How to Use Hemlock Lumber
There are many different kinds of Hemlock lumber available that can be used in most every construction application. It's important to find good pieces of Hemlock as they tend to be knotty, shaky and have an extended drying time. Find the right sawyer, check your local building codes and you can build away.
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Instructions
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Know your Hemlock lumber options. Of the Hemlock lumber available the most widely known and used ones are Eastern Hemlock, and Roughsawn Hemlock, Japanese Hemlock. Roughsawn Hemlock is Eastern Hemlock cut "Amish" style, or roughly.
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Avoid knotty pieces. The more knots, the less strong the hemlock is and the less shake it has. If you can avoid knots and other imperfections Hemlock is actually preferred by a lot of home builders. It is cheaper than SPF (Spruce, Pine and Fir) and is stronger than those woods as well.
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Check your local building codes to make sure you can use Hemlock in building a habitable structure as it is generally an ungraded lumber. Each state has its own building code enforcement department. A list of them can be found at Construction Web Links, where there are building codes and other industry standards outlined in detail.
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Get a good sawyer, one who mills their thicknesses consistently. This may be difficult, but necessary for a good strong, knotless piece of Hemlock lumber with little to no shake.
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Tips & Warnings
The Hemlock needs to be completely dry before using it in a construction application. Many mills will dry the wood for you for ad additional price.
