Different Types of Timber and Wood from Canada and USA for Interior Design and Decorating
Here are a few of the more prominant and used woods from North America. There are many more and they may have been written about in other sections of wood types within this site.
Characteristics of Timber and Wood Produced by Canada/USA
Cotton Wood
– 20-45 metres in heght
-very large tree
-Native to North America Europe and Asia.
-Venner used in utility and medium priced bulk furniture products
Douglas Fir, Canadian Oregon, British Columbian Pine
– Very tall tree of approx 50-100m
– Softwood
– Native North Western America
– Heartwood is a pale yellowish brown, moderately durable
– Sapwood is lighter in color, non durable
– It is difficult to machine due to its strong stringy grain
Uses – heavy structural beams, timber framing, ladder making, trusses, masts, spars.
Hemlock
– Soft wood
– Light grey brown color
– It has a slight sheen on its surface
– Grown in USA/Canada
Uses – general joinery and structural work
Western Red Cedar
– Large tree of up to 60m in height
– Softwood
– Native North Western America
– Heartwood is very durable and the color varies from dark chocolate brown to salmon pink
– Sapwood is also durable, is a pale light yellow color, almost white
– It has a high acid content (eats nails)
– Light weight, strong odour
– Easily machined
– Very stable timber
– Straight grain which turns silver after exposure to weather
Uses – roof shingles, louvers, joinery/furniture, doors, window sashes, external cladding.
American White Oak
-Not a tall tree 65 -85 feet but massive all the same due to its girth.
-Hardwood
-Native to Eastern North America
-Light brown with paler sapwood
-Fine grained
-Water and rot resistant due to its close cell structure
-strong and dense
– ferrous metal reacts with it.
American Red Oak
– As for White Oak, except the timber color has a “champagne” (pinkish) tint
– The characteristics and uses are the same as White Oak
For more on Interior Design and Decorating Interior Finishes – Types of Timber and Wood select from below.
Australia / New Zealand / Pacific Islands
