Using Green Lumber in Building

[Steven Spurgeon]

I've got a bunch of mature white pines that have to come down and I am going to harvest the wood one way or the other and probably both.

My main question is: Can I use debarked green trunks as poles in our pole construction house? Of course the poles will set on piers, so no ground contact. I figure most shrinkage is in width, not height, I'll be fine. I'd sure appreciate any and all advice.

[Don_P]

Yes, but, white pine is not very strong, it has no decay resistance and it has knots in clusters every 2-3 feet up the stem.
It has some of the lowest shrinkage numbers though, still the drier the better. My shop is built from white pine timbers from the property. A stronger method might be to use something like locust for the heavy framing members and pine for sheathing and siding.

[Checi]

Be sure to treat your logs with borates after you peel them to prevent bug infestation.

[flyingvan]

Plantation grown timber is getting so light, your feral lumber might be a better choice anyway