Redwood lumber has an added advantage of being an insect repellent. However, Douglas fir lumber scores over Redwood lumber because of its great strength to weight ratio. Structurally Douglas fir lumber is stronger than Redwood lumber, and perhaps that is why it is used more frequently for preparing frames of building structures.
What is the difference between Douglas fir and redwood trees?
Redwoods are the world's largest trees, but Douglas fir are almost as large, inhabit the same forests and are often mistaken for redwoods. Despite the similarity of appearance, however, the two species are dissimilar, and produce wood with different characteristics.
Should you choose Douglas fir or con-heart redwood decking?
Consider applying two coats of primer to the decking for extra protection. It’s more work, but it will make the job last longer. This is especially important if you choose to go with fir, as it doesn’t take paint quite as well as redwood. As to the choice between Douglas fir and con-heart redwood, we’d save a buck and go with fir.
Which is better Douglas fir or birch wood?
Both are typically viable options, but they both have qualities that favor one versus the other. Douglas Fir has the edge when it comes to structural stability. It has a consistent density that allows for measurable span tables.
What is the difference between Douglas fir and sugar pine lumber?
It is relatively stronger and more durable than sugar pine. It also dries and glues well, hence it is well-suited for building material to build houses, bridges, and even railroad ties and poles. Coming to Douglas fir or Doug-fir as it is commonly called, it is one of the most widely-used lumber that you can find.
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How can you tell the difference between redwood and Douglas fir?
0:322:10The deep furrow or vertical grooves in the bark may throw some people off since Coast redwoods canMoreThe deep furrow or vertical grooves in the bark may throw some people off since Coast redwoods can have a similar look remember to look for the color and texture of the bark to help identify.
Is Douglas fir the strongest wood?
Douglas Fir gets a rating of 660 lbs. of force. The hardest commercially available hardwood is Hickory, and it is five times harder than Aspen, one of the softer hardwoods. There are a variety of methods to test the various qualities of the wood.
Is redwood the strongest?
Strength. Comfort. Much lighter in weight than plastic composite and tropical hardwoods, redwood can be easily cut, sawed, and drilled with regular woodworking tools. Yet for all that lightness, redwood is one of nature's strongest building materials with shear strength up to 5x greater than plastic decking products.
What's the strongest 2x4 wood?
Hickory is the hardest, commercially available common wood.
Which wood is strongest?
Top 10 Hardest Woods in The WorldSchinopsis brasiliensis – 4,800 IBF. ... Schinopsis balansae – 4,570 IBF. ... Lignum vitae – 4,500 IBF. ... Piptadenia Macrocarpa – 3,840 IBF. ... Brazilian Olivewood – 3,700 IBF. ... Brazilian Ebony – 3,692 IBF. ... Brazilian Walnut – 3,684 IBF. ... African Pearwood – 3,680 IBF.More items...•
What wood has the highest tensile strength?
Guaiacum spp.Average dried weight: 79 lbs/ft3 (1,260 kg/m3)Janka hardness: 4,390 lbf (19,510 N)Modulus of elasticity: 2,481,000 lbf/in2 (17.11 GPa)
What are the disadvantages of redwood?
With time, redwood loses its vibrant contrast and becomes more of a medium brown color. Yearly maintenance is required to keep the color rich. During the deck maintenance process, you need to be especially careful with the soft redwood decking so as not to damage the wood under high pressure.
Is pine stronger than redwood?
It is stronger than redwood even though both are classified as soft woods. Pine can be used for stairs and structural members, unlike redwood, and pressure-treated pine structures can resist rot for decades. Pine forests regenerate much quicker than redwood forests, so pine is a more sustainable natural resource.
How long does redwood last outside?
It is recommended that you use a protective finish with a water repellant, mildewcide and ultraviolet inhibitor. Redwood can last up to about 30 years on a well-maintained deck under good circumstances. Redwood is the most fire-resistant decking material on the market.
Is Douglas Fir strong?
Douglas Fir is the strongest and thus most durable softwood you can rely upon.
Which is stronger Douglas Fir or cedar?
While Cedar is easier to work with and more rot resistant being of the Type II durability class, Doug Fir is stronger and of Type III durability.
Which is stronger hemlock or Douglas Fir?
Significantly, Hem-fir is quite strong and its strength is only slightly below that of Doug-fir.
Redwood vs. Douglas Fir
Redwood trees and Douglas fir trees are distinctively different from each other in appearance. However, after the logs are processed into timber, there can be some confusion between the two types of wood. Here, we shall attempt to clarify any doubts you may have between redwood and Douglas fir.
How to Differentiate Between Redwood and Douglas Fir Lumber
As we mentioned earlier, although the trees are easily distinguishable from each other, it isn’t so easy to identify the lumber. However, this is a critical process for any woodworker, and by following a set of guidelines, you can identify one wood from another.
Douglas Fir Vs. Redwood: Which One is Superior?
After comparing the characteristics of these two types of wood, you may wonder which one has the upper hand over the other, if at all.
What is the best lumber for home improvement?
Redwood lumber and Douglas fir lumber are extremely popular choices when it comes to home improvement and woodworking projects. Both of these commonly grow in various parts of the world, with significant production. In the northwestern forests of America, redwood trees are prevalent.
What is the best wood for a deck?
While Douglas fir is more suited for making strong frames in the house, Redwood lumber is most ideal for setting hardwood flooring or for a redwood deck. Since both types of lumber are extremely durable, they can both be used outdoors as well.
Is Douglas Fir lumber strong?
Both Redwood lumber and Douglas fir lumber are straight grained and , therefore, very sturdy. They are highly resistant to decay and are extremely stable. They can sustain heavy weights when used as beams and framing structures. Redwood lumber has an added advantage of being an insect repellent.
Is Douglas Fir good for outdoor use?
That said, the functions of both these kinds of wood are slightly different. While Douglas fir is more suited for making strong frames in the house, Redwood lumber is most ideal for setting hardwood flooring or for a redwood deck. Since both types of lumber are extremely durable, they can both be used outdoors as well. They can withstand the most weather variations and the damage caused by rain and sun.
Is Douglas Fir the same as redwood?
Redwood and Douglas fir lumber are not the same, and each has its own advantages over the other.
Is Douglas Fir a fir?
That said, although Douglas fir is known by this name, it is not a fir species at all, and the old growth trees of Douglas fir are free of sap and have a very high strength.
What is Douglas Fir?
Characteristics of Douglas Fir Lumber. Like redwood, Douglas fir is a coniferous tree, and the wood is soft but structurally stable. It has a yellowish-white hue that darkens to orange as you approach the heartwood.
Why paint Douglas fir posts?
Because raw Douglas fir quickly rots underground, most builders use pressure-treated Douglas fir posts, which are still less expensive than redwood. If you decide to build a fence with Douglas fir to save money, protect the wood by painting it every few years with a high-pigment paint containing anti-rot agents.
Why is redwood considered a good wood for privacy?
Perhaps the most important reason is that the oils in redwood give it natural weather resistance, and it lasts two or three times as long as Douglas fir outdoors. Another important reason, especially when you're building a high privacy fence, is that redwood is lighter.
How tall is a redwood tree?
With a height that can exceed 350 feet and a trunk wide enough to drive through, each redwood tree produces a lot of lumber. The wood has an attractive orange/brown hue, dries well and is more stable than many other species when it's dry, reports Kappler Mill and Lumber.
Is redwood a softwood?
Moreover, it contains oils that repel insects and prevents rot. It is a softwood and is relatively easy to saw, shape and nail. These characteristics make it ideal for exterior applications. When you leave redwood exposed to the sun without a finish, it turns gray within a few months.
Is Douglas Fir harder than redwood?
Its Janka Hardness rating of 660 makes it harder than most other domestic softwoods, including redwood, reports Sustainable Lumber Co. Builders use Douglas fir as dimensional lumber for framing and as interior trim and cabinet material. It is also a primary component of construction-grade plywood.
How long does it take for redwood to cure?
The lumber cost is less than half. A friend said that the redwood really ought to cure 90 days and then be washed with oxalic acid to leach out the tannins so the paint doesn’t peel and crack. Whichever wood I choose, I was figuring I could buy it, prime it and screw it down prior to applying the top coat.
Does construction grade lumber have moisture?
Construction-grade lumber has a relatively high moisture level . The wood must acclimatize before you seal the surface with paint. Excess moisture must evaporate to give the paint its best chance to stay on the wood.
Can you paint redwood before painting?
A: Cool your jets. Your friend’s right about allowing redwood to cure prior to painting . The same thing applies to fir if you go that route. Moisture levels in lumber must stabilize prior to painting for the paint to successfully adhere to the wood.
Is Douglas Fir harder than redwood?
As to the choice between Douglas fir and con-heart redwood, we’d save a buck and go with fir. The extra work involved is offset by the cost savings. We know this is heresy to lumber dealers, but if you select vertical grain fir, cure it properly and prime and paint it thoroughly, it will perform. An added bonus is that fir is harder than redwood and will resist heavy foot traffic and dings a bit better.
What is the advantage of Cedar?
Where Cedar has the advantage is with exterior durability. Tannins within the grain of Western Red Cedar ensure that your lumber is both rot and insect resistant. Cedar also has a larger spectrum of color tones, allowing for much more character with each piece.
What is the most common material used for free standing structures?
The two most commonly used materials for such an application are Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar.
What is Douglas Fir?
Neither species is technically a fir, though; instead, Douglas Firs are commonly considered hemlocks. The straight grain combines yellow earlywood and reddish latewood for a generally orange appearance.
What is red cedar used for?
Also used for exterior trim and siding, decking, outdoor furniture, and rustic-looking interior millwork, Red Cedar is ideal for applications requiring direct contact with the ground.
Where does red cedar come from?
Western Red Cedar. Like Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar comes from the Pacific Northwest of the United States as well as Canada. Also like the so-called “fir,” “Red Cedar” is a misnomer, since the species is actually part of the Cypress family.
What is Douglas Fir?
Coming to Douglas fir or Doug-fir as it is commonly called, it is one of the most widely-used lumber that you can find. Architects and engineers favor this wood because of its dimensional stability, its remarkable strength-to-weight ratio, and durability. It also takes nails and screws extremely well and possesses a high degree of weather resistance. Now, let’s move on to the specific features of both types of wood.
Why did colonists use pinewood?
Traditionally, colonialists used pine to construct their homes as it was the commonly-available lumber at the time. Through the ages, preferences shifted to other more exotic and perhaps more robust varieties of wood. However, pinewood is fast gaining popularity again today due to its rustic looks and sustainability.
What is the most common pine tree?
You may come across several different varieties of pine, but the commonest ones are sugar pine and southern yellow pine. Sugar pine is prevalent in the western region of the United States. It has an appealing look thanks to its light brown heartwood and creamy white sapwood. It plays a prominent role in making packing boxes and crates due to its strength and dimensional stability. The downside of sugar pine is its low resistance to rot and insect attack.
What is the most common type of wood used in the Northern Hemisphere?
In the northern hemisphere, two species of softwood that are available abundantly are pine and fir. You will find both these types of wood being widely used for lumber to build homes and framed structures and other various woodworking projects. Although both these wood types seem similar, they have some unique features that set them apart from each other.
What are the two types of wood?
Two prevalent types of wood are redwood and Douglas fir due to their easy workability and high durability. Both types of wood come under the…
Is Douglas Fir strong?
As we mentioned above, Douglas fir is a naturally strong type of wood which makes it the favored choice for using to build heavy structures like posts and beams. It plays a vital role in building and construction and you will find its resistance to abrasion particularly useful when using it for flooring.
Is pinewood cheaper than Douglas Fir?
So, it may often boil down to the look that you want to achieve by using either of these types of wood. And of course, pinewood is cheaper than Douglas fir. Hence, your choice will depend on your specific requirements.
