Southern Yellow Pine
Pinus spp. (e.g., Pinus palustris, Pinus echinata) · Softwood
- Type
- Softwood
- Origin
- Southeastern and Eastern United States
- Hardness
- 690 lbf (Soft)
- Durability
- Moderately Durable, with moderate resistance to decay and insects depending on the specific pine species and treatment
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Grain Pattern
Straight to slightly irregular grain with prominent growth rings (flat-sawn/plain-sawn)
Color & Appearance
Light yellowish-brown heartwood with paler yellowish-white sapwood, showing significant weathering to a greyish tone underneath peeling layered paint
Hardness (Janka)
690 lbf (Soft)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Moderately Durable, with moderate resistance to decay and insects depending on the specific pine species and treatment
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- 3.00 to 6.00 USD per board foot (varies if sold as reclaimed old-growth timber)
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated 50 to 100+ years old, indicated by thick, heavily degraded multi-layered historic paint (white and yellow) and deep weathering
- Sustainability Status
- Generally abundant and sustainable, widely available through commercial forestry and reclaimed wood markets; not CITES listed
Common Uses
Construction framing, structural timber, decking, flooring, exterior millwork, and historical building components
Geographic Origin
Southeastern and Eastern United States
Workability
Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though high resin content can gum up blades; holds fasteners well but prone to splitting if not pre-bored
Finish Recommendations
Requires heavy scraping, sanding, and priming if repainting due to historic layers; exterior penetrating oils or high-durability exterior paints are recommended for weather protection
Notable Features
High resin content, distinct contrast between earlywood and latewood growth rings, strong characteristic pine scent when freshly cut, susceptible to weathering and wood-boring insect damage over long-term exterior exposure
