Factors that determine a particular wood's suitability include appearance, size availability, structural properties, availability, cost, compatibility with the architectural design, dimensional stability, workability, distance from source to shop, and environmental considerations. For these reasons, we generally use Douglas Fir. It is an excellent species and we are ideally located near the Pacific Northwest to make use of this resource. However, there are several different species that we have worked with and each wood species has characteristics that recommend it, so the goal becomes one of selecting the species and grade that yields the best match for your project. Of course, meeting the desires of our client is the most important. Below is a brief description of timbers species that we have use.

DOUGLAS FIR (Pseudotsuga Menziesii)

Douglas Fir or Larch:  Douglas Fir constitutes a large percentage of the forests in the American Northwest. Throughout its range it is a relatively fast growing and plentiful member of the forest community attaining sizes that rival its neighbors for dominance. Douglas Fir timbers are readily available in suitable sizes for timber framing, are supremely workable in the shop, accept wood finishes well, and have excellent structural capabilities.
Douglas Fir timbers are available in Green Sawn, Radio Frequency Kiln Dried, and reclaimed.

F.O.H.C. (free of heart center) Douglas Fir:  These timbers are sawn so that the center, or 'heart' of the tree is not included in the sawn timber. This means that the tree itself must be quite large to be able to produce these timbers, and are generally from the Northwest coastal regions. These timbers are of the highest grade and will have minimal checking and twisting.

Boxed Heart Douglas Fir:  The term boxed heart refers to timber that is sawn from the center of the log. The timber beam has the 'heart', or center of the tree within it. While boxed heart Douglas Fir is readily available, it is not our preference to use as it has more knots and more figure within the wood grain than free of heart center (FOHC) timbers and will exhibit heart checks and twisting as the timbers season naturally.

Reclaimed Douglas Fir:  Reclaimed timbers come are generally salvaged from industrial buildings built in the last century. Old, but sound, timbers are de-nailed and re-sawn to desired dimensions that yield a structural timber. Reclaimed Doug Fir timbers typically have a low moisture content as they were originally milled a century earlier and have been drying ever since. This means these timbers will suffer little dimensional change in their new home. Checks will exist from the initial drying process but new checks will be minimal or non-existent. The 'historical characteristics' or markings from prior use such as bolt and nail holes, iron stains from old steel hardware, mortises and such, are highly variable and are viewed as beautiful. Using these timbers is an environmentally sound practice as no new trees are harvested.
Due to the limited source of supply and high demand, the cost for reclaimed Doug Fir is higher than for new timber. Other factors involved in their higher cost is the intense labor process of dismantling the old building, de-nailing, and re-milling these timbers.

WESTERN RED CEDAR (Thuja plicata)
Western Red Cedar sees worthy service in timber frame structures exposed to the elements. Western Red Cedar timber does not have the structural capabilities of many other wood species, is physically soft, but is lightweight and works admirably. As an arbor, gazebo, sunroom, or as porch elements it serves very well. This species is readily available in sufficient sizes and quantities. Western Red Cedar timbers can also be dried in a Radio Frequency Kiln.

ALASKAN YELLOW CEDAR (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis)
Also known as Alaska Cypress or Pacific Coast Cypress, Alaska Yellow Cedar grows in the Pacific coast region of North America from southeastern Alaska southward through Washington to southern Oregon. First used by the West Coast Indians for their historic totem poles and war canoes, it's durability and ease of tooling makes it readily adaptable for timber framing. The heart wood is bright, clear yellow. The sapwood is narrow, white to yellowish and hardly distinguishable from the heartwood. The wood is fine textured and generally straight grained.

WESTERN HEMLOCK (Tsuga heterophylla)
Also referred to as "White Fir" on the East side of the Cascades. Hemlock grows along the Pacific coast of Oregon and Washington and in the Northern Rocky Mountains, north to Canada and Alaska. The heartwood and sapwood of Hemlock are almost white with a purplish tinge. The wood often contains small, sound black knots. Western Hemlock is light in weight and moderate in strength. It is moderate in it's hardness, stiffness and shock resistance.

SPRUCE (Sitka or Engleman) (Picea engelmannii or Picea sitchensis)
Engelman Spruce grows at high elevations in the Rocky Mountain region and Sitka Spruce grows along the northwestern coast of North America from California to Alaska. It constitutes a large percentage of North America's export market. Spruce timbers are readily available in suitable sizes for timber framing, are supremely workable in the shop, accept wood finishes well and have well-established rules for structural grading.

REDWOOD (Sequoia sempervirens)
Redwood is available in a variety of grades and specifications including the occasional source. Beautiful in appearance, weather durable, and taking on an attractive patina with age, Redwood timbers produce a handsome timber frame. Sources for this timber species are diminishing and not likely to improve. It often proves to be a costly timber framing choice.

OAK (Red and White)(Quercus alba or Quercus rubra)
The family of tree species grouped within the Oaks constitutes the largest family of hardwoods. There are two major families of oaks commonly classified as White Oaks and Red Oaks with a multitude of species within each family. Oak and other hardwood species were used for timbers by our colonial ancestors because of the large sizes attained by the trees, their plentiful supply, and their proximity to the building sites. Timbers of white oak used in producing timber frame members are worked 'green' as the physical properties of oak preclude drying. Consequently, oak timbers are quite heavy owing in large part to their high moisture content. 'Green' Oak exhibits the major disadvantages of developing large checks and suffering from shrinkage as great as 1/2" in an 8" in girth, as it dries to its equilibrium moisture content. Red Oak is different in cell structure than White Oak and can be Radio Frequency Kiln Dried.

Radio Frequency Vacuum (RFV) Kiln Drying is a process that uses microwave technology to dry timbers to a consistent and uniform 15% moisture content. Because drying happens in a controlled environment, timbers remain straight, true, and on size after drying.

RFV Kilns are also very efficient. Unlike conventional kilns which blow hot air around the wood and use natural gas or hog fuel, RFV Kilns apply radio frequency directly to the timber, dry more thoroughly, use less energy, and releases zero negative emissions.

Yes. The sustainable nature of timber framing is not readily apparent to most, but upon examination of the facts, it becomes clear that timber framing is one of the Greenest methods of construction.

• Wood is natural, organic, carbon-neutral, non-toxic, recyclable, biodegradable, and renewable.
• All of the 'new' timber that we purchase comes from privately owned FSC (Forest Stewardship Counsel) certified sources.
• Timber Framed homes are durable and have very long life spans. They reflect a choice that is made for generations.

For a thorough explanation of why Timber Framing is a 'Green' building method, please see the following article from the Timber Frame Business Counsel.   (Click Here to view PDF)

The finish on the timbers varies according to the owners' personal preference and the architectural style of the home. The following is a brief explanation of each of these treatments.

S-4-S - This designation is a mill abbreviation which means 'surfaced four sides'. The mill, using a large four-sided planer, accurately planes all four sides of a timber before shipment to our shop. The resulting timber has four smooth faces which are square to one another. Once we complete the joinery in our shop, all of the timbers receive a final sanding.

Rough Sawn - Rough sawn timber, as the name implies, is received by Bear Creek Timberwrights bearing the rough band-sawn finish from the mill. However, once we complete the joinery all of timbers are wire-brushed. The softer early-growth wood fiber is lightly removed leaving the harder late-growth wood fiber more pronounced and also removes the splinters and burrs. The timber retains it's rough sawn appearance, and yet you can rub your hand on the timber or lean up against it with a sweater without getting splinters or snags.

Hewn Timbers - Many clients desire to capture the rugged look of buildings built before the advent of modern saw mills. The process of reducing a round log to a square timber was accomplished by flattening four faces, square to one another, with a broad axe and cleaning up the broad axed surfaces with an adze axe. This is accomplished with two different options - Hand Hewn or Machine Hewn.

Machine Hewn - We start with timbers that are S-4-S (surfaced four sides). Once we finish the joinery the joiners use a specially designed hand-held planer that has a curved 'scoop' blade to give a hewn texture. The Machine Hewn texture is not as 'rustic' (as rough) as Hand Hewing.
Hand Hewn - Similar to Machine Hewing, we start with timbers that are S-4-S (surfaced four sides). After the joinery is complete, the craftsmen hew the surface of the timbers with an adze axe. The result is a timber with a truly historical finish.

Which finish is best for you? If you like a more refined look than S4S is most likely what you are after. If a more aged or rustic feel is desired, Rough Sawn and the Hewn finishes will be definitely be more appealing. Once we begin the project design, we'll be glad to ship you samples that show each of the above finishes.

Applying a Stain - If a colored stain is desired, the best approach is to stain the timber frame after it has been raised on the building site. Our experience has shown that there are many variable to stain. What looks good on a sample board may not on the entire timber frame, but staining onsite allows adjustments to be made. However, if the project requires that the stain be pre-applied we will gladly accommodate you.