Photo via Flickr. Fir is a common lumber that comes from any number of coniferous trees. Pine vs. On true firs the cones stand up. Here are a few of the things to look for when comparing fir vs pine or spruce vs fir: Fir trees have individual flat needles that grow directly off of their smallest stem-like branches. Spruce vs pine, pine vs fir – they can all be a bit confusing at times. The exception to this is a Douglas Fir. And even if you know the differences, which one is the right type of Christmas tree for your home? MDF vs. Wood stamped S-P-F is used for several products: DIY markets, panelling, joinery, structural wood, flooring, framing studs, pallets, packaging, formwork, renovation and secondary constructions, etc. Spruce vs. Fir. I receive a tiny percent of any purchases you make through these links. One of the best ways to tell if you are looking at a spruce tree or a fir tree is to simply look at and feel the needles. In Canada, and parts of the United States, most of the spruce tree species, pine tree species, and fir tree species share similar physical and mechanical characteristics, to the point where lumber derived from any of these species are interchangeable for construction purposes. Spruce lumber is made from one of the more than 30 varieties of tree in the genus Picea. Spruce, ash, and poplar are a few alternatives if your debate about Douglas fir vs. pine isn’t shaping up the way you want. Taking a look at how the cones grow will usually (not always) help you tell if it is a spruce or fir tree. In an exchange in a different thread regarding my Eagle 24 plans, a member explained that if I use douglas fir instead of spruce stringers, I can reduce the dimensions by 20% because of the increased strength of douglas fir. Pine and spruce are so closely related in strength and uses with fir that they are often milled, distributed and marketed generically as spruce-pine-fir, or SP&F. And with over 50 different styles of pre-lit Christmas trees, pre-lit Christmas wreaths, and pre-lit Christmas garlands, Balsam Hill strives to offer a high quality product to satisfy any holiday style. On a fir tree, the branches can grow in very densely, obscuring the trunk from view. Lumber futures edged down to below $620 per 1000 board feet in the fourth week of November due to regular seasonal slowdown. As such, if you intend to build a fine woodworking project out of SPF lumber and stain the project, you should choose all of your lumber from a single stack in the yard. One more hint about the needles. DeltaMan. When buying SPF lumber, keep in mind that you do not know with certainty what variety of spruce, pine, or fir you are buying. Spruce lumber is frequently used for house construction. Birds Communicate In Many Ways – Do You Know How. Spruce. Its lightweight gives it an edge over its competitor species, making it one of the most preferred house-walls lumber. Pine trees feature needles that cluster in groups of two, three or five and jet outward from the branches, whereas spruce and fir trees feature needles that are individually attached to the branches. Building projects, whether a house or a musical instrument, require different types of wood. The needles grow in a spiral up to the tip of each branch, giving fir trees a robust, lush appearance. Well, to narrow it down a bit, the three most popular varieties of Christmas tree are fir, spruce, and pine. All of these are coniferous evergreens that feature close-set needles, but each also have their own characteristics that set them apart from the others. Fir vs. Not only is it remarkably lightweight, but it is also easily available as well as affordable. Both MDF and spruce-pine-fir are wood-based materials. Spruce needles will break if you bend them, but fir needles will usually have a lot of give. There are some questions that seem to come up often when learning about the natural world. Spruce needles tend to be sharp and pointy while fir needles are a bit softer. However, pine trees have fewer branches, so they tend to look a bit more sparse than firs or spruces. As a whole, spruce trees sport the traditional full Christmas tree shape thanks to their upturned branches, and can typically host slightly more decorations than firs. For example, how can you tell apart a crow and raven? Our Scotch Pine Tree is a perfect example of this tree structure, and is a great choice for those who love to decorate generously. Much like our Vermont White Spruce tree, their strong branches can hold heavier ornaments, so load them up with your biggest ornaments with confidence! One more hint about the cones is to look on the ground. Like our BH Balsam Fir, the tree’s silhouette is bushy and full, which doesn’t leave much room for ornaments, so a Fir is a perfect choice if you like a less-decorated tree. Strength: Douglas Fir vs. Copyright © 2020 Balsam Hill ® All Rights Reserved. By Steve Aitken Fine Gardening - Issue 107. Unlike spruce trees, the needles on firs are generally very sharply pointed, but also softer. Spruce-pine-fir (SPF) is a classification of lumber that can be traded on commodities exchanges.. Unlike the fir and spruce trees, a pine tree has needles that grow in bundles – you can typically see three to five needles bunched together on an upturned pine tree branch. Spruce vs. Framing Lumber For my workshop, I was planning on using 2x12x20' Douglass Fir at 12" on center to span the second floor. No two types of wood are the same, though species within a … On true firs the cones stand up. In general, southeastern U.S. truss manufacturers often use Southern Pine; western manufacturers use Douglas Fir, Larch and Hemlock Fir; and northern manufacturers use Spruce-Pine-Fir. Some small update stuff too. However, spruce tree needles are sharp and square-shaped. Fir – Flat – it does not roll easily in your fingers. The eight species marketed under this name are white spruce, black spruce, jack pine, balsam fir, lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, and red spruce. First and foremost is Balsam Hill's method for creating realistic evergreen foliage, True Needle™ technology. These help me out by allowing me to make a living and write this blog. Fir trees? Pine and fir are two softwood species harvested in the Northern Hemisphere. There are around 175 different types of pine and 35 species of spruce that can be found mostly in the temperate and boreal parts of the northern hemisphere. Share a photo, Our realistic trees combine our signature True Nee, "Balsam Hill is Home of the Most Realistic Artificial Christmas Trees and Seasonal Home Décor. In the USA they sell some lumber grades under a catchall name known in lumber merchants as SP&F. What's up nature addict! Try to roll the needle in your fingers. Spruce – Spins – it rolls in your fingers. Are those spruce trees? That means that they both reproduce by making cones, not flowers. DeltaMan. Shop dimensional lumber and a variety of building supplies products online at Lowes.com. Pine, spruce and fir trees are all conifer trees. That means no matter the season you can always use the needles to help you identify the tree. And of course, if you are willing to pay a lot more, you can get into the high-end woods like maple, cherry, walnut, and mahogany, or even into the realm of exotic lumber. Just a quick video on how to tell the difference between different needled trees in the montane of Colorado. More than just a fake Christmas tree, a Balsam Hill Christmas tree achieves its stunningly realistic effect in two ways. There are 16 material properties with values for both materials. For each property being compared, the top bar is MDF and the bottom bar is spruce-pine-fir. Using individually molded bi-colored plastic needles, the True Needle™ method is simply the finest means available for creating realistic artificial Christmas trees. Spruce vs. Fir – Trick #2 Look At The Cones. Spruce Pine Fir (SPF) Popularly referred to as SPF, Spruce easily falls among the top lumber species. These two tricks will help you a lot with figuring that out. Photo via Flickr. For production of different containers and casks, Sitka is the natural choice because it remains unchanged and free from any damage during shipping. No longer are old growth forests available for primary lumber production, lumber is planted and harvested like a crop. If it has little three-pointed bract that protrude from each scale, it’s a female Douglas fir cone. With so many artificial Christmas trees out there, and all of them in different types of evergreen, it can be difficult to tell the variations apart. They grow abundantly throughout the 13 southern states. On a real tree, spruce needles easily break apart if you bend them. As I said, both of these trees are evergreen conifers. As I said, both of these trees are evergreen conifers. A strong and relatively light wood, spruce lumber has many uses in a variety of industries. Both trees are evergreen conifers, which means that they will have needles all year long. Jakes Nature Blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. Pine tree needles grow in clusters of 2, 3 or 5 needles depending on if they are red, yellow or white pines and, the needles can grow very long (Think of a Scotch Pine at Christmas).. As you walk along the path, pick up a cone and take a look. 10 Plants for Year-round Containers. Spruce - Pine and spruce are types of conifers that belong to the pine family. Take one of the needles off of the tree. difference between an aspen tree and a birch tree. With this, only a few species are widely available, Southern Yellow Pine and Douglas Fir as examples. Still, prices remain about 50% above an average November level as building activities continue due to mild autumn weather and as suppliers replenishing their stocks ahead of another season. To make our trees as luxuriously convenient as possible, Balsam Hill offers premium pre-strung lights in clear, multicolored, and our innovative Color+Clear™ which allows the owner to choose clear or multicolored lights with the touch of a remote. SPFs vs. SPF. The wood is sometimes sold as Southern Yellow Pine for a moderate price. Post Nov 18, 2016 #1 2016-11-18T02:48. The cones of fir trees do not fall off in one solid piece, but fall off in pieces. Pricing/Availability: Spruce Pine has a lower density than most other species in the Southern Yellow Pine grouping, hence its distribution is more generally restricted to local lumber needs and plywood production. My secret reason for doing this is that I want more people to become nature addicts like me. How do you tell the difference between spruce and fir trees. A tree from Balsam Hill is a perfect complement to your Christmas decorations. . SPF Lumber: Eastern Species vs. Western Species Western species SPF lumber comes from White spruce, Engelmann spruce, Lodgepole pine, and Alpine fir trees and tends to be available in larger sizes because of the general climate and the size of the logs. That is one of the questions that lots of budding naturalists have a hard time figuring out. We disclose material relationships and share honest opinions. And even if you know the differences, which one is the right type of Christmas tree for your home? Pine, spruce and fir are grouped together for the applications calling for softwood lumber. Second, Balsam Hill's Signature Collection trees are each based on natural evergreen species, providing a gorgeous, true-to-life texture, silhouette and coloring. Still 99% Spruce I've never seen pine unless it was that cheap fingerjoint 2 x 3 for vertical use onlyMost of the hemlock and balsam fir goes to pulp so you don't even see that much anymore but the average guy wouldn't be able to tell the difference between Spruce Hemlock And fir which are the most common with Spruce white making 99.9% of stick framing * Shipping outside the contiguous US will incur additional shipping fees. However, it is somewhat more difficult to find out which species of spruce or fir. Spruce-pine-fir. It can be hard to tell apart a spruce and fir tree since they are so similar. Find Spruce pine fir dimensional lumber at Lowe's today. Your artificial tree becomes the perfect canvas for your favorite Christmas ornaments and Christmas lights. Most Popular. Type above and press Enter to search. Spruce-Pine-Fir (South) Because of similar design values, the combination includes Engelmann and Sitka spruces and Lodgepole pine from the West, along with Balsam fir, Jack pine, Red pine and several species of spruce from the US Northeast. This means you can find spruce cones on the ground under the trees. How to Prune Hydrangeas. Telling the difference among conifers can be tricky. It’s simple enough to understand when it’s explained. There are also options like cedar, redwood, larch, oak, and hemlock. Finally, an artificial Christmas tree from Balsam Hill has cleverly designed hinged branches and sits atop a lightweight, collapsible stand, making setup and takedown simpler than ever. Spruce and fir plywood panels are available for a wide range of end-uses: un-sanded sheathing for general structural applications, sanded panels where a smooth finish is desired; plywood panels are also available pressure-treated or fire retardant-treated for specific applications. The lumber species is very common in North America and because of its versatility, it can be used in many areas, namely residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial buildings. Spruce vs. Pine: How to Tell Them Apart. It is perfectly possible to have a box, a piano, and a full-sized boat all made from spruce. &amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;<br />
. Spruce-pine-fir lumber species, popularly known as SPF, is a combination of Engelmann Spruce, Lodgepole Pine, and Subalpine Fir. I love hiking, my kids, and nature. Spruce-pine-fir, or SPF, is the generic name for a range of timbers originating from North America. There are so many different conifers it can be difficult. However, there are some clear indicators to determine a spruce from a fir. Press Esc to cancel. The natural + neutral décor on this BH Fraser Fir, Tap our link in bio and shop during Cyber Week and, To give back this holiday season, we have partnere, Make your holiday celebrations last! The species of lumber used by a truss manufacturing operation is based on what is readily available in the regional market. Here are two tricks to help you tell those trees apart. Painting Clay Pots. The Only Shrubs You Need to Grow. That means that they both reproduce by making cones, not flowers. 494 129 5. Quebec wood stamped S-P-F (Spruce-Pine-Fir) is the most popular wood in Canada for construction purposes due to its great strength. In contrast, the cones on spruce trees tend to point down towards the ground. Fir – NOT Fall – the cones stand cup and don’t fall or point down towards the ground. This means you can’t usually find cones under fir trees. This also means that pines offer lots of room to hang ornaments at the back and middle of their branches, allowing you to decorate to your heart’s content. ". Because these species are less visibly identifiable once converted to point of sale they are classified this way. Spruce vs pine, pine vs fir – they can all be a bit confusing at times. Spruce cones point down towards the ground. On the other hand if it is flat and doesn’t roll easily in your fingers it is a fir. Well, to narrow it down a bit, the three most popular varieties of Christmas tree are fir, spruce, and pine. Balsam Hill's mission is to create the most realistic artificial Christmas trees, Christmas wreaths and Christmas garlands ever produced. Southern yellow pine (SYP) consists of four major species: loblolly, slash, longleaf and shortleaf. If it rolls easily and has four even sides it is a spruce. "Balsam Hill is Home of the Most Realistic Artificial Christmas Trees and Seasonal Home Décor." Applications of Spruce Lumber Shipping containers: Use of Spruce lumber is common in construction of pallets, grades and packing cases because it is inexpensive and lightweight. Spruce – NOT Stand – the cones point down to the ground and don’t stand up. The problem I am having is that I can't find anyone that sells Douglass Fir in that size. Pruning Hydrangeas. All panels are composed with waterproof adhesives for exterior use. These letters represent an abbreviation for spruce, pine and fir. Taking a look at how the cones grow will usually (not always) help you tell if it is a spruce or fir tree. Like fir trees, spruces have single needles connected to the stems. I've brought those together here in my blog where I share fun nature facts, some of our adventures, and give hiking tips. Fir is known for its strength and dimensional stability as well as its natural resistance to rot and pests. Comparing spruce vs. pine vs. fir wood helps you decide which wood to use based on your project. 494 129 5. — The Doctors. What is the difference between an aspen tree and a birch tree? Cones of spruce trees will fall off the tree in their entire cone. Lumber that contains a grade stamp on its face with one of these species group designations can be quite confusing to many, which can lead to uninformed and misguided decisions by lumber buyers, retailers, specifiers, architects, engineers, builders, truss manufacturers, modular home fabricators, and other important customers of lumber. The Difference Between Pine & Fir Lumber. Douglass Fir vs. Get free shipping on qualified Spruce/Pine/Fir or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Lumber & Composites Department. Properties with values for just one material (3, in this case) are not shown. The exception to this is a Douglas Fir. Lumberjacks, sawmills, and the distribution systems are optimized for 8', 10', 12', and 14'.