Species Profile
Coast Douglas Fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Why Douglas Fir
The World's Premier Structural Timber
Washington Timber Company mills Coast Douglas Fir at the source — straight from the forests of the North Cascades to your job site, without the distributor markup and without the compromises.
Our timbers are full nominal dimension, cut fresh to order, and available in cross-sections that most suppliers don't stock and can't source. When your project demands 30,000 board feet of 16x16 or a single 26-foot 24x24 header — we have one answer: yes.
Know the Difference
Coast vs. Interior Douglas Fir
Not all Douglas Fir is equal. Specifying "Coast" Douglas Fir is critical for maximum structural performance — and it's what we produce.
Coast Douglas Fir
- → Grown west of the Cascade Mountains
- → Higher density and specific gravity
- → Superior NDS design values
- → Preferred by architects and engineers worldwide
- → The species exported internationally
- → Sourced from Arlington, WA forests
Interior Douglas Fir
- → Grown east of the Cascade Mountains
- → Lower density, faster growth
- → Lower NDS design values
- → Less sought after by engineers
- → Rarely exported internationally
- → Different structural performance
Environmental Story
Sustainable by Nature
Douglas Fir is one of the most sustainable structural materials available. Trees in the Pacific Northwest are harvested from certified managed forests under Washington State DNR and third-party FSC/SFI programs.
Wood is the only major building material that is fully renewable. Carbon sequestered during growth remains locked in the wood for the life of the structure. A 12x12 timber beam sequesters more carbon than is emitted producing it — something no steel or concrete product can claim.
Choosing timber is a documented carbon reduction strategy under LEED, WELL, and mass timber building certifications.
Renewable Resource
PNW forests are managed for perpetual yield under SFI and FSC standards.
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon stored in timber stays locked for the life of the structure.
LEED Eligible
Responsibly sourced timber contributes to LEED and WELL certification.
Lower Embodied Energy
Manufacturing timber requires far less energy than steel or concrete.
Why Architects Love It
Aesthetic Qualities
Douglas Fir doesn't just perform — it's beautiful. The visual character of Coast Douglas Fir is impossible to replicate with engineered lumber.
Straight, Tight Grain
Unique to old-growth and second-growth Coast Douglas Fir — creates a visual rhythm impossible to replicate.
Warm Amber-Red Heartwood
Coloration deepens with age and UV exposure. Structures look better over time.
Rough-Sawn Texture
Visual depth impossible to replicate with surfaced lumber. Each timber is unique.
Architectural Scale
A 24x24 post commands a room. Large cross-sections create drama no engineered wood can match.
Natural Aging
Ages gracefully outdoors to a natural silver-gray without structural compromise.
Finishing Compatibility
Compatible with penetrating oils, stains, and clear sealers. Finish it your way.