1. Douglas Fir
Characteristics: Strong, stiff, and durable; has a light reddish-brown color.
Uses: Widely used in North America for framing; excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
2. Spruce
Characteristics: Light, easy to work with, and relatively strong.
Uses: Common in framing for residential construction, especially in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States.
3. Pine
Characteristics: Generally light-colored, soft, and easy to work with.
Uses: Widely used in framing; Southern Yellow Pine is particularly strong and often used in framing and structural applications.
4. Hemlock
Characteristics: Straight-grained and moderately strong.
Uses: Framing and structural applications, common in the Pacific Northwest.
5. Cedar
Characteristics: Naturally resistant to rot and decay; has a distinct reddish hue.
Uses: Often used for exterior framing, such as decks and outdoor structures, due to its weather-resistant properties.
6. Redwood
Characteristics: Similar to cedar in its resistance to decay and insects.
Uses: Used in outdoor framing and structures, particularly in the western United States.
7. Oak
Characteristics: Very strong and hard, with a prominent grain.
Uses: Historically used in framing, now more commonly found in flooring and furniture due to its high cost.
8. Engineered Wood Products (EWP)
Characteristics: Manufactured wood products that include I-joists, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and glued laminated timber (glulam).
Uses: Used in both residential and commercial framing for joists, beams, and headers due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and uniformity.
9. Composite Wood Products
Characteristics: Made from wood fibers bonded together with adhesives.
Uses: Oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood are commonly used in wall sheathing and subflooring in framed structures.
10. Pressure-Treated Wood
Characteristics: Treated with preservatives to resist rot, decay, and insect damage.
Uses: Primarily used for components exposed to the elements or in contact with the ground, such as in deck framing.
Each wood type has its specific advantages and applications in framing, and the choice often depends on the structural requirements, local availability, environmental conditions, and budget.