Popular Log Home Wood Species

Northern White Cedar

Area harvested: Maine and Great Lakes states 
Heartwood colors: Light to medium or straw brown
Sapwood colors: Nearly white
Weight*: Light
Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant

Bald Cypress (Red & Yellow)

Area harvested: Southern states and South Atlantic
Heartwood colors: Earlywood medium yellow brown, latewood amber to dark brown
Sapwood colors: Nearly white
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant

Douglas Fir

Area harvested: Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountains, British Columbia
Heartwood colors: Orange-brown to deep reddish brown, sometimes yellowish brown
Sapwood colors: Nearly white
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant

Western Hemlock

Area harvested: Oregon and Washington, northern Rocky Mountains of Canada and Alaska
Heartwood colors: Nearly white to pale brown
Sapwood colors: Not distinguishable
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly resistant

White Oak

Area harvested: South Atlantic, central states, southern Appalachian region
Heartwood colors: Light to dark brown, often with a grayish cast
Sapwood colors: Nearly white
Weight*: Heavy
Heartwood decay resistance: Resistant

Lodgepole Pine

Area harvested: Central Rocky Mountain states, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Heartwood colors: Varies from light yellow to light yellow-brown
Sapwood colors: Yellow or nearly white
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly resistant

Eastern White Pine

Area harvested: Southern states and South Atlantic
Heartwood colors: Earlywood medium yellow brown, latewood amber to dark brown
Sapwood colors: Nearly white
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Moderately resistant

Yellow Poplar

Area harvested: Southern states
Heartwood colors: Commonly green or greenish brown, occasionally shaded with purple, blue, black or yellow, or streaks of various colors
Sapwood colors: Flat creamy or grayish white
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly resistant

Eastern Spruce

Area harvested: Red: New England, Appala­chians; White and Black: Great Lakes states, New England
Heartwood colors: Creamy white or pale yellowish brown
Sapwood colors: Color not distinguishable from heartwood
Weight*: Moderate
Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly resistant

Engelmann Spruce

Area harvested: Oregon and Rocky Mountain states
Heartwood colors: Nearly white, tinge of red
Sapwood colors: Color not distinguishable from heartwood
Weight*: Light
Heartwood decay resistance: Slightly resistant