Choosing the Right Wood Species
Choosing to build a new timber frame is likely one of the most exciting investments of your lifetime. Since 1979, Woodhouse - The Timber Frame Company has helped thousands of families to design and build their custom timber frame home.
Many clients choose Woodhouse to craft their dream timber frame home because of our industry-leading 3D modeling technology, which provides our clients with a point-of-view fly-through of their new home’s design long before construction starts. Others are impressed with our combination of CNC technology, which can cut and shape timbers with exact precision in an extremely time-efficient manner, with options for handcrafted artisanal finishes. Others choose Woodhouse because of the wide selection of wood species and high-quality timber we use for this centuries-old work of craftsmanship.
Douglas Fir
One of the most popular species to use for the frame is Douglas fir. It has a pleasant scent and ranges in color from warm pinks, oranges, and rusty reds. It grows fast, thick, and tall in the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest. These timbers can span 50 feet and support great loads. It’s a solid choice for large projects and mountain homes.
White Oak
White Oak is common throughout the eastern and central United States. It is a slow growing tree that can reach truly impressive dimensions of 80–100ft tall. The timber is a light brown and grey color with fine grain. White oak has been prized for its high load bearing and water/rot-proof properties since the late 1700s, when it was identified as one of the best species for constructing ships. Those same characteristics now make it an ideal candidate for outdoor timber frame applications, like porches or pavilions.
Red Oak
Red Oak spans the northern United States into Nova Scotia and is one of North America’s fastest-growing hardwoods. It checks and moves considerably as it dries over the first three to five years, but the elegant and warm colors of the timber make it a popular timber choice regardless. Red Oak is also a favorite wood for use in interior joinery, decorative veneers, wall paneling, millwork, and woodenware. Southern red oak is red, while northern species are lighter in color. All color variations smell equally pleasant.
Eastern White Pine
This species grows from Maine to northern Georgia and around the Great Lakes states. It is a blond wood with red streaking and large black knots that is commonly used in tongue and groove boards. It’s a plentiful species, but generally limited in length and size, making it a cost-effective choice for small and medium builds.
Southern Yellow Pine
These trees grow in the southern United States and are actually three separate species: Shortleaf, Slash, and Loblolly Pines. They share the same timber name as the harvested wood is remarkably similar on a microscopic level, with tight rings and grain patterns. All three species range in color from yellow to off-white. These trees also grow thick, tall, and fast, making them another popular choice for large projects.
Using Only the Top Grades in Timbers
Trees and lumber in general, are graded by appropriate grading agencies to ensure structural soundness. “Woodhouse uses only number one grade or better in Douglas fir and southern yellow pine,” Mahosky says. “The Woodhouse Douglas fir standard requires only dense growth, free-of-heart center (FOHC), number one or better appearance grade, and with no bark or wane.
“The reasons are significant,” he explains. “Doug fir checks less; dense growth means less checking and twisting; number one or better provides straighter grain and fewer knots resulting in a better appearance. For red oak, white oak, and eastern white pine we typically use number two appearance grade. While we can source grade one timbers if requested, it is far more expensive and difficult to find, so it significantly increases the overall project cost and leadtime for a minor difference in appearance.”
Different species of wood have different specifications.
“For example, red oak timbers don’t grow big enough to be FOHC, so our red oak timbers are boxed heart to minimize checking.” Mahosky says. “Every species reacts differently and each requires unique specifications to optimize its distinct characteristics for use as a timber frame. That is where our 40+ years of experience working with timber comes into play, we look through all the variables that need to be considered to give customers the best timber options for their specific project.”
Green vs. Kiln Dried
Opting to use green timbers instead of kiln-dried reduces costs for their clients, says Fred Dewey, senior home designer at Woodhouse. “Our timbers are typically green. They are less expensive than kiln-dried,” he says. “Kiln dried will shrink less, but in a timber frame the shrinking experienced by green wood can be beneficial for the joinery, as it tends to tighten the joints as the frame dries and shrinks. With that said, Woodhouse does supply kiln-dried timber in southern yellow pine as a standard option, and Douglas fir upon request.”
"Housing" Joints at Woodhouse
Woodhouse distinguishes itself with exceptional, tight-fitting joinery that is engineered to last centuries. “For example, Woodhouse “houses” all of its joints,” Dewey says. Housing, as in “fully housed,” refers to timber frame joinery wherein a pocket is created in one timber to contain the entire end of another timber or frame member. Housing helps resist the twisting and checking of the housed member and hides gaps that can appear as the timbers shrink. “It helps to lock a joint together and will produce a cleaner joint once the frame dries,” Dewey says. Not all timber framing companies house their joints because it increases labor costs, however Woodhouse exclusively uses this tested tradition that results in better structural integrity and a cleaner aesthetic.
Smooth vs. Rustic Finish
“The vast majority of clients choose to have smoothly planed timbers,” says Mahosky. “But a small percentage of our clients choose to have a hand-hewn, roughly sawn, or wire brush finish for more of a rustic look.”
Cusomization is Encouraged at Woodhouse
If you are seeking a more exotic species as a part of your dream timber frame, Woodhouse is happy to accommodate your needs. Some clients have elected to use cherry, black walnut, or other specialized species of trees for accent posts and beams in their home, Mahosky explained.
Ensure the Company You Choose has the Depth of Experience
Ask a conventional builder to build you a timber frame and you’ll likely be met with blank stares. That’s because the craftsmanship, engineering, design, and artistry that goes into building with massive timbers is very specialized, and far beyond the expertise of most conventional builders. It takes years of experience to perfect the skills needed to craft quality timber frame homes.
It’s worth noting that most of the team at Woodhouse has been with the company their whole careers, spanning multiple decades. The whole team is dedicated to providing the most skilled custom timber frame home package design service, the finest building materials, and the most well-crafted timber frame homes.
