Ceiling Douglas Fir wood in POrtland home stylish modern

5 Uses for Douglas-fir In the Home

Douglas-fir, the Pride of the Pacific Northwest, done 5 Ways in the Home.

Ceiling Douglas Fir wood in POrtland home stylish modern

The warm amber colors in this Douglas-fir ceiling soften this modern motif. Image Courtesy: Jeremy Levine

Locally grown with pride, the Douglas-fir is arguably the most favored by builders and carpenters due to its strength and beauty.  Homeowners in the Pacific Northwest are known to incorporate this spectacular wood into every aspect of their building, remodeling, and even landscaping.  And, it shows!  Douglas-fir accents in a home instantly warm up the space, making it more inviting and adding a richness to the appearance.  

Adding character and charm, these Douglas Fir accents and moldings can be found throughout Portland homes.

Adding character and charm, these Douglas Fir accents and moldings can be found throughout Portland homes. Image Courtesy Tall ChrisThe Look:

The Look:

Doug-fir has a gorgeous warm tone, and comes in a golden yellow to amber or reddish brown color.  The grain is relatively straight, and sometimes has a slight waviness.  It offers a medium to coarse texture. Both grain and texture will vary based on where the tree was grown and its age.  Many woodworkers will be careful when cutting the wood to capture the distinctive grain pattern.  Whether stained, or reclaimed and varnished, this lumber’s natural beauty is a showstopper.

Douglas Fir Cabinetry stylish

Douglas Fir Cabinetry. Image courtesy: Tall Chris

Waterproof:

Unlike most softwoods, Douglas-fir does not readily expand and contract with the weather. Because of this stability in the elements, it is often referred to as “waterproof”, even though it is water permeable.   Its “waterproof” nature makes it an excellent choice for doors and windows.

Windows of Douglas Fir Wood in POrtland Home waterproof wood

The “waterproof” nature of Douglas-fir allow for safe and durable use around windows and doors.  Image courtesy: Tall Chris

 

Strength:

Douglas-fir is technically a softwood, but it has an incredible stiffness and is very resilient. It boasts a very good strength-to-weight ratio, making it the highest rated softwood in North America.  These high marks make it a superb choice for building in areas with intense winds or earthquakes.

Douglas Fir is a very stiff soft wood, which makes it a great choice for a flooring.

Douglas-fir is a very stiff softwood, which makes it a great choice for  flooring in Portland homes. Image Courtesy Pat (Cletch) Williams.

A very plentiful and beautiful “hard” softwood, Douglas-fir is one of the most widely used commercial woods in all of North America.  There are gorgeous, custom homes throughout Portland.  Talk to an expert to find your dream home.

 

Written by Jennifer Kane, Expanded Exposure LLC.