What are Tar River timber headers?
Tar River timber headers are kiln-dried, Western Red Cedar accent beams that mount above doors, windows, garage openings, and cased interior arches to add architectural weight and natural wood character. Our headers ship in 25 stocked sizes, mill to exact rough-opening specifications, and arrive ready to install on residential and commercial builds. Our mill in Oxford, North Carolina crafts every header from premium, rot-resistant cedar, giving architects, builders, and homeowners a finished structural accent that outperforms painted lumber on both longevity and appearance.
Which timber header sizes can you order from Tar River?
Our Headers collection offers 25 stocked configurations across two depth profiles and 14 standard widths, with prices that start at $130 and scale to $1,160 for 16-foot headers. Our 3-1/2" x 7-1/4" headers fit standard 2x6 framing and refined door, window, and cased-opening trims. Our 5-1/2" x 7-1/4" headers deliver a fuller, more substantial face that suits larger spans, vaulted entries, gable openings, and statement front-of-house elevations.
You can buy Tar River timber headers in the following widths:
- 18", 24", 30", 36", 42", and 48" headers fit single doors, transom windows, and narrow cased openings.
- 60", 72", 84", and 96" headers span double doors, picture windows, and standard single-bay garage doors.
- 120", 144", 168", and 192" headers cover wide great-room openings, double-bay garages, and exterior pavilion entries up to 16 feet.
Why does Tar River craft timber headers from Western Red Cedar?
Western Red Cedar resists rot, decay, and insect damage through its own natural extractives, eliminating the chemical pressure treatment required on Douglas fir, pine, or spruce. Our kiln-drying process stabilizes every header to a controlled moisture content, preventing the cupping, twisting, checking, and movement that plague green or air-dried timber. Our cedar accepts stains, oils, and exterior sealers cleanly, holds tight tolerances after milling, and arrives at your jobsite light enough for a two-person install — even at 192" lengths.
Where do builders install Tar River timber headers?
Builders install Tar River timber headers above front doors, French doors, sliding patio doors, garage doors, picture windows, mantels, and interior cased openings to anchor the architectural style of the room. Architects specify our headers for modern farmhouses, board-and-batten cottages, mountain lodges, Craftsman bungalows, Tudor revivals, and Frazier Collection rustic builds. Designers use our headers as exterior accents on covered porches, pavilions, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens, where naturally rot-resistant cedar holds up to weather exposure year after year.
How do you choose the right timber header size for your opening?
You can select the correct Tar River timber header using the following steps:
- You measure the rough opening width and add 4" to 12" of overhang on each side for proper visual proportion above the door, window, or arch.
- You choose the 3-1/2" depth for refined trim profiles and tighter facades, or the 5-1/2" depth for bolder shadow lines on larger elevations and exterior fronts.
- You round up to the closest standard width from our 14 stocked options, or request a custom length from our Custom Order page when your opening falls between sizes.
- You confirm the species, finish plan, and lead time with our team before ordering, and we mill, package, and ship the header to your address.
How does Tar River support trade buyers and contractors?
Tar River Timber Works supports architects, custom home builders, general contractors, interior designers, and developers through our Trade Account program, which unlocks volume pricing, project-specific quoting, and priority lead times on bulk timber header orders. Our team provides spec sheets, dimensional drawings, finish samples, and care guides so your specification documents stay accurate from design through installation. Our portfolio of completed builds gives your design team visual references for headers paired with matching posts, corbels, brackets, and box beams from the same Western Red Cedar.
How does Tar River ship timber headers nationwide?
Our team ships every Tar River timber header from our mill in Oxford, North Carolina via LTL freight or parcel carrier, depending on the length you order. Our shorter headers — 18" through 96" — typically travel via standard parcel for faster door-to-door delivery to your residence or jobsite. Our longer headers — 120" through 192" — ship via freight on a pallet, with curbside delivery scheduled through a freight appointment so your crew can stage installation around the arrival window.
Why should you buy timber headers from Tar River Timber Works?
Tar River Timber Works mills every header in-house from premium Western Red Cedar, controls the kiln-drying and finishing process end-to-end, and ships made-to-spec timber to your project without sub-contracted middlemen marking up the price. Our 25-size collection covers nearly every standard residential and light-commercial opening, our Custom Order team produces non-standard dimensions when stocked sizes will not work, and our warranty backs the structural quality of every piece we ship. You can browse the Headers collection above, add the sizes your build needs to your cart, and place your order today — or contact our team for a project-specific quote when your build calls for volume pricing or a custom mill order.
