Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa

Characteristics and Best Uses

When freshly sawn or surfaced, Ponderosa Pine’s pleasant smell is reminiscent of the forests where it grows. The large trees have a minimal amount of reddish-brown heartwood and an exceptionally wide sapwood which is honey-toned or straw-like in colour. This yields products suitable for any application that requires a light to moderately strong, splinter-free wood with a minimum of knots, resin or other unwanted characteristics.

The timber is prized for mouldings and doors, windows, frames and drawers where durability under movement is essential. Its ability to withstand scuffs, shocks and jars without splintering makes Ponderosa a premier wood for sashes, jambs, shutters, screens, columns, stairwork and fascia. Ponderosa ranks in the top 25 percent for ease of gluing and is used for all types of glued-up construction.

Dimensional Stability

All woods shrink and swell to some degree as their moisture content fluctuates with atmospheric conditions. However, Ponderosa Pine has a uniform cell structure and shrinks only a moderate amount in comparison to other softwood species. It seasons beautifully with minimal splitting, cupping or warping and seldom develops raised grain. When surfaced, its straight, uniform grain machines to exceptional smoothness. It is valuable for work that requires close-fitting joints because it is extremely workable and relatively unaffected by changes in humidity after seasoning.

Residential Construction

Appropriate applications for Ponderosa Pine include light framing, spaced sheathing, floor and roof decking. It is easily pressure treated with preservatives and superb for decks and other outdoor projects. Although it is not as strong as some of the denser softwoods, Ponderosa’s combination of dimensional stability, strength and workability is well adapted to most light-framing applications including joists, studs, rafters, plates and soffits. The wood resists splitting when nailed, which allows for the use of larger nails and increases nail retention.

Traditional outlets, such as retail lumber yards and home improvement centers, usually carry an extensive inventory of Ponderosa Pine products. Both amateur and professional remodelers find many applications for this species in home repairs, retrofitting, room additions, renovations, panelling and decks.

Panelling

Pine panelling is often associated with a rustic décor for kitchens, family rooms, dens and bedrooms. However, new finishing techniques and patterns make it appropriate for both contemporary or traditional settings.

Ponderosa Pine, in clear (SELECTS) and knotty (COMMON or BOARD) grades, is available in a range of panelling patterns. The grade of the run-to-pattern panelling often reflects the grade name of starting 1x material. A few of the standard pattern profiles are shown below. Many patterns are reversible, offering a choice of pattern or surface finish in a single panel. However, it’s important to remember that panelling boards are inspected and graded on the patterned or face side; the back or reverse side may have characteristics which would make it a lower grade, but desirable for a specific design effect.

Most lumber dealers carry a limited selection of panelling patterns, but can special order any of the standard patterns. Some dealers and stockists will arrange to have a unique pattern custom milled.

For additional information on WWPA pattern options, in profile, refer to WWPA’s Standard Patterns (www.wwpa.org) or contact the Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers Association (www.wmmpa.com).

Woodworking and Furniture

Many of the properties that make Ponderosa Pine a first choice for panelling also put it at the top of the list for furniture and architectural woodwork such as built-in bookcases, benches, cupboards, desks and kitchen cabinets. SELECT, COMMON, BOARD and/or Factory & Shop grades may be used as appropriate for the application. 

Cabinetmakers and woodworkers appreciate the wood’s uniform cell structure, scarcity of resin pockets, and resistance to splitting. Finished parts fit together snugly without binding. The timber is easy to work with either hand or machine tools and converts readily into fine mouldings and cabinet work.

In the past few years there has been a resurgence in the popularity of pine furniture – antique pieces, new pieces from old pine and new pieces from new timber. Honey-toned Ponderosa Pine is a natural accompaniment to many design schemes; simply-styled bleached pine is appearing with increasing frequency in contemporary furnishings. Ponderosa Pine furniture is available both finished and unfinished, in a variety of styles and qualities.

Finishing 

Ponderosa Pine takes most finishes beautifully, including paint, stain, lacquer and varnish. Unlike some of the heavier woods, paints and stains do not raise the grain; however, knots should be sealed before painting to prevent them from bleeding through the finished surface.

Treated Products for Outdoor Projects 

Treated Ponderosa Pine is commonly used for outdoor applications in the western and upper mid-western parts of the United States and abroad. These treated products may be used for fences, planters, storage sheds, play structures, decking, deck railings, benches and other outdoor projects. 

The large proportion of sapwood in Ponderosa makes it well suited to pressure treating because the preservatives can penetrate the sapwood cells deeply and uniformly. Ponderosa Pine may be treated for above-ground or in-ground contact, and unlike some softwoods, it can be pressure treated for in-ground use without incising (perforating) the wood. The treated product holds up well in storage, making it easy to yard for distributors and stockists. 

In addition to products in standard dimensions, treated Ponderosa Pine is also available in two WWPA radius-edged decking grades, PATIO l and ll, which are milled expressly for use as outdoor decking. These products are surfaced dry to either 25 mm thick or 29 mm thick by 140 mm wide with 6.4 mm radius edges.

All treated lumber should have a quality control mark from an American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC)-approved agency to assure compliance with industry standards. Look for the CheckMark^TM to indicate ALSC accreditation in the quality mark, stamp or end tag on treated wood products. Approved treating agencies in the western U.S., along with their trademarks are as follows:

Only seasoned (dried) timber is used in the treating process. After treatment, the wood should be allowed to reach equilibrium moisture content with the surrounding atmosphere before it is installed in its permanent location. The waterbourne preservatives leave a clean, dry, ordourless surface ready for paint or stain.

Since treating standards and related building codes vary by country, region and even city by city, the Western Wood Preservers’ Association (www.wwpinstitute.org) may be contacted for additional information. Or, refer to the publication, Wood That Works, Wood That Lasts, on the Softwood Export Council’s website at www.softwood.org.

© LAURIE BLACK

Kitchen: Whitened Ponderosa Pine kitchen cabinets contrast well with granite, ceramic tiles, or stainless steel. The species resists scuffing and splitting and performs well under movement for cabinets, drawers, doors, and windows.
© LAURIE BLACK	Stairwell: Ponderosa stair railings with fascia on posts and beams.
Attic: Beaded-ceiling panelling, casework, shutters, window and trim. A light stain, with ultra-violet blockers, helps prevent Ponderosa from darkening over time.
© LAURIE BLACK © LAURIE BLACK
Ponderosa with painted, pigmented stain or clear finishes fits into many decors. Some naturally occurring “blue stain” is apparent in the side boards of the lower cabinet in the upper photo.
Deck: Treated Ponderosa Pine, is a safe, economical alternative to the naturally durable species for a multitude of outdoor projects.
© LAURIE BLACK	Laundry room: The whitening stain enhances the slight  “blue stain” apparent in some of the Ponderosa boards of the cabinets.
Under stairs at right: Ponderosa Pine BOARD grades are ideal for shelves and built–in home improvement projects.
Interpreting a Quality Mark for Preservative Pressure-Treated Wood
A – Trademark of ALSC accredited agency B – Preservation used C – AWPA Standard D – Retention level E – Treating company F – Plant location G – Proper exposure condition
Figure 1	C & BETTER SELECT products offer large sections of clear, blemish-free wood. C & BTR BOARDS are in demand as a top quality interior finishing material and for cabinet work.
Figure 2	NO. 2 COMMON is widely used for shelving, knotty pine panelling, siding, cornice soffits and fascia, as well as a wide range of other uses where a knotty type of timber with a fine appearance is required.
Figure 3	NO. 3 COMMON is used for a variety of building purposes. Characteristics are limited to assure a pleasing appearance combined with a high degree of serviceability. It is often specified and sold as 3 & BTR COMMON which includes primarily NO. 3 COMMON with some NO. 2 COMMON and occasionally NO. 1 COMMON mixed in.
Figure 4	STUD grade is one of four available in the Light Framing grading classification (2X2 thru 4X4 & 2X6 STUD). Ponderosa Pine has approximately two-thirds the strength of Douglas Fir in the same size and same grade. STUD grade is intended for vertical framing applications.
Figure 5	Figure 6
Above left, this page: examples of 5/4 & Thicker RWL FACTORY SELECT NO. 3 CLEAR. This grade of factory lumber is intended to be ripped and cross cut into pieces for doors. Lines indicate recommended cuts for the maximum recovery of clear and nearly clear cuttings.  Above right examples of 4/4 S4S NO. 2 SHOP. Factory or Shop grades are an excellent choice of product when small, high-quality pieces are required.
Popular standard panelling patterns.

© 2001 WWPA/SEC