DOUGLAS FIR

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Shown with water-based finish (top), and oil-based finish (bottom)

APPEARANCE

Color: Heartwood is yellowish tan to light brown.  Sapwood is tan to white.  Heartwood may be confused with that of Southern Yellow Pine.  Radical color change upon exposure to sunlight.
Grain: Normally straight, with occasional wavy or spiral texture.  Nearly all fir flooring is vertical-grain or riftsawn clear-grade material.
Species & Grade Variations: Wood varies greatly in weight and strength.  Young trees of moderate to rapid growth have reddish heartwood and are called "Red Fir".  The narrow-ringed wood of old trees may be yellowish-brown and is known as "Yellow Fir."

PROPERTIES

Hardness (Janka): 660; 49% softer than Northern Red Oak.
Dimensional Stability:  Above average (change coefficient .00267; 28% more stable than Red Oak).
Durability: Durable but easily dented.  Somewhat brittle and splinters easily, especially with age.  Used for flooring, but may not be suitable for all applications due to its softness.

WORKABILITY

Sawing / Machining: Harder to work with hand tools than the soft pines.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: Good holding ability.
Finishing: Some boards develop a slight pinkish to bright salmon color when finished with some products.  Because of tendency toward color change, care must be taken to avoid oversanding when refinishing an existing floor.
Comments: Sometimes milled for flooring as end-grain block, which is significantly harder than plainsawn.

COST

(Relative to plainsawn select Red Oak)
Multiplier: 1.70

AVAILABILITY

Readily available.