Buying Rough Saw Lumber in Michigan

Rough saw lumber is lumber that has been cut down, brought to the saw mill, and cut. Rough saw lumber hasn't been dressed or planed and it is usually still green. Rough sawed lumber is used when making cupboards, cabinets and floors that require a rustic look. More and more porches and patios are being made out of rough saw lumber.

Instructions

1. Decide what type of rough saw lumber you need for your building project. Hardwood is an excellent choice for projects that will be getting a lot of where and tear such as flooring. Softwood is generally used for elegant pieces of furniture. As a note, customers rarely want rough saw softwood lumber. Most of the sawmills in Michigan sell both hardwood and softwood.

2. Decide what grade of rough saw lumber you require for your project. Michigan sawmills have eight different grades for rough saw lumber. The lowest grade is No. 3B Common, rough saw lumber with this grade is usually used for packing crates and plats. The best rough saw lumber is given a grade of FAS and is usually set aside for furniture and cabinet fronts. If you need rough saw lumber to make a hardwood floor consider rough saw lumber with a grade of No. 1 Common.

3. Order your rough saw lumber several weeks before you actually need it. The sawmill will need plenty of time to get your order processed. You also need to remember that the unpredictable weather during Michigan winters can make it difficult for the sawmills to fill their orders. During the spring Michigan restricts the amount of weight that can be on the road which also limits the amount of lumber the sawmill has to work with.

4. Specify sizing requirements. When you place your order for the rough saw lumber, you need to remember that Michigan sawmills determine the size of the boards based on the thickness of the boards. Make sure you also tell the sawmill how long you need your boards to be.

Tips & Warnings

• Furniture made out of rough saw lumber looks fantastic in cabins.