hemlock Advantage is 9Wood’s answer to keeping wood ceiling prices stable and dodging the budget axe. For 25 years, western hemlock has been the most economical species 9Wood offers and this will not change.
Where is 9Wood hemlock sourced?
9Wood’s hemlock is sourced from certified well-managed forests located in nearby British Columbia. This area is called Cascadia, an economic and cultural zone stretching from Oregon to British Columbia. The Trump administration raised tariffs on our Canadian hemlock to $0.21 per $1.00 in 2018. But recently, with the renegotiated Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), tariffs dropped back down to $0.09 per $1.00. Although market demand has driven up all wood prices, this reduced tariff has partially offset those increases.
What is the cream of the softwood supply chain?
Clear, knot-free lumber used in wood ceilings is the cream of the softwood supply chain. It takes gallons of milk to make a quart of cream. But if the demand for milk increases, more cream is available. The sharp rise in demand for normal-grade framing lumber, of which hemlock is an important source, has actually increased the availability ...
How long is a hemlock panel?
Most panel products come in 8’ modules. Hardwoods top out at 10’. But hemlock offers lengths up to 12’ or even 14‘. These lengths are often not required, but it is nice to have a species with more flexibility in module sizes. Here are some examples of the versatility of hemlock for wood ceilings and walls.
Is hemlock a solid wood?
FSC®: No. PEFC®: Solid. 3. Hemlock Is Versatile. Hemlock is a blond wood with beautiful texture and grain. Its basic hues are flaxen, and clear lumber means the wood is free of any dark knots. Many designers love hemlock’s light color and select a clear, low sheen finish to bring out its natural warmth.
Where is heartwood harvested?
The white sapwood is often used for fans. Sandalwood is now being commercially grown and harvested in Australia, primarily for its oil.
Why are some woods scarce?
Some of them are scarce today due to overharvesting or disease. Current concerns with sustainability and deforestation have led the International Union for the Conservation of Nature to place some species on the Red List and to discourage the use of certain woods in an effort to reduce the possibility of extinction of some at-risk trees.
What are the different types of softwoods?
Common softwoods are pine, ash, and hickory, along with beech, birch, fir, cedar, spruce, hemlock, and redwood . Some woods have been the go-to choices of woodworkers across time. Wood choices have changed throughout the centuries, however.
Why is wood slab so popular?
That said, it is popular because the trees grow to be immense. Large slabs are available with natural edges and used for dramatic tabletops, desks, and conference tables. It’s also a popular veneer and is used to produce not only fine furniture but musical instruments, cabinetry, turnings, and specialty items.
What are the uses of wood?
As civilizations developed, the variety of woods gave rise to other uses. From shelter and boats, for casks and barrels, for farm implements and cooking utensils. Wood’s versatility fueled human creativity, and as diverse cultures developed, wood transformed the world. The growth of civilizations is intertwined with the story of wood.
Where are African blackwoods found?
Three of the woods on this list — African Blackwood (Mpingo), known as the national tree of Tanzania, Honduras Rosewood, a member of the Dalbergia genus currently found in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, and Macassar Ebony, also known as Striped Ebony — are considered endangered.
Where does the yellow gold wood come from?
Lumber for furniture or artistic uses would be more expensive. Sandalwood, aromatic, yellow-gold wood is derived from a slow-growing tree found throughout Southeast Asia and the islands of the South Pacific, is more important in Oriental ceremonies and religious rites than it is for woodworking.
What is a hemlock tree?
Hemlock Tree. Hemlocks are a member of the pine family and prefer an acidic soil that's moist and allows proper drainage . Like most pine trees, hemlocks have a shallow root system which often causes them to blow over during strong winds.
How many BTUs does hemlock produce?
If you have easy access to some hemlock firewood, it's definitely worth burning. The wood is easy to cut, easy to handle and produces 19.3 million BTUs per cord.
How tall does poison hemlock grow?
The poison hemlock is actually a flowering plant that grows about 5-8 feet tall and is not associated with the hemlock tree. Poison Hemlock. The poison hemlock is best known for being the plant that killed the famous philosopher Socrates.
Does hemlock burn?
Hemlock works great when the outside temperatures are mild and you need a quick fire to take the chill off inside your house, or try mixing the wood in with other popular hardwoods to give you a longer burn time.
Is hemlock a good firewood?
Although it's class ified as a softwood, hemlock can be a good firewood source as long as the wood is allowed to properly season before use. The wood actually dries out pretty quick and it's not as sappy and messy as a pine tree making the wood nicer to handle because your hands are not covered in sap after a day of cutting.
Can you turn hemlock into firewood?
Hemlock is no exception to this rule. If you have a neighbor that's looking to give away a couple of hemlock trees, or you have a couple of trees in your yard that need to be removed, don't be afraid to turn those hemlock trees into firewood.
Is hemlock a hardwood?
Hemlock is a softwood and just like any other softwood, it's a less desirable firewood when compared to a popular hardwood like oak or maple but that doesn't mean the firewood is useless especially if it's free and easy to access.
Reasons to Use Hemlock
Cons of Using Hemlock
- Keep in mind that hemlock will not be the perfect material for everything you are seeking to achieve. It’s up for you to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. Read on for some qualities that may make you think twice about using it in your project. One slightly notorious feature of hemlock wood is that it is quite prone to splintering. The splinters themselves are quite hard and small, m…
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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