Vendors
Wood framing is by far the most cost effective and efficient method of framing and home construction in Montana. Many common lumber species used in residential and multi-family construction—such as Douglas fir, hemlock, and pine—are grown and produced right here in the Northwestern US. Wood is light, can be an effective insulator, and is extremely strong for its weight. Builders FirstSource is the industry lead when it comes to supplying lumber & engineered wood, plywood, and construction materials for almost every project. Whether it is multi-family housing, hotels, assisted living facilities, or new residential construction (including single family homes, remodels, decks, or even a shed) we have been supplying quality lumber to professional contractors and remodelers for many years in the Great Falls area, Helena Valley, and all around Butte.
Lumber
Dimensional lumber is used in combination with other wood-based materials to build strong structures. It can also be pressure-treated with rot-inhibiting chemicals for damp applications, such as posts and decking that have contact with the ground. Because of its physical qualities and abundance, softwood lumber makes up the greatest part of framing lumber. The species most commonly used in Washington for residential construction are Douglas fir (DF), hemlock fir (Hem-Fir), and spruce pine fir (SPF).
Individual pieces of lumber can exhibit a wide range in quality and appearance with respect to knots and other natural characteristics. Therefore, they vary considerably in strength, utility, value, and moisture content. The grade and moisture content affect the strength and stability of the lumber. The better the grade the stronger the lumber and the lower the moisture content more resistant to warping twisting or cupping.
Plywood is also available in a wide variety of appearance grades ranging from smooth, natural surfaces suitable for finish work and underlayment to more economical grades used for wall sheathing and subfloors. With more than a dozen common thicknesses and over 20 different grades, it’s easy to specify the right panel for the job.
OSB (oriented strand board) is widely used in residential and commercial construction. The manufacturing process makes it possible for panel makers to add innovative features such as a slip-resistant texture to panels designed for roof sheathing, and to supply oversized and metric panels.
Builders FirstSource has one of the largest inventories of lumber & engineered wood products in Central Montana, Great Falls, Butte, and the Helena Valley.