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Log Species
for Timber Frame Homes
Our location in the interior of British Columbia, Canada provides a selection of logs unsurpassed worldwide. Only premium quality logs are hand selected from trees growing at high elevations. These trees experience slower growth rates, resulting in a higher structural value due to tighter annual growth rings. In addition to strength, each log is hand selected based on straightness of grain and consistency of size.
WOOD SPECIES: Douglas Fir
Fir timber frame home under construction
Douglas Fir is a very strong wood with a rich reddish heartwood. Generally tight growth rings, straight grain, medium heavy with good resistance to mildew and fungus.
 
Due to its high strength, Fir is the perfect choice for timber frame homes.
Douglas Fir bough and cone
pseudotsuga menziesii
Also known as Coast Douglas-fir, Oregon Pine, Oregon Douglas-fir, Douglas Tree, Interior Douglas-fir. This is not a fir at all but 'Pseudotsuga' or "False Hemlock"
Named after the Scottish botanist, David Douglas, who introduced many of BC's native conifers to Europe.
UNIQUE FEATURES:
  • distinctive three-forked bracts between the scales on the cones
  • light yellow with orange tints to exterior of peeled logs
  • tight grain, redish brown interior heart wood 
LOCATION:
  • British Columbia southern mainland coast, Vancouver Island
  • an interior variety is found throughout southern and central BC
SIZE:
  • can reach up to 85 meters in height on the coast and 42 meters in the interior
WOOD CHARACTERISTICS:
  • dense, hard, stiff, durable, strong
USES:
  • modern - heavy duty construction such as log homes, trestles, bridge parts and commercial buildings
  • traditional - wood: fuel, fishing hooks, handles, snowshoes, fishtraps; boughs: floor coverings; seeds: eaten; twigs/needles: can exude a sugar like substance which was prized
CONES:
  • 5 to 11 cm long
  • green when young, turning to brown as they age
  • papery scales, with three pronged bracts (resembling mouse hind legs and tail) in between them
  • have winged seeds
  • seeds are eaten by birds and small animals
NEEDLES:
  • flat with pointed tips
  • bright yellowish-green with single groove on upper surface
  • paler colour on lower surface
  • spirally arranged so appear to stand out around the twig
BARK:
  • smooth, grey-brown, blistered when young
  • furrowed, thick, dark reddish-brown ridges as the tree ages
  • bears scrape off the bark to eat the sap layer beneath
QUICK/EASY ID (identification) for DOUGLAS FIR:
  • cones: forked
  • needles: flat, fragrant, friendly (the boughs are soft to the touch when you run your hand up and down)
  • bark: furrowed
Construction Details...
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Thank you for visiting the The Log Connection website www.TheLogConnection.com. The Log Connection is a leading producer of quality hand crafted log homes, log cabins, custom log homes, and post and beam style log homes.
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