Clear Vertical Grain Douglas Fir and Tex Gap Siding Transform a Montana Community Hub

Public libraries serve as vital civic anchors, requiring materials that withstand high foot traffic while creating an inviting atmosphere for learning. Built over 30 years ago, the North Lake County Public Library District facility in Polson, Montana, underwent an extensive renovation led by general contractor Martel Construction to update aging infrastructure, resolve ADA accessibility challenges at the main entrance, and transform the space into a bright, welcoming “Third Place” for the local community.

To realize this architectural vision, Martel Construction partnered with Montana Timber Products to supply a premium prefinished wood package. Utilizing Clear Vertical Grain (CVG) Douglas Fir prefinished in our AquaFir™ Light Brown finish, the renovation demonstrates how strategic timber selection transforms public infrastructure into a modern, accessible community sanctuary.

PROJECT DETAILS

Project Name: North Lake County Public Library Remodel

Location: Polson, Montana

General Contractor: Martel Construction

PRODUCTS & APPLICATIONS

Total Volume: 1,487 Board Feet

Species & Grade: Douglas Fir | Clear Vertical Grain (CVG)

Product Line & Color: AquaFir™ Light Brown, Smooth Texture

Application	Size	Profile
Vertical Exterior Siding	1″ x 6″ RL	Tex Gap
Exterior Entry Soffits	1″ x 6″ RL	Tongue & Groove (T&G)
Interior Ceilings	1″ x 6″ RL	Tongue & Groove (T&G)

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

The Power of Clear Vertical Grain (CVG) Douglas Fir Siding and Paneling

While knotty timber fits rustic cabin aesthetics, commercial civic spaces often demand tight, uniform lines. Therefore, the design team specified Clear Vertical Grain (CVG) Douglas Fir.

Consequently, CVG wood features parallel, knot-free grain patterns that run straight along every board. This smooth, uniform surface allows our AquaFir™ Light Brown finish to absorb evenly, highlighting the wood’s natural warmth without introducing visual clutter. Furthermore, CVG Douglas Fir provides superior dimensional stability, ensuring boards resist expanding or shrinking in seasonal Montana weather.

Tex Gap Profile & Blind Nailing Mechanics

Exposed face fasteners can create potential points for water intrusion on exterior siding and disrupt clean panel runs. To eliminate face-nailing, Martel Construction installed our nominal 1x6nominal Tex Gap profile for the exterior vertical siding.

• Hidden Fastening Lip: The Tex Gap profile features an extended tongue lip engineered specifically for blind nailing. Installers drive stainless steel fasteners directly through the hidden lip, which the overlapping edge of the adjacent board fully covers.
• Integrated Shadow Reveal: Fabricated step-offs along the board edges form uniform ¼”  shadow reveals between vertical courses without requiring manual spacing jigs during installation.

Board-for-Board Wall-to-Ceiling Alignment (Waterfall Detail)

The interior threshold features a trimless, 90-degree plane change where the vertical wall siding intersects the horizontal ceiling panels.

Instead of covering the junction with corner trim or crown molding, installers executed a continuous board-for-board alignment:

• Continuous Joint Lines: Each vertical 1×6” Tex Gap wall board aligns directly with an overhead 1×6” T&G ceiling board.
• Parallel Shadow Reveals: The ¼” reveals extend continuously up the wall plane and across the ceiling, creating an unbroken grid line through the entry threshold.
• Exterior-to-Interior Run: This layout extends through the glazed entry assembly, carrying the same board spacing from the exterior soffit directly into the main reception hall ceiling and across the enlarged lake-view atrium reading nooks.

Factory Prefinishing for Commercial High-Traffic Durability

On-site finishing in active public construction zones introduces dust contamination and uneven coating thickness. To ensure long-term durability in a high-traffic public facility, all lumber arrived prefinished from the factory.

Each board received two face coats and one back coat of low-VOC Seal-Once Waterproofer. Factory back-coating seals the timber against moisture absorption behind the wall cavity, while the low-VOC waterproofer meets indoor air quality standards for commercial public facilities.

GALLERY

THE RESULT

A Modern Landmark for Polson, Montana

Ultimately, the North Lake County Public Library renovation proves that thoughtful material selection elevates public infrastructure into a community landmark. By combining Clear Vertical Grain Douglas Fir, precise Tex Gap profile engineering, and prefinished AquaFir™ finishes, Montana Timber Products and Martel Construction delivered a building built for enduring public service.

At Montana Timber Products, we partner with architects, municipalities, and commercial builders to supply custom, prefinished timber packages for high-impact projects. Contact your regional sales representative today to explore profile options or request project samples.

Where:  Montana
Products:  ranchwood™ Artisan product line in ash raked texture for siding, trim, and soffit, all in cedar.
Product Use:  1×4 shiplap with 1/8” reveal vertical siding and interior wall cladding. 1×6 tongue and groove soffit and 1×6 trim.

Montana Timber Products provides natural wood materials for both commercial and residential projects of all sizes.  Our supportive sales representatives will guide you through the material selection process so that you can build beautiful structures that also meet your schedule and budget.  At Montana Timber Projects, we thrive on understanding the unique needs of every project and crafting made-to-order materials for every customer.

Montana Timber Products is a specialty wood products manufacturer of rustic, modern and contemporary wood siding, interior accents, reclaimed wood, and barn wood alternatives.  Our ranchwood™, AquaFir™, ranchwood™ Artisan, ranchwood™ weathered, Charwood™, and Corral Board product lines offer a full selection of exterior and interior wood materials.  All the products can be used for residential and commercial application.  Each product line is offered in two wood species, Douglas Fir and Cedar.  Seal-Once offers high performance long lasting waterproofing seal that is environmentally friendly non-toxic protection.  Selling direct to the customer and custom milling each order allows Montana Timber Products flexibility to create your project.  Call 406-215-4961 for more information or fill out the contact form at:  https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/.

Where:  Oregon
Products:  ranchwood™ product line in Northern and Tackroom colors for siding in douglas fir wood.
Product Use:  1×6 shiplap siding and patio ceiling in circle sawn and smooth texture with 1×4 trim in smooth. The mixture is 60% tackroom in smooth, 20% circle sawn in northern and tackroom, and 20% in northern smooth texture.

Design and location are key in the retail brick and mortar space.  The architect’s creative design choices in mixing color and texture made for a warm welcoming space.  A pop of color and interest keep the space inviting all while keeping long term maintenance in mind.  The covered entry gives a warm aesthetic and invite customers to hang around.

Montana Timber Products offers 4 product lines in douglas fir or cedar wood species (each in three grades).  Along with corral board an authentic reclaimed wood.   Materials are available in 4″, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12″ wide boards in lengths ranging from 4ft to 16ft long (doug fir or cedar).  Available in 6 profiles (shiplap, square edge, square edge lap, shiplap reveal, tongue and groove, channel rustic) and 3 textures for the AquaFir™ and ranchwood™ products (smooth, wire brushed, circle sawn), ranchwood™ Artisan is ONE texture (raked) and Charwood™ is its own texture from the burning.  Thickness offered is 1″,5/4 (cedar only), 2″ as standards and then timbers/posts in 3+ inches.  The board will come profiled, textured, stained on one side (unless you designate needing more sides stained) and sealed on all 4 sides with our seal once.  Call 406-215-4961 for more information or fill out the contact form at:  https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/.

Where:  Idaho
Products:  ranchwood™ in prairie color with smooth texture using douglas fir wood.
Product Use:  1×8 horizontal shiplap

Siding material for a commercial structure must have functionality and fit into the area.  Selecting the type of siding will have many factors to consider;  where the building located, what is around the building now or in the future, and budget.  Balancing the desired look to the budget can be done with Montana Timber Products.  Offering five product lines in different price ranges and various wood species. Mixing wood siding with other siding mediums allows for a unique combination of textures, colors, and helps to balance the budget.  This can also be helpful to blend with surrounding buildings, while still creating a unique look.

Product specifications:
Montana Timber Products offers four product lines in douglas fir or cedar. Corral board is authentic reclaimed wood for the 5th product line.   Material is available in 4″, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12″ wide boards in random or exact lengths ranging from 4ft to 16ft long.  Select from 6 profiles: shiplap, shiplap with ¼ or 1/8” reveal, square edge, square edge lap, tongue and groove, and channel rustic.  Textures for AquaFir™ and ranchwood™ are smooth, wire brushed, circle sawn, hand hewn, and pioneer.  ranchwood™ Artisan is offered in ONE texture (raked). Charwood™ makes its own texture from the burning.  Thickness offered is 1″,5/4 (cedar only), and 2″ nominal sizing. Timbers, posts, and beams are offered in 3”,4” etc in lengths up to 38’.  All the materials are stained, textured, and profiled to each projects specification and sealed on all 4 sides with our seal-once sealant.

Montana Timber Products is a leading manufacturer of specialty pre-finished wood and reclaimed wood products.  Our process allows us to customize each order to meet the customers design needs.  Offering multiple product lines in two wood species in various grades, makes it easy to find what fits each project’s needs. Each product line can be used for:  siding, trim, soffit and fascia, interior accents, timbers, fabricated trusses, decking, fencing, and glulam beams.

Customers enjoy mill direct pricing, exceptional quality, flexibility with colors and profiles. To get a quote or more information call 406-215-4961 or fill out the contact form:  https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/

 

Where:  Ohio
Products:  Charwood™ in midnight and tiger in cedar
Product Use:  1×6 shiplap siding in midnight, 1×6 and 1×12 square edge material for window, door and corner trim all in midnight.  1×6 tongue and groove soffit and ceiling in tiger.

 

This contemporary office space utilized two Charwood™ (Shou-Sugi-Ban) colors with white brick to create a dramatic exterior.  Sometimes soffits are just soffits, not a statement piece, this building the soffit is a statement.  Black and white is a classic clean lined contemporary look and setting that off with the tiger Charwood™ soffit adds the perfect flair to the building.  The added contrast works beautifully with this contemporary designed building. The 6” vertical shiplap accentuates the clean lines of the design.

Charwood,™  like all of our product lines can be used for timbers, siding, posts, beams, soffits, fascia, trim, paneling, and trusses.  Our materials are offered in two substrates: douglas fir and cedar, in various grades.  Every product ships directly to the jobsite stained, textured, profiled and sealed.  Creating the perfect exterior has never been easier with the choice of 40+ colors, 5 textures, and 7 profiles (shiplap, shiplap with 1/8 or ¼” reveal, channel rustic, board and batten/board on board, square edge lap and tongue and groove).  How do you get started?  Contact us today for free samples and get us your plans for a quote.  Call    406-215-4961 or fill out the contact form at:  https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/.

Where: Virginia
Product: AquaFir™ siding, trim, posts all in a custom color using a wire brushed texture on douglas fir wood.
Product Use: 1×12 square edge lap siding, 1×4, 1×6 and 1×8 trim, 1×10 fascia, 1×12 beam wrap and 2×4, 2×6, 2×12 for the gable trim.

This 79,000 square foot store required more than 17,000 board feet in a custom color to stay within the corporate guidelines specified by the architect. Montana Timber Products produced the pre-finished material in a consistent texture and color at our custom mill, where every project big or small is made to order.   Lead times are the best in the industry.

 

This retail store used custom materials with Montana Timbers Products to create their signature look. The siding is sealed on all four sides with Seal-Once, an environmentally friendly water-based sealant. Commercial and residential customers benefit from mill direct pricing, great lead time, on site delivery, exceptional quality, and the flexibility to customize colors. To get started on your project call 406-215-4961 or fill out the contact form at: https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/

Where:  Montana
Product:  AquaFir™ exterior siding in Cedar/ Shale color/ in Circlesawn texture
Product Use:  1×8 square edge and 1×8 tongue and groove

Montana Timber Products is the leading manufacturer of specialty pre-finished wood and reclaimed wood products.  This commercial mixed use building combined concrete, metal and wood for a unique modern industrial look.  The siding is sealed on all four sides with Seal-Once, an environmentally friendly water-based sealant.   Commercial and residential customers benefit from mill direct pricing, quick delivery, exceptional quality, flexibility to customize colors and profiles.  To get a quote or more information call 406-215-4961 or fill out the contact form at: https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/

Where: Montana
Product: ranchwood™ and ranchwood™ Artisan cedar product
Product Use: Cedar 1×6 shiplap profile product in three colors, ranchwood™ Eastern, Northern and ranchwood™ Artisan Ash

Montana Timber Products is a leading manufacturer of specialty pre-finished wood and reclaimed wood products. Our process allows us to customize each order to meet the customer’s needs. The extensive line of products include siding, trim, soffit, fascia, interior accents, timbers, fabricated trusses, decking and glulam beams. Customers enjoy mill direct pricing, quick delivery, exceptional quality, flexibility of customized colors and profiles. For a quote or more information call 406-215-4961, orders samples https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/order-samples/ or get more information at: https://www.montanatimberproducts.com/contact/