Hem-Fir

Western hemlock sold together with the true firs that grow alongside it, as a single graded framing group.

Waarom is het van belang?

Hem-Fir is the other large western framing group beside Douglas fir, and a substantial share of it is exported to Japan, where it is cut to Japanese post-and-beam sizes rather than North American ones.

Where it grows

Coastal Pacific Northwest and coastal British Columbia.

What it is used for

Framing, millwork, plywood, Japanese post-and-beam housing.

What to watch

Dries slowly and unevenly and can hold wet pockets, so kiln schedules are longer. Takes paint well.