WHOLESALE LOGS & LUMBER Inc.

142 Hornertown Road Scottdale, PA 15683 (724) 887-3020 Fax (724) 887-3021

TABLE 2-1 COMMON WOOD CHARACTERISTICS FOR LOG HOMES

RANK 34 Workability Shrinkage Strengtha Weightb Decay Insulationc Uses

OUT OF Species (bending stress (lbs. per cu. Resistance (R-factor
34 at prop. limit) ft.) per inch)
2 Balsam Easy Low Very weak Lt. 26 Low 1.33 Walls
Poplar (5000-6000 psi)
1 *No. White Easy Very low Very weak Lt. 22 High 1.41 Walls, post
Cedar
9 Hemlock Moderate Low Weak Lt. 28 Low 1.16 Walls
9 Blk. Spruce Moderate Low Weak Lt. 28 Low 1.16 Walls
5 Basswood Easy High Weak Lt. 26 Low 1.24 Walls
13 Red Cedar Easy Very low Weak Mod. 33 High 1.03 Walls,
(east) shingles
11 *Red Cedar Easy Very low Weak Lt. 23 High 1.09 Walls,
(west) shingles
14 Redwood Easy Very low Weak Lt. 28 High 1.00 Walls,
shingles
12 Cypress Moderate Low Weak md. 32 High 1.04 Walls, posts
7 Aspen Moderate Low Weak Lt. 26 Low 1.22 Walls
(6000-7000psi)
6 Cottonwoods Moderate Medium Weak Lt. 24-28 Low 1.23 Walls
4 Balsam Firs Moderate Medium Weak Lt. 25 Low 1.27 Walls
3 *White Pine Easy Very low Fair Lt. 25 Moderate 1.32 General,
(7000-9000 psi) trim
9 Pond. Pine Easy Low Fair Lt. 28 Moderate 1.16 Walls, trim

8 Jack Pine Easy Low Fair Lt. 27 Moderate 1.20 Walls

12 Red Pine Easy Low Fair Md. 34 Low 1.04 Walls, joints
19 Tamarack Fair Medium Fair Md. 36 Moderate 0.93 General
10 Yellow Easy Medium Fair Lt. 28 Low 1.13 General
Poplar
17 Elm, Soft Hard High Fair Md. 37 Low 0.97 Fuel, floor

a
Screw at which timber will recover without injury or permanent deformations.
b
At 12 percent moisture content.
c
Calculations for 12 percent moisture. Values series greatly with moisture: variation is 45 percent for softwoods and 3 percent for
hardwoods (ace USDA FPL handbook No. 72) for moisture ranging from 0-30 percent. Values given per inch of thickness in
direction of heat flow; normal to grain.
* Wood most frequently used by log home industry and used by WHOLESALE LOGS & LUMBER Inc.