Western hemlock

Overview

A plain, pale, evenly textured softwood that is the backbone of Pacific North-West framing and the 'hem' in Hem-fir. It is not a showpiece, but is cheap, easy to work and takes paint and clear finish alike; it is chosen for interior millwork, trim and low-cost furniture.

Pros

• Good overall working properties; glues, stains and finishes well (Wood Database).
• Straight grain and plain, uniform colour.
• Cheap and widely available as framing lumber.
• Stable enough once dried.

Cons

• Non-durable and susceptible to insect attack: not for outdoor use (Wood Database).
• Coarse, uneven texture, so soft earlywood and hard latewood sand into dips.
• Dark streaks from bark maggots can appear.
• Skin and respiratory irritation reported.

Variants and subspecies

• Western hemlock: the main commercial species, Pacific North-West.
• Eastern hemlock is a separate species from eastern North America.
• Hem-fir: stamp covering hemlock and True firs; compare Douglas fir.
• Clear vs framing grade: clear boards are more furniture-suitable.

Working and finishing

Cuts and planes easily. Sanding can create dips because of the contrast in hardness, so use a block and avoid heavy pressure. Pre-drill in thin sections. Glues well.

Staining and finishing colour

Stains and finishes well but the earlywood absorbs more, so blotchy results are possible; use a conditioner or gel stain, or paint. Clear finish gives a pale tan that ages to amber.

Sustainability and handling

Not CITES-listed (Wood Database; checked 2026-09-30); IUCN Least Concern as of 2026-09-30. The Wood Database reports skin and respiratory irritation and a runny nose.

Popular projects

Interior trim and mouldings, paint-grade cabinets, utility furniture, boxes and crates, framing.

Buying notes

Sold as hem-fir dimension lumber. A sawmill listed rough-cut hemlock and white pine at about $0.90 per bf (1x6x8 for $3.60); surfaced boards cost more at retail and no retail listing was opened. Pick straight, dry stock.