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Douglas Fir Flooring Blog

  • The Lowdown on Responsibly Harvested Douglas Fir

    Posted on March 27, 2015 by David

    You wouldn’t fill your home with unethically sourced furniture—shouldn’t the wood you choose for your floors and DIY projects get the same treatment? Undeniably, there’s a right way and a wrong way to find harvested Douglas fir. At Altrufir, it’s the only way we operate. Check out how and we choose our wood: Continue Reading

    This post was posted in Douglas Fir Flooring, Douglas Fir Trim, Douglas Fir Paneling

  • Douglas Fir Trim Up!

    Posted on May 10, 2012 by Nicole

    Trim is to flooring and paneling as butter is to bread and biscuits. One without the other is plain and boring. Trim is the spice of life here at Altrufir, which is why we offer Douglas fir trim and molding options that go beyond the typical 1 x 2, 1 x 3, and 1 x 4 sizes. So if you’re looking for a specialty trim profile of the Douglas fir persuasion, start here.

    CVG Douglas fir Trim | Altrufir Douglas Fir Flooring & Lumber

    Douglas fir trim for stairs 

    Need to replace a few faulty stair treads and landings on your stairwell? Or are you looking to dress up your home’s central staircase in Douglas fir CVG? Cool! There are many specialty trim options available in addition to the standard trim sizes – 6’ to 12’ increments of 25 linear feet. So, don’t let an odd riser size or unique landing-piece stand in your (stair)way – call on Altrufir to help.

    Douglas fir trim for custom casework, windows, and doors

    If you’re looking to restore the original casework in your home – living room open shelving or corridor cabinets – use Doug fir trim and molding. Graded on appearance, Douglas fir offers exquisite grain clarity which accentuates the integrity of all-natural finished casework, a bonus for homeowners wanting to maintain period homes.

    And because Douglas fir is dimensionally stable, Doug fir trim is a favored and reliable choice for window and door casings. Around here we like to call Douglas fir the strongest softwood because it resists moisture and moisture-related maladies – it’s less likely to shrink, swell, and warp.

    Opt for AltruFir’s specialty trim profile when you’re renovation includes building custom or semi-custom casework. Call us when you’ve got your design down – we can help measure material for the big project.

    Douglas fir trim for cover-ups

    Doug fir trim works wonders too on surface imperfections. If you can’t stand losing another coin to the crevice between the door and floor, cover it up with trim. The same holds true for visible joists or unsightly gaps throughout your home – they’re not going anywhere. Just jot down the sizes you need and we’ll help you with the rest (including overage).

    A note on specialty orders

    Specialty orders take additional time to process and fulfill – plan your project accordingly. If you’re also in the market for flooring, paneling, or standard size trim, save on the cost of shipping by ordering all your materials at the same time. Not only will your wallet thank you, but you can recoup project time.



    This post was posted in Douglas Fir Trim and was tagged with Douglas-fir, Douglas fir flooring, douglas fir floors, douglas fir trim, douglas fir molding, douglas fir CVG

  • Uses for Vertical Grain and Mixed Grain Douglas Fir

    Posted on April 25, 2012 by nell

    You don’t use a fork to eat ice cream.

    You don’t use bowling shoes for ballet.

    And you don’t use mixed grain Douglas fir when vertical grain is what you need.

    These two types of lumber are both cut from the same Northwest-grown conifers, but they’re processed differently and best suited for different uses.

    Vertical grain Doug fir is sawn perpendicular to the growth rings of the tree. This means that if you are looking at a piece of vertical grain wood, you’ll be able to see the lumber’s tight growth rings in straight lines running vertically up and down the face of the wood. Vertical grain offers more consistent coloring, and is a more stable and durable product. That’s because when it expands and contracts naturally in response to natural moisture in the air, it does so evenly throughout the board--no warping, twisting or buckling.

    Mixed grain, on the other hand, is just what it sounds like--a mixed parcel of wood. When you order mixed grain from your lumber supplier, some of the boards in your allotment will be vertical grain. Others will be what’s called cathedral grain or flat grain. These logs were run through the saw parallel to the tree’s growth rings. When you look at a flat grain board, you’ll see a wider, wavier grain pattern. There’s a more visible light to dark variation. And while it’s still tough, it’s not generally considered as stable or as durable as clear vertical grain.

    For some things, we highly recommend using nothing less than vertical grain. When you need something with the highest durability available, such as flooring, decking, or exterior siding--or anything that needs to stand up to the elements or to heavy wear--vertical grain Douglas fir is your best bet. Vertical grain Douglas fir is also the wood of choice when you need the specific clear, consistent look of this beautiful, natural product.

    However, there are many times where mixed grain Douglas fir might be perfect for your building project. Not only does it offer a more varied look, it’s also more economical and still a durable type of lumber. For indoor paneling or trim, mixed grain Douglas fir provides an excellent product with a slightly different look than vertical grain. Rather than vertical grain’s subtle pattern, mixed grain can offer a more rustic look. AltruFir’s mixed grain reclaimed Douglas fir paneling features beautiful variation in color, from deepest brown to pale gold. The occasional knot and nail hole add to the antique look.

    Because sometimes, worn-in is exactly the look you want, whether it’s for paneling, trim, or even the floor. If you’re building a mountain cabin, you don’t want a polished, pristine surface. You want your wood to develop a natural patina, and mixed grain lumber will more easily acquire that well-loved, antique look.

    Mixed grain is also the builder’s material of choice for structural or dimensional lumber. According to the Western Wood Products Association, Douglas fir has a superior strength-to weight ratio, it holds nails in place well,  and it has high strength ratings when compared to other Western softwoods. It’s the leading structural building material in the country.

    All that high demand building material--which will eventually be hidden behind sheetrock--is generally mixed grain Douglas fir. It’s sturdy, it holds nails and screws well, and it doesn’t splinter or crack. And when you’re talking about framing material that won’t be exposed to the elements, mixed grain is the perfect choice--quality and economy combined.

    After all, just think about it:

    You don’t put ketchup on caviar.

    You don’t go skiing in your scuba gear.

    And there’s no reason to choose vertical grain Douglas fir when sometimes mixed grain Douglas fir is the product you really want for the job.

    By Jennifer Rouse



    This post was posted in Douglas Fir Flooring, Douglas Fir Trim, Douglas Fir Paneling and was tagged with Douglas-fir, douglas fir paneling, mixed grain doug fir, vertical grain doug fir, doug fir, uses for vertical grain doug fir, uses for mixed grain doug fir, vertical grain, mixed grain, mixed grain reclaimed douglas fir paneling, reclained douglas fir paneling, mixed grain douglas fir paneling, patina, western wood products association

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