Softwood Lumber

Softwood Lumber in Los Angeles

Not every project calls for hardwood. Softwoods bring their own set of strengths to the table, from natural weather resistance and lightweight workability to warmth, texture, and a character that has defined West Coast architecture and outdoor living for generations. Whether you’re building a deck, framing a pergola, lining a closet, running exterior trim, or restoring a mid-century home with period-correct materials, quality softwood lumber is essential. At House of Hardwood, we carry a curated selection of premium softwood species for builders, remodelers, finish carpenters, and woodworkers throughout Los Angeles.

Our Softwood Lumber Selection

We focus on three premium softwood species, each chosen for performance and quality that you won’t find at the big box stores:

• Clear A Redwood - The top grade of California redwood, free of knots and defects, with the rich reddish-brown color and natural decay resistance that make it the premier choice for exposed outdoor applications, siding, fascia, and high-end deck and fence work
• Vertical Grain Western Red Cedar - Tight, straight grain with outstanding dimensional stability and natural resistance to rot, insects, and moisture, ideal for exterior trim, siding, soffits, paneling, closet lining, and anywhere long-term performance and a clean appearance matter
• 85-15 Old Growth Vertical Grain Douglas Fir - A premium structural and finish-grade fir with 85% or greater old growth content and tight vertical grain, prized for its strength, stiffness, and clean aesthetic in exposed beams, posts, flooring, trim, and restoration work on historic and mid-century homes

Why Builders Choose Premium Softwood Lumber

• Natural weather and decay resistance - Redwood and cedar contain natural oils and tannins that resist rot, insects, and moisture without chemical treatment, making them the preferred species for outdoor and ground-contact applications
• Tight vertical grain stability - Vertical grain lumber moves less, cups less, and holds finishes longer than flat-sawn material, which translates to fewer callbacks and better long-term performance on exterior and high-visibility installations
• Lightweight and workable - Softwoods cut, nail, and fasten easily and weigh significantly less than hardwoods, reducing fatigue on job sites and simplifying overhead and vertical installations
• Period-correct restoration stock - Old growth vertical grain Douglas fir and clear redwood are essential for matching original materials in Craftsman, mid-century, and other historic Southern California homes where the look and grain pattern need to be right
• Premium appearance without hardwood cost - Clear-grade softwoods deliver a refined, knot-free look for paneling, ceiling treatments, built-ins, and architectural details at a lower price point than comparable hardwood options

Sizing

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Here at the House Of Hardwood, we sell most of our lumber by volume, using Board Feet.

Volume = Thickness" x Width" x Length" / 144 = bf

Importantly, the hardwood measuring system bases the thickness based on rough cutting done at the lumber mill, so all fractions indicate the ROUGH thickness.

We sell our hardwood S2S (Surfaced 2 Sides) – This means the boards have been planed down from their rough cut form to be flat. The edges are still not straight at this point, but we can straighten them up for you!

This S2S operation removes 3/16" therefore it is important to note net thicknesses:

Rough Thickness	Net Thickness (S2S)
4/4 Lumber	13/16"
5/4 Lumber	1 1/16"
6/4 Lumber	1 5/16"
8/4 Lumber	1 13/16"
10/4 Lumber	2 5/16"
12/4 Lumber	2 13/16"
16/4 Lumber	3 13/16"