European Douglas Fir

General Description

European Douglas Fir, is an evergreen coniferous tree imported as a fresh sawn, merchant grade of timber predominantly used for all construction purposes. It carries a large percentage of sapwood to heartwood but can be graded up to C24 and sawn to any dimension up to 600mm and lengths up to and above 10m.

The heartwood varies from a pinkish-red colour when freshly milled and settles down to darker reddish-brown colour in time, although does also have creamy flezes throughout the timber, the sapwood is a pale cream colour and is not to be confused with the varying colours in the heartwood.

Douglas fir is a fantastic insulator for sound, heat and electricity and a poor conductor of heat. It also posseses natural fire retardancy.

 

Working Properties

  • Machines satisfactorily
  • Glues, takes nails and screws satisfactorily
  • Steam bends well
  • Dries well and shrinks

Physical Properties

  • Good overall strength
  • Very stiff
  • Low shock resistance
  • Stable

Durability

  • The heartwood and sapwood are both permeable
  • Moderately resistant to decay

Main Uses

  • Cladding
  • Construction