How to Buy the Right Wood for a Job

Lumber comes in various grades and sizes - and those vary by region. Make sure you know what type of wood is best suited for your purpose.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Beeches
• Maples
• Pines
• Plywood
• Redwood
• Rosewoods
• Firs
• Poplars
• Walnuts
• Ashes
• Oaks
• Teaks
• Cedar
• Walnuts

1. Comparison shop before you buy. Selection and price vary widely by lumberyard.

2. Learn to tell the different grades from one another. (See Related eHows.)

3. Use redwood or cedar, which are considered softwoods, for exposed surfaces. Redwood doesn't take nails well as it splits easily. Cedar tends to be knotty.

4. Choose pine or fir for rough-cut projects, including shelves and framing. Pine cuts easily, and it handles paint and varnish well. Pine is also a softwood.

5. Try some of the hardwoods: Poplar is light-colored and is typically painted, as is ash. Ash stains unevenly.

6. Stain maple and oak, which are very heavy and strong. The grain of these hardwoods is pretty and straight.

7. Look at other kinds of woods: Teak and rosewood are beautiful but teak is expensive and both are difficult to glue; walnut is very strong and stains nicely; beech looks great varnished or stained, but is hard on saws.

8. Use finish-grade plywoods for built-in projects. Then use the more expensive woods for exposed areas.

Tips & Warnings

• Get 10 percent more wood than you plan for your project. This allows for mistakes and matching grain.
• Make sure you check out your wood carefully before starting a project. It's frustrating to get started and realize the plank you are using is warped or mismatched.