Southern Yellow Pine (likely Loblolly or Longleaf)
Pinus taeda / Pinus palustris • Softwood
Grain Pattern
Flat-sawn cathedral pattern with distinct, prominent growth rings and moderately wide latewood bands. The grain is generally straight but coarse in texture.
Color Description
Heartwood is reddish-brown to orange; sapwood is yellowish-white. This sample shows a deep golden-yellow to mustard hue, likely intensified by chemical pressure treatment (ACQ/MCA), which darkens considerably to a silvery gray with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
690 lbf (Soft to Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable (when pressure-treated). Untreated heartwood is moderately durable, while sapwood is prone to decay and insect attack.
Common Uses
Outdoor construction, decking, fencing, framing, utility poles, and heavy timber trusses.
Geographic Origin
Southeastern United States
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$1.50 - $3.00 per board foot (standard treated grade)
Wood Age Estimate
Relatively recent/modern construction lumber (under 5 years) based on the presence of modern circular saw marks and typical dimensional lumber characteristics.
Sustainability Status
Highly sustainable; widely available, managed in plantations, and not listed on CITES or IUCN Red List.
Workability
Generally easy to work with machine tools, though high resin content can gum up blades and sandpaper. It holds nails and screws well but can split if not pre-drilled near ends.
Notable Features
Distinctive resinous/turpentine scent when cut. High density for a softwood and visible 'fuzzy' surface texture (mill marks) suggesting it is rough-sawn dimensional lumber.
Finish Recommendations
Exterior-grade stain or clear UV-protectant sealer. If finishing for interior, a sanding sealer or shellac-based primer is needed to prevent resin bleed-through.
Identification Confidence
High; the wide latewood bands, coarse texture, and golden-yellow tint are characteristic of pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine used in architectural framing.