Douglas Fir Timbers

Ghent Wood Products sources its timbers from responsibly managed forests, promoting smart conservation. Using salvage logs from the forest floor ensures a renewable resource, while the careful selection process guarantees superior clear grades with a fine ring count indicative of slow, stable growth. Our Douglas Fir Timbers are graded for structural use. All our timbers are grade stamped on one end with the grade, Select Structural, or No. 1 Structural, with approximately 70% of the timbers Select Structural, and 30% No. 1 Structural.

Having a large inventory of Doug fir like ours, is a key factor to properly air drying our timbers. We are able keep a consistent turn around period, and really manage how long our timbers are air dried before custom milling materials for each project. When it’s air dried rather than kiln dried the Timber retains its natural moisture content and superior color, reducing the risk of cracking or splitting. When timbers are used too wet or “green” they have a much higher chance of shrinking and moving. Look closely at our packaging - you'll see on all of the larger timbers that we put both horizontal stickers and vertical stickers. And our sticker thickness is THICK, measuring 1-1/4" which allows for a bigger air gap, more airflow through the pieces, and therefore more consistent and thorough drying. We don't typically kiln dry these timbers since it puts too much stress of the wood as dries. Lumber dry kilns can shock the timbers by quickly turning up the heat and creating a core - shell differential in moisture content.

Old growth, dense, Douglas Fir is one of the most sought-after timbers in the industry. This is preferred not only for its appearance, but the slow growth makes it stronger and more stable due to its tight growth rings. Our suppliers have long standing relationships with old growth cutting mills, making regular visits to look at logs and timbers. We have made it our mission to provide only the highest quality timbers for our customers.