Tips and ideas for building a firewood crib to store and season your firewood so it's dry and ready to burn. Ease of machining and finishing have made hemlock an increasingly popular alternative to hardwood for furniture and cabinets. Low resin can also be a drawback, as it is not very weather-resistant and also doesn’t handle pest infestation well. Our analysis has found that the Hemlock … In the timber industry, hemlock is an important tree used for wood pulp and they also work well when planted for privacy screens although their shallow root systems make them a poor choice for planting near homes and other structors since they can blow down and cause damage. Technically it doesn’t meet the Red List criteria of a vulnerable or endangered species, but is close to qualifying and/or may qualify in the near future. Hemlock is renowned for its strength and resistance to wear and tear, which makes it ideal for stair parts. As a reminder, we may receive a small share of the sale. It is definitely the local favorite wood choice for raised bed gardening. Like most pine trees, hemlocks have a shallow root system which often causes them to blow over during strong winds. This … Hemlock makes a great firewood for campfires because it burns hot, it smells good and it crackles and pops, giving you the ideal campfire experience. The wood is easy to cut, easy to handle and produces 19.3 million BTUs per cord. We hope you love the products and ideas we recommend! exciting challenge of being a wiseGEEK researcher and writer. This wood tends to take paints, stains, and dyes extremely well because it has minimal resin and will not resist these treatments. Hemlock is a softwood and just like any other softwood, it's a less desirable firewood when compared to a popular hardwood like oak or maple but that doesn't mean the firewood is useless especially if it's free and easy to access. Tea from the inner bark was prescribed for colds, fevers, diarrhea, stomach troubles and scurvy. Return from Hemlock Firewood to Firewood Types. Lack of pitch and resin also make hemlock ideal for the dry heat of saunas. Contains building ideas and design plans. Costs can vary by grade. If hemlock lumber will be used in an outdoor setting, it needs to be treated to protect it, and periodic re-treatments are advised to keep the wood in good condition. What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Larch Fencing. It is resistant to rotting and it is also much less expensive than … Hemlock is a great, economical wood for country homes and barns. Learn how to protect yourself and others while cutting firewood. Hemlock works great when the outside temperatures are mild and you need a quick fire to take the chill off inside your house, or try mixing the wood in with other popular hardwoods to give you a longer burn time. As a reminder, we may receive a small share of the sale. Less costly hemlock lumber tends to be rough cut and less processed. Hemlock is a great, economical wood for country homes and barns. Our experience is that it is typically not a good choice for chemically sensitive people due to its odor. Items like hemlock deck furniture can also be brought indoors in harsh weather to limit damage. You can view a full range of … It can also be knotty or bowed, which may make it unsuitable for some applications. Hemlock is a very straight grained wood which is one of the reasons that it does splinter and in some cases snap. Firewood Cutting Safety - How To Protect Yourself, Building A Firewood Crib - How To Store Firewood, Chimney Damper Repair - Fix A Broken Damper. Builders can also use it for framing and related activities because it is sturdy and not prone to warping or twisting. Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the Hemlock is very strong, has a long grain and is a renewable resource. In the timber industry, hemlock is an important tree used for wood pulp and they also work well when planted for privacy screens although their shallow root systems make them a poor choice for planting near homes and other structors since they can blow down and cause damage. We hope you love the products and ideas we recommend! It takes readily both to machining and handling with hand tools, allowing people to shape hemlock lumber to meet their needs; it can be used as tongue and groove board for paneling, for example, or it can be rough cut for framing. The lumber tends to be honey to tan and is uniformly colored. Hemlock is an inexpensive sauna wood equivalent to Basswood, but without the peculiar odor of Basswood.