Wood Species & Finishes by Vermont Timber Works | Post & Beam Stain | Timber Finish | Douglas Fir | Hemlock | Oak | Pine

Samples of Natural Finish On Planed Timber

SCROLL DOWN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR WOOD SPECIES & FINISHES

We use several wood species for our timber frames: Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine, Native Hemlock and Native Red & White Oak. From time to time, we also use Southern Yellow Pine, Cypress and Cedar.

We finish them in different ways. The timbers can be left rough sawn for a rustic look, planed smooth & chamfered for a highly finished look, or hand hewn for an antique look. Stains are then applied to color the wood & seal the grain. The stain can be a natural 'clear' color or a darker color, such as Minwax Golden Oak. It is important that the stain is shop-applied to all surfaces & joints of a beam because then the timber is completely sealed and will dry out slowly.

Definitions:

Chamfered: A 1/2-inch or otherwise specified flat surface 'groove' made in the wood by cutting off the edges of corners. Chamfers are both decorative and functional: they help protect the timbers' edges during shipping.

Checking: The appearance of cracks or splits in wood as the wood dries out over time.

Hand Hewn: Handmade notches in the wood made by individual hard blows of a heavy cutting tool, such as an adze or chisel. Hand hewn timbers offer a very traditional look.

Planed: Wood that has been surfaced or sanded on all four sides. Very smooth.

Rough Sawn: Timber just after it has been cut. No sanding. No planing.

Each species of wood has its own look and characteristics. Scroll down for a description of each, and click on the links to see different finishes.

Golden Oak Stain on Hand Hewn Pine timber

Eastern White Pine

Pine is a very stable wood. It has a good straight grain, can be easily stained, planes well, and is a great wood for hand hewing. Because it is less expensive than douglas fir, it is often used for residential timber frames. It is similar in color to hemlock - a pale yellow with occasional reddish streaks. Pine is not as strong as hemlock or fir, so it is not a good wood when long spans are required or when smaller beams are desired.

Minwax Golden Oak stain on hand hewn pine timber.

See More Pine Finishes

Golden Oak on Hand Hewn Pine

Hemlock

Hemlock is a great, economical wood for country homes and barns. It is pale in color and naturally richens over time. It looks great 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, and is not attractive when wood is planed smooth.

See More Hemlock Finishes

Golden Oak on Hemlock

Douglas Fir

Fir is an excellent wood for highly finished post & beam frames and commercial work because of its strength and beautiful grain. Its color ranges from light red to pale yellow. We buy our douglas fir timbers directly from a west coast supplier who uses only the best looking timber. It is available free of heart centers, which means that the usual 'bulls eye' heart wood found in the center of most beams is absent. Free of heart timber also checks less and is more stable than timber which does have heart wood.

See More Fir Finishes

Spar Urethane on Chamfered Fir

Oak

Oak is a very strong & beautiful hardwood. It tends to be more expensive than pine or hemlock, but less expensive than douglas fir. Hardwoods in general are not as stable as softwoods, which means they tend to twist and check more. Oak, in particular, is subject to surface checking - when a timber gets many little, tiny splits & cracks just on its surface. Some of our clients just love that the oak is native to our area & our oak supplier provides us with great looking timber.

See More Oak Finishes

Natural Stain on Red Oak

Timber Defects

Wood is a natural product and all wood has its own characteristics and defects. All heavy timber splits and checks as it dries. Hemlock will shake over time.

Great resourses for lumber grading and design values can be found at the Northeast Lumber Manufacturers Association, WWPA Western Lumber Grading Rules, and Hall and Foreman Inc, Engineers.

See More Information on Defects

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