Southern Woods

DOes anyone have any information or experience using Bald Cypress or Tulip Poplar in timberframing?

I'm interested in exploring the use of these woods because they are available at small Southern sawmills and termites won't attack either one.

I have used green and air dried tulip poplar in a number of frames. The major problem with green poplar, in my experience, is first rapid drying and deep checking, second a strong tendency to wind. So I like to use green poplar as secondary members, i.e., rafters, joists, braces or boards. In my use of air dried timber, I have placed joinery while considering existing checks and either planed the stick or cut corrective joinery to handle the wind. Once dry, poplar seems to be stable.