What wood can be used for timber framing?
There are literally dozens of species that have been used to timber frame over the years. In our opinion, the species choice should be dictated by what is available locally. In Europe, white oak was used in the majority of frames because it was readily available and had exceptional strength and durability qualities. In North America, west coast frames were traditionally made with fir and cedar, while eastern frames often made use of pine, hemlock, elm and oak. We strongly encourage the use of sustainably harvested local timber to keep costs down (including the embodied energy of the timber) and support local forestry and mills. We are fortunate to have an abundance of species to choose from here in Quebec and Ontario, including pine, spruce, cedar, hemlock, oak, ash, beech, etc. We’ll incorporate almost any species into the frame as long as it is structurally viable. Each have their own unique qualities. We are also happy to use timber harvested from your own woodland if you have one.
