About Lumber

Lumber refers to the timber that is obtained once a tree has been cut down. This timber is then trimmed down and separated by lumber yards according to the wood's structure, characteristics and most common uses. The lumber is then sold in a variety of sizes and shapes to anyone undertaking a construction or home improvement project.

Function

Lumber is used on a variety of structures today, including homes, farms and businesses. It is also commonly found inside these structures as flooring, furniture and cabinet finishes. Lumber is created by chopping down trees that provide the ideal types of wood for carpentry. Lumberjacks chop down these trees and then saw or chop the pieces into various sizes depending upon their future use and client demand. This lumber is then sold to industrial buyers, construction and building companies and the general public.

Types

Lumber is provided to lumberyards, builders and consumers in one of two forms: rough or finished. Rough lumber, or raw lumber, is essentially just a chopped-down tree. The wood has not been treated, smoothed or cut. This type of lumber usually works best for builders who need substantial pieces of wood for large furniture projects. The natural shape of the lumber gives builders the luxury of shaping it into whatever they may need. Finished lumber, or dimensional lumber, has been cut and shaped into flat, long boards. These are mostly used to create structures such as homes. Their flat surfaces also make this type of lumber ideal for flooring.

Size

Finished lumber comes in a variety of sizes. Common sizes include 2-by-4, 4-by-4 and 2-by-6. Most of these boards will range from a minimum size of 1-by-2 to a maximum size of 8-by-8. The first number in the series represents the lumber's width, while the second number represents its depth. Both are in inches. The length of most lumber boards will range from 6 feet to 24 feet. Finished lumber can also be made into hardwood, which is usually used for flooring. Hardwood lumber is usually measured by its thickness. The minimum size is 1/2 cubic inch, while the maximum is 3 3/4 cubic inches.

Identification

Lumber is created from many different trees, based on the color, texture, strength and malleability of the tree's wood. Pine lumber is thick and easy to work with but does not provide a nice, solid appearance. Redwood can be broken down into heartwood, which is very strong and resilient to termites, and sapwood, which is less strong but has a nice, creamy appearance. Mahogany has an auburn appearance that's usually displayed on cabinets or other wood finishes due to its color. Oak is a strong wood that still has some malleability. It is very popular among furniture makers. Cedar provides a natural, outdoor-like odor that can be pleasing to some, and is often used for storage spaces, such as chests, basements and closets. Other popular types of lumber include spruce, fir, maple, walnut and rosewood.

Considerations

Though lumber is plentiful, some diligence needs to be performed before selecting your lumber distributor. This is because there are many elements that can penetrate the wood, causing damage and defects. Excessive moisture can cause fungus to grow on the lumber; insects such as beetles and termites can eat a the wood, causing damage and decay; and harsh weather conditions such as torrential rain, high winds, abundant snow or heat waves can all cause the wood used for lumber to become damaged or grow in a misshapen way.