We use several wood species for our timber frames: Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine, Native Hemlock and Native Red & White Oak. 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 & will dry out slowly.

Hemlock

Hand Hewn Pine

When we begin cutting the timbers in our shop, the timbers are 'green', rather than kiln-dried. As the wood dries out, it takes on the character of a timber frame - natural checking occurs, the timbers may twist a bit, and they will shrink a little. Different wood species react to the drying process in different ways: fir is very stable and very strong, hemlock will take on a rustic appearance, oak will have some surface checking and twist more than other woods, and pine will check a bit but stay fairly true. Even though some of the samples pictured on our wood pages are clear, all timbers will have knots over the length of the beams.

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.

Shake...Separation of the rings in a piece of wood that occurs as it dries. The wood can also 'peel' off around the rings, similar to the layers of an onion. Click on each photo below to see an enlarged view of both shake and checking.

Cross-Section View
of Shake & Checking
in Hemlock

Side View of
Shake & Checking
in Hemlock

Unfinished...Wood that has not yet been stained.