Hemlock
Also called: western hemlock, tsuga
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Hemlock is a softwood of moderate weight and moderate strength, most familiar in its western species.
Species and character
Western hemlock carries only moderate weight and moderate strength as a working material, and it is named, alongside V-grade European redwood and European whitewood, graded to the "V" quality standard, among the species most widely used in structural, graded timber. Eastern hemlock goes mainly into lumber and pulpwood. Hemlock lumber often shows dark streaks caused by hemlock bark maggots, an insect that marks the wood as it feeds, though these streaks generally do not weaken it.
In use
One rustic timber-frame building used unrefined hemlock timbers, planed only enough to remove saw marks and left with plain, unadorned edges, to give the house a barn-like feel.