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Hello! We’re the professionals behind the Peterborough native Wolf Lake Timber Works, a proudly Canadian-owned timber construction business. Founded in 2018 by two pros with a passion for everything timber, we create timber structures that meet your dreams and vision.
You can trust that when you come to Wolf Lake Timber Works, you’re getting Canadian-grown and crafted work. We source our timber from only Canadian Douglas fir to ensure that the durability and stunning quality exceed your expectations.
But why do we choose Canadian Douglas fir timber? We’re so happy you asked. In this blog post, we’ll break down the history of the Canadian timber industry and highlight the benefits of utilizing Douglas fir.
Wood has been a staple of Canadian trade since the 19th century. European demand was the driving force behind the early timber trade, inspiring investment and immigration into Canada. It created a pathway for further economic development and transformed the economic environment, pivoting it away from the exploitation of fish and fur.
With the timber trade's help, exploration became more feasible, and towns, villages, and roads were built. Having said that, the timber trade wasn't always the most stable; while being an essential resource, throughout the industry's coloured history, outside influences such as weather and commercial uncertainty created times of turbulence and fluctuations in demand.
Like the stock market, the timber industry boomed and quelled based on the times, but historically, always made a comeback. The timber industry prevailed despite the challenges, passing century after century with newer innovations and applications.
Today, most of the timber industry has adopted sustainable practices, including selective logging and reforestation. Many timber construction companies hold themselves to the standard of replacing every tree they use, allowing the environmental benefits that come from planting to come to fruition while also ensuring an ample supply.
There has also been a rise in certification programs such as the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) to ensure that responsible businesses are conducting sustainable forestry practices. This means you can trust that when you purchase a Canadian timber product, the land you love is being cared for in the process. You can enjoy a Canadian-made product, guilt-free.
Wolf Lake Timber Works implements reliable and sustainable green practices to ensure our efforts to create high-quality timber structures don’t harm the environment.
Wolf Lake Timber Works opts for Douglas fir as our go-to material because it's highly resistant to even the harshest weather. It's an extremely durable material that not only withstands the elements but is also great to work with. We trust in Douglas fir because we can ensure the best quality for our timber accents and outdoor timber structures, allowing our clients to trust that once we've built it, it's going to last.
Wolf Lake Timber Works uses mostly No. 1 grade, rough-sawn, Free of Heart Centre Douglas fir. For those of you not as passionate about timber as us, let's break down what this means quickly:
1) No. 1 Grade: This refers to the quality of the wood. When talking about the lumber grading system, the No. 1 grade is one of the highest qualities, lacking defects such as knots, splits, or warping.
2) Rough-Sawn: This refers to how the wood has been cut to size but hasn't been planed or sanded down to smooth the surface yet. It remains textured, providing a rustic look and feel. The more natural finish of the wood also provides additional protection against the elements.
3) Free of Heart Centre (FOHC): This means the wood has been cut to exclude the tree's central core, making it less susceptible to warping, splitting, or cracking.
Douglas fir are also a more sustainable option. Wolf Lake Timber Works is firm in our belief that we need to be a part of the solution when it comes to climate change, which is another reason we opt for sustainable, high-yielding timber that is sourced from a forestry-managed plantation.
Plainly put: Douglas fir is simply not comparable to other lumber. Its workability makes it an ideal option for our business, paired with its durability and sustainability. Using Douglas fir allows us to ensure that anything that's created or prefabricated is seamlessly applied to your build.
Sourced from Western Canada, lead times are narrowed down to a small window, meaning you can trust that this high-yielding timber is always going to be available.
With every single shipment, our team takes the timber and separates it, storing the most desired dimensions aside. The crew behind the business always has access to dry timbers to build posts, beams, rafters, and braces without concern that our product will be compromised.
This ensures our work is more accurate and easier to work with, ensuring you have a more pristine final product.
For every piece that is cut, the team carefully sands and stains it to order. Due to the naturally rich grain of Douglas fir, this material comes to life after being stained, highlighting the grain's intricacies. The stain we use on our grain doesn't just look amazing; it also enhances the weather resistance of the final product.
Douglas fir is Canada's strongest softwood, renowned for its exceptional strength, stiffness, and durability. This makes it an optimum choice for timber structures, particularly for outdoor use.
Douglas fir isn’t just a beautiful and durable product; it’s great to work with. Well-known for its durability, Canadian Douglas fir timber is known for being incredibly resilient and renewable. It’s strong, stable, and offers a rustic aesthetic. These qualities have made Douglas fir the preferred choice for architects and engineers seeking reliable load-bearing lumber.
OK, now that we’ve gotten into the weeds, it’s time to break down some quick facts about Canadian Douglas fir and why it’s our top choice.
1) Douglas fir is known for being one of the most durable softwoods, meaning it’s perfect for structural and outdoor applications.
2) Speaking of durability, Douglas fir is resistant to wear and tear both indoors and outdoors. And, yes, this includes harsh climates.
3) Douglas fir is quite dense, offering a good balance between strength and workability.
1) The heartwood is usually a pinkish, reddish hue while the sapwood can be between yellow and white.
2) The grain is also symmetrical and straight with minimal knots, giving it an amazing aesthetic appeal.
1) Construction with Canadian Douglas fir timber is often used for beams, trusses, and load-bearing outdoor structures.
2) Although this isn’t necessarily our specialty, the material also works quite well in furniture applications, flooring, and cabinetry.
1) All our Douglas fir is harvested from responsible forestry-managed plantations, ensuing renewability.
2) Replanting the trees also enables carbon sequestration, capturing carbon and reducing greenhouse gases.
1) Douglas fir is native to North America, thriving in both coastal and interior regions, meaning they grow well on Canadian soil.
2) As of today, British Columbia is one of the leading producers of Douglas fir in Canada.
3) While Ontario is not a leading producer of Douglas fir, it is a good provider of overall timber production. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, in 2022, approximately 12.7 million cubic metres of wood in Ontario.
1) The Douglas fir is named after Scottish botanist David Douglas, who introduced the species to Europe in the 19th century.
Wolf Lake Timber Works operates under the expectation that all our projects are crafted and completed with a standard of excellence. Only the highest quality Canadian timber is used for all our projects, meaning whether we're simply adding accents or creating full structures, you're getting the best of the best. All our products are crafted and treated with the most premium materials, stains, and techniques available.
Once each piece of timber has been hand-cut, sanded, and stained, it's inspected for quality before it ever reaches your front door. This ensures that our timber projects meet the highest quality standards that we hold ourselves to. For Wolf Lake Timber Works, ensuring your project matches your ideal vision is the minimum of what we do. For us, exceeding expectations is a part of our business.
Transform your space with a one-of-a-kind timber frame structure! From stunning pergolas and pavilions to elegant gazebos, striking entrances, custom gable trusses, and even full homes, our expertise knows no bounds. Whether it’s your home, cottage, or backyard, we’ll help you create a standout design that’s uniquely yours.
