Western Hemlock

Properties and Uses

Western Hemlock is moderately light in weight and moderate in strength. The wood has a fine texture and straight even grain and resists scratches. Wood color is exceptionally consistent, ranging from creamy white to light gold. Growth rings are distinct, with little difference between heartwood and sapwood.

Air and kiln drying are effective ways to season, and as the wood dries and ages it gradually hardens, giving it excellent wearing qualities. The cut wood machines easily and planes smoothly without splitting to take a fine finish with a light-reflecting sheen.

This product holds nails and screws firmly and handles paint and stain finishes very well. Uniformity, grain, and color make Western Hemlock a common choice for finger-jointed and edge-glued decorative components. Other suitable uses are in doors, windows, general construction (framing), staircases, ladders, kitchen cabinets, architectural milled items, and paneling.

About The Wood

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) (tsu-ga is Japanese for “tree” and “mother”; in Greek, heterophylla means “different leaves”)

The commercial name Hem-Fir comprises Western Hemlock and Amabilis Fir, and accounts for about 60% of mature coastal forests. The largest of the hemlock species, Western Hemlock is also known as Pacific Hemlock and West Coast Hemlock because it grows along the coast of British Columbia into the interior wet belt west of the Rocky Mountains.

Its range is mostly within 100 km from the Pacific Ocean. This large coniferous evergreen grows from 40 to 70 metres (130 to 230 feet) high with a trunk diameter of up to 2.7 metres (9 feet). Its reddish to dark brown bark is thin, rough, and scaly. Initial growth is slow and a shallow root system makes the tree susceptible to strong winds.

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