--- title: Timber Values for Home Builders & Contractors description: Discover timber design values and choose the right timber for your projects with our guide. Explore quality timber at Reliance Specialty Building Product image: https://www.reliancesbp.com/hubfs/Timber-Design-Values.jpg --- [![Reliance Building Products](https://www.reliancesbp.com/hubfs/Reliancesbp_February2019/Images/reliance_logo_full.png)](https://www.reliancesbp.com/) # Blog ![](https://www.reliancesbp.com/hubfs/Timber-Design-Values.jpg) # 22 May Timber Values for Home Builders & Contractors Posted at 16:38h in [Timbers](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/tag/timbers) by [Reliance BP](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/author/reliance-bp) For home builders and contractors, choosing the right timber is crucial for ensuring structural integrity and longevity in construction projects. Timber values, which include design values for different timber grades and species, provide essential information to make informed decisions. This guide will delve into timber values, focusing on design values for beams, stringers, posts, and timbers. By understanding these values, you can select the best timber for your projects, ensuring safety and quality. ## Understanding Timber Values  ### **Timber Design Values Overview** Timber design values are measured in pounds per square inch (PSI) and cover various factors such as bending strength, tension, compression, shear, and elasticity. These values differ based on timber species, grade, and intended use (e.g., beams and stringers vs. posts and timbers). ### **Beams and Stringers Design Values** Beams and stringers are essential components in construction, providing critical support and stability. Here are the design values for various grades and species: | ** ** | ** ** | **Extreme**** ****fiber** **bending** | **Tension**** ****parallel**** ****to** **grain** | **Comp.** **parallel**** ****to** **grain** | **Horizontal**** ****shear** | **Comp.**** ** **perp. to** **grain** | **Modules** **of**** ****Elasticity** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Species | Grade | Fb | Ft | Fc | Fv | FcL | MOE | |     **Douglas fir** | Dense Select Structural | 1900 | 1100 | 1300 | 170 | 730 | 1.7 | | Select Structural | 1600 | 950 | 1100 | 170 | 625 | 1.6 | | | Dense #1 | 1550 | 775 | 1100 | 170 | 730 | 1.7 | | | #1 | 1350 | 675 | 925 | 170 | 625 | 1.6 | | | #2 | 875 | 425 | 600 | 170 | 625 | 1.3 | | |   **Hem fir*** | Select Structural | 1300 | 750 | 925 | 140 | 405 | 1.3 | | #1 | 1050 | 525 | 750 | 140 | 405 | 1.3 | | | #2 | 675 | 350 | 500 | 140 | 405 | 1.1 | | |   **Eastern White Pine** | Select Structural | 1050 | 725 | 675 | 125 | 350 | 1.1 | | #1 | 875 | 600 | 575 | 125 | 350 | 1.1 | | | #2 | 575 | 275 | 400 | 125 | 350 | 0.9 | | |   **Port Orford Cedar** | Select Structural | 1500 | 725 | 1100 | 155 | 470 | 1.4 | | #1 | 1250 | 525 | 900 | 155 | 470 | 1.4 | | | #2 | 825 | 325 | 600 | 155 | 470 | 1.1 | | |   **Western Cedars**** | Select Structural | 1150 | 675 | 875 | 140 | 425 | 1.0 | | #1 | 975 | 475 | 725 | 140 | 425 | 1.0 | | | #2 | 625 | 325 | 475 | 140 | 425 | 0.8 | | |   **Western Woods** | Select Structural | 1050 | 625 | 625 | 125 | 345 | 1.1 | | #1 | 900 | 450 | 450 | 125 | 345 | 1.1 | | | #2 | 575 | 300 | 300 | 125 | 345 | 0.9 | | |   **Redwood** | Select Structural | 1100 | 750 | 425 | 140 | 925 | 1.0 | | #1 | 950 | 850 | 425 | 140 | 800 | 1.0 | | | #2 | 750 | 400 | 425 | 140 | 550 | 0.8 | | |   **Cypress** | Select Structural | 1150 | 750 | 1050 | 200 | 615 | 1.3 | | #1 | 1000 | 675 | 925 | 200 | 615 | 1.3 | | | #2 | 625 | 425 | 600 | 175 | 615 | 1.0 | |   ### **Posts and Timbers Design Values** Posts and timbers are crucial for vertical support in structures. Here are the design values for different grades and species: | ** ** | ** ** | **Extreme**** ****fiber** **bending** | **Tension**** ****parallel**** ****to** **grain** | **Comp.** **parallel**** ****to** **grain** | **Horizontal**** ****shear** | **Comp.**** ** **perp. to** **grain** | **Modules** **of**** ****Elasticity** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Species | Grade | Fb | Ft | Fc | Fv | FcL | MOE | |     **Douglas fir** | Dense Select Structural | 1750 | 1150 | 1350 | 170 | 730 | 1.7 | | Select Structural | 1500 | 1000 | 1150 | 170 | 625 | 1.6 | | | Dense #1 | 1400 | 650 | 1200 | 170 | 730 | 1.7 | | | #1 | 1200 | 825 | 1000 | 170 | 625 | 1.6 | | | #2 | 750 | 475 | 700 | 170 | 625 | 1.3 | | |   **Hem fir*** | Select Structural | 1200 | 800 | 975 | 140 | 405 | 1.3 | | #1 | 975 | 650 | 850 | 140 | 405 | 1.3 | | | #2 | 575 | 375 | 575 | 140 | 405 | 1.1 | | |   **Eastern White Pine** | Select Structural | 975 | 650 | 725 | 125 | 350 | 1.1 | | #1 | 800 | 525 | 625 | 125 | 350 | 1.1 | | | #2 | 400 | 300 | 325 | 125 | 350 | 0.9 | | |   **Port Orford Cedar** | Select Structural | 1400 | 775 | 1150 | 155 | 470 | 1.4 | | #1 | 1150 | 625 | 1000 | 155 | 470 | 1.4 | | | #2 | 675 | 375 | 700 | 155 | 470 | 1.1 | | |   **Western Cedars**** | Select Structural | 1100 | 725 | 925 | 140 | 425 | 1.0 | | #1 | 875 | 600 | 800 | 140 | 425 | 1.0 | | | #2 | 550 | 350 | 550 | 140 | 425 | 0.8 | | |   **Western Woods** | Select Structural | 1000 | 675 | 800 | 125 | 345 | 1.1 | | #1 | 800 | 525 | 700 | 125 | 345 | 1.1 | | | #2 | 475 | 325 | 300 | 125 | 345 | 0.9 | | *includes White Fir **includes Yellow Cedar, Western Red, and Incense Cedar ### **Understanding the Tables** - **Fb (Extreme Fiber Bending)**: Measures the wood’s ability to resist bending forces. - **Ft (Tension Parallel to Grain)**: Measures the wood’s ability to resist tension along the grain. - **Fc (Compression Parallel to Grain)**: Measures the wood’s ability to resist compression along the grain. - **Fv (Horizontal Shear)**: Measures the wood’s ability to resist shear forces. - **FcL (Compression Perpendicular to Grain)**: Measures the wood’s ability to resist compression perpendicular to the grain. - **MOE (Modulus of Elasticity)**: Indicates the wood’s stiffness. For Additional Resources, refer to [National Lumber Grade Authority ](https://nlga.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NLGA-GR-2017-Section-16-U.S.-Lumber-Design-Values-Paras.-900-910-pgs.-261-286.pdf)or the [American Wood Council](https://awc.org/publications/2018-nds-supplement/) ## **Need Help with the Right Timber?** Selecting the right timber for your construction projects is vital for ensuring safety, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Understanding timber design values helps home builders and contractors make informed decisions, ensuring that the chosen timber meets the required performance criteria. At Reliance Specialty Building Products, we offer a wide range of high-quality timber products tailored to meet your specific needs. Our expert team is ready to assist you in selecting the best timber for your projects. For more information, visit our [Timber Trusses page](https://www.reliancesbp.com/timber) and [Contact page](https://www.reliancesbp.com/contact). By choosing Reliance Specialty Building Products, you can be confident in the quality and performance of your timber, ensuring the success and longevity of your construction projects. Explore our offerings today and let us help you build better. ### Categories - [Timbers (5)](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/tag/timbers) - [General News (2)](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/tag/general-news) - [Glue Lam Beams (1)](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/tag/glue-lam-beams) - [Specialty (1)](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/tag/specialty) - [Tips (1)](https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/tag/tips) ![Reliancesbp](https://www.reliancesbp.com/hubfs/Reliancesbp_February2019/Images/reliance_logo_full_white.png) Toll Free: [800.697.4705](tel:8006974705) Spokane: [509.466.9300](tel:5094669300) Reliance Specialty Building Products 3807 E Central Spokane WA 99217 US Mailing Address PO BOX 28163 Spokane, WA 99228 Reliance Specialty Building Products 2024 © All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Reliance BP", "url" : "https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/author/reliance-bp" }, "dateModified" : "2024-06-28T22:41:25.544Z", "datePublished" : "2024-05-22T20:38:00.000Z", "headline" : "Timber Values for Home Builders & Contractors", "image" : [ "https://www.reliancesbp.com/hubfs/Timber-Design-Values.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.reliancesbp.com/news/timber-values-for-home-builders-contractors", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.reliancesbp.com/hubfs/reliance_logo_full.png" }, "name" : "Reliance" } } ```