Red Pine vs Eastern White Pine vs Hemlock subfloor: Which is best?

[nwl]

Hi all.

Many of the old homes in the area have pine subfloors. Much of the new construction in the area is using hemlock as a subfloor. Mostly because of a nearby sawmill which only cuts hemlock and their prices are very good. A hemlock subfloor will cost less than half the price of plywood.

I have a small portable sawmill. I have both red pine trees and eastern white pine trees on my small woodlot. I would prefer to use pine over hemlock, but not if there is some disadvantage.

Which would be better to use as a subfloor: red pine or white pine or hemlock, and why?

Thanks

[SwampDonkey]

I hate eastern hemlock subfloor, it's splits when nailing. One of the reasons it's cheap I suspect. It's a different beast than western hemlock. I'd use the hard pine myself.

[KBforester]

Yeah, I've got old Hemlock subfloor (currently being used as my top floor  ) and its pretty nasty stuff to use. I'd recommend red pine too, for no other reason then to save your white pine for something nicer. 

[thecfarm]

nwl,welcome to the forum. I have all such of questions for you.Where in Maine are you? What kind of sawmill you got? How long you been sawing? What's the name of the sawmill sawing the hemlock? There is a Expo coming right up on May 13-14 in Bangor. This is a post on it.
http://www.forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,49610.0.html
Anything to do with logging will be there. Right from chainsaws to skidders,forwarders,big 1000hp chippers,3pt winches for tractors,trucks.It's a great day. Maybe you have heard of it.

[Magicman]

Welcome nwl, to the Forestry Forum.   

[barbender]

I'd use the Red Pine, it's the strongest of the three you listed, save the white pine for trim or something. I couldn't tell you about Hemlock, we don't have any of that up here.

[laffs]

use the red pine on the floor. id use the hemlock on the roof. i dont care much for hemlock boards.