Hemlock is a great, economical wood for country homes and barns. It is pale in color and naturally richens over time. It can be smooth or rough sawn. Hemlock is very strong, has a long grain and is a renewable resource. It is resistant to rotting and it is also much less expensive than douglas fir for timber frame homes. However, it does have one character flaw: certain stands of hemlock can have a defect called shake. Shake is a delamination between the timber's growth rings. We order our hemlock shake-free; however, shake will often show up after a timber frame has been up for a year or so. Shake in our frames is generally not a structural problem, but it can make a post & beam frame look rustic.

Minwax Natural
Planed & Chamfered

Minwax
Golden Oak
Semi-Sanded

Minwax Golden Oak Planed & Chamfered

Minwax
Early American
Semi-Sanded

Minwax Early American Planed & Chamfered

Please keep in mind that the colors and textures of the Minwax stains shown on this page will vary with the natural differences found in each wood type. Also, visit Minwax's Wood Finish Color Selections Page for more examples of available stain colors.