I am building a 24 by 30 foot pole barn. The barn will be built on 16in concrete priers with a CCA PT base, so ground contact is not an issue. In the past, I have built barns with only rough cut hemlock. However, at the local saw mill I was asked if rough cut larch was an acceptable substiute. I said no! But, I did take look at some of the larch that was recently cut and it seemed dryer and had a more dense grain. Is it as stong, durable and easy to work with? Thanks in advance.
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You don't give your location so I can only speak to western larch (tamarack) and western hemlock. In the case of those two, larch wins hands down for strength and durability (similar to doug fir) where hemlock is heavy (wet) and pretty brittle when green and light and hard as a rock when dry. Hemlock has little rot resistance but is used a lot for interior trim and moulding stock.
I've cut a lot of it in plank and timber form for pressure treating because it takes treatment very well.
If you use it in a barn, make sure it's protected from the elements, manure, dampness, etc.
I am not sure exactly what type of larch I am asking about, however, the larch is from western NY. So, does this change your opinion. Again, when I looked at the larch it was brittle much dryer and seemed to me that it would be more likely to split than the hemlock. Thanks again.
I claim little knowledge about the Eastern softwoods so I beg off on your question.
However, Woodenboat magazine has a department called "wood technology," written by a guy named Richard Jagels (at least I assume he still writes the column). Very knowledgeable.
A lot of the wooden boat construction is done on the East coast and so the lion's share of wood discussion in the magazine concerns Eastern species.
Go to http://www.woodenboat.com and good luck! (By the way, I just confirmed their website and they have a forum too! Ask your question. A lot of those guys build timberframe shops and storage buildings for their boats).
Edited 6/2/2002 1:36:22 PM ET by Notchman
I didn't know there was that much difference in the two woods. If larch is Tamarack, it is indeed ggod for the purpose. Tamarack knees weere often used for keels on small boats in Maine, indicating both strength and rot resistence.
We use some hemlock for beams and interior framing. I definitely don't like it much. It is extremely heavy when green and extremely hard (as in no hand nailing) when cured. I haven't ever seen any clear enough to use for trim.Excellence is its own reward!
The clear tight grained hemlock sold commonly in the lumber yards out here is old growth or older 2nd growth. It's a less expensive alternative to doug fir mill stock and is usually painted because hemlock tends to have ingrown bark and resin stains that can be unsightly in some applications. It tends to come stock in the same patterns as MDF millwork but is also used for closet poles, handrails, newel posts, ballisters, etc.
You're right about it being hard. Kiln dryed framing lumber (not so common anymore) of hemlock often has to be predrilled for nails. It was a popular wood floor material around here for the less than upwardly mobile in the first half of the 20th century. I've found it in several 30's era homes. Still in good shape.
The Western larch or tamarack is a deciduous conifer out here...it's used in log homes a lot because it grows straight as a string and has better resistance to decay than the various pines. May be the same tree you're familiar with. In Oregon, Washington, Idaho, B.C., it's mostly found East of the Cascades at elevations above 3K ft. but there are exceptions.