Spruce Pine Fir South
Spruce Pine Fir South
(OP)
This may be an obvious question, but there is a large different between Spruce Pine Fir and Spruce Pine Fir South. Where in the United States is each of these predominately used? Is there actual differences in the stamped designations if I go to check this in the field?





RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
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RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
A call to a lumber yard or two should get you the answers you need.
RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
All of our long lengths in 2x4 and 2x6 as well as all lengths in 2x8, 2x10, and 2x12 are SPF from Canada.
Your concern is valid, too that SPFs is much inferior to SPF. Most Contractors are not concerned with (or aware of) the difference between the two.
RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
In many countries timber is marked with a stress grade giving the minimum bending stress strength of a timber regardless of its species. Other properties are specified relative to this property.
csd
RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
SPF is a grade used for trees grown in Canada. SPFs is a grade used for trees grown in the US. The main reason the strength properties of SPFs are lower than SPF is because SPFs allows for some species that are not found in the SPF grouping. SPFs may contain lumber from Norway Pine, and Sitka Spruce, two species not found in the Canadian grouping.
Another factor is that trees that grow in different parts of North America, have different strength properties. Doug Fir-Larch N from Canada sg=0.49, Doug Fir-Larch from the Northern growing range in the Us sg=0.5 & Doug Fir-South from the Southern growing range sg=0.46.
The use of stress classes has been talked about in the US. I personally would not like a stress class system.
All lumber is not created equal, Douf Fir is more stable than Souther Pine. Southern Pine treats easier than Doug Fir.
RE: Spruce Pine Fir South
Agree it has its drawbacks, but you just call up F5 doug Fir (if you need the properties of doug fir and the strength grade F5) then they at least cant get the strength wrong.
csd