A Few Wood Choices for your Post & Beam Project.

Hand Hewn White Oak.

Strong and rustic, a good choice for many types of post and beam applications. Most recently a large post and beam barn in Auburn, PA. Expect lots of checking, which will not effect the strength.

Douglas Fir Timbers, Planed & Chamfered

Always a good idea. Douglas Fir is beautiful, strong, stable and available in many larger sizes and longer widths. If you can build your post and beam building with Douglas Fir, you may need a GLULAM.

Hand Hewn Eastern White Pine

White Pine is not as strong a hemlock, douglas fir or oak, BUT is a very traditional and popular posts and beam wood choice. Hand hewn for a more rustic look, or planed & chamfered for a more finished style.
FYI. Horses like to chew pine...

Reclaimed Timber

Depending on the species and condition, best used in decorative post and beam situations. Hard to work with, sometimes difficult to find, and always more expensive. A look like nothing else, worth it if you love it.

Native Hemlock

Shown above planed & chamfered, we prefer the rough sawn finish. Hemlock timbers are great for post and beam horse barns (horses tend not to chew on it). Post and beam pavilions, houses, as long as the lengths are not toooooo long. Then we are looking at douglas fir again.