This Season
 
  • Landscape edging refers to the low walls or flush barriers that separate the various sections of a yard or garden. Stone, plastic and lumber edgers all create a visual distinction between surfaces and…

  • A deck can be a addition to a home that improves the convenience, appearance and value of your property and residence. Decks provide additional space for recreation and outdoor socializing, often…

  • "Lumber room" is a term that refers to a storage room for unused items. It is only occasionally used in American English and is sometimes used figuratively to describe an unorganized…

  • Floor lumber is designed specifically to construct hardwood floors in houses and other buildings. However, it can serve other purposes as well and can be used for woodworking. Woodworking is a craft…

  • If you are building your own deck, one of the first tasks that you need to undertake is purchasing your lumber. While it is always possible to buy more lumber, it is easier and more efficient to…

  • Working with rough sawn lumber gives a great sense of satisfaction, but before you can get started on your woodworking project you need to put a straight edge on it. In most circumstances a jointer is…

  • Lumber mill owners earn their money by processing lumber from oak, ash, maple, beech, pine and other species through the use of such machines as dry kilns, resawers, edgers, trimmers, planers and…

  • Bathrooms are usually among the smallest rooms in a house, some being no wider than a standard 5-foot long bathtub. Others, if space permits, incorporate enough floor room for two or more people to…

  • Although decking lumber comes in conventional sizes, there is no standard. While a decking material's dimensions affect a deck's appearance and installation requirements, its type mainly determines…

  • Engineered lumber, including laminated veneer lumber, is a manufactured wooden building material created to have benefits in consistency, strength and stiffness over sawn lumber. Because strength and…

  • An inexpensive cedar lumber kiln is one that utilizes the sun for the drying power rather than electrical heat. This allows the the kiln to be placed close to the harvesting location of the cedar. The…

  • No two types of lumber are exactly the same, even though they may come from the same family of trees. Both spruce and pine lumber come from conifers, which are trees that have needles instead of…

  • Wood is an organic material, prone to decay when milled as lumber. While all wood eventually decomposes, some types of lumber retain their attractive appearance and endure much longer than other…

  • Building scaffolding from lumber involves techniques used as far back as ancient times, when Michelangelo constructed scaffolding to paint the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The process involves a simplistic…

  • Using lumber for edging forms an attractive barrier in the lawn that separates the flowerbed from the surrounding grass. Although available in a variety of materials including metal, plastic, stone…

  • Spruce trees belong to the Picea genus and the Pinaceae family. About 40 species of spruces exist, all native to the Northern Hemisphere. As pine trees, they belong to the softwood group, and have…

  • Before building a deck or other structure for a home, it's important to determine what type of wood to use. Composite lumber and plywood are two possible options. Composite lumber is made from a…

  • Cedar is a beautiful softwood, appearing frequently in decorative items, not just because of its appearance, but also because it needs basically no maintenance. Even if you're not looking to line one…

  • A certified wood grader uses a lumber grading stick as part of his duties. The grader is responsible for determining the quality of raw lumber logs and determining how much and what kind of finished…

  • The use of refurbished or reclaimed lumber allows someone making a woodworking project to give it a genuine aged look, rather than achieving it through the use of stains or other doctoring methods.…

  • Wane is a defect in a piece of lumber in which the wood on the ends is basically thinned out or missing. In sheets of plywood, wane refers to thin or open areas in the layers of veneer sheets…

  • Cut your own dead cedar logs into lumber at home. Dead cedar logs are dried out cedar logs that are ready to be cut into boards. Cut lumber from dead cedars using a table saw. You can quarter saw a…

  • As the name suggests, lumber end grain is the grain part of pieces of lumber. These parts are often put together and used as decorations or as countertops. The end grain is found on the inside of the…

  • A bow saw is similar to a hand saw and can be used to cut lumber to size. The blade of a bow saw comes in various lengths depending on the size of the lumber you are cutting. While cutting with a bow…

  • Cupped lumber is curved because one side of the wood shrinks faster than the other. This usually occurs when the ring pattern of the wood isn't symmetrical. To prevent cupping, place heavy weights on…

  • Located in Ogden, Utah, Lucas Lumber has been in the lumber remanufacturing business since it incorporated in 1935. As a sub-industry within the secondary wood products industry, lumber…

  • Scaffolding is a valuable construction aid, but it can also be very dangerous. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) specifies a broad range of requirements for construction…

  • A grade stamp on lumber is simply a marking that provides information related to the characteristics of the wood. Grade stamps are found 18 to 24 inches from the end of each piece of lumber, and…

  • An axe is a valuable tool used in a number of outdoor situations such as cutting down a tree and preparing the lumber for use. Potential danger can accompany the use of an axe because of its extremely…

  • To close the opening to your fenced residential area while providing a secure entrance and exit, you need to install a gate. You can quickly build a wooden gate with a simple frame and the same type…

  • Redwood lumber is referred to in nominal dimensions, such as "2 by 4." Like all other types of lumber, this nominal dimension is actually larger than the true dimensions, which in this case are 1.5 by…

  • Although the framing for a building is hidden away behind walls, it's the last place to scrimp on building materials. The framing of a wood structure holds it up; using high-grade framing lumber…

  • There are several ways to dry damp wood. Stacking the wood outside to air dry, building your own kiln or drying wood in a manufactured kiln are ways to extract moisture from lumber. The amount of…

  • Finishing rough lumber, be it hemlock or any other type of wood, involves the use of some specialized woodworking machinery, but can be done by someone without years of experience by following a few…

  • Whether you are building a home or performing some remodeling around the house, using pre-cut lumber can save time and money. Without the need for cutting to size at the work site, builders and…

  • Wood is a wonderful building material. It is reusable, recyclable and renewable. Less energy is needed to heat and cool a home constructed of wood, due to its superior insulating value when compared…

  • According to leading structural engineer Morton Newman, lumber is one of man's key building materials. One of the questions often asked about a piece of lumber is whether it will suit a particular…

  • Conduit manufacturers make things easy for the electrical construction industry. They have standardized the length, so electricians do not have to worry about each manufacturer having its own…

  • Drapery for your home comes in a variety of standard widths and lengths. Beyond drapery, there are many varieties of window treatments available to bring style and function to your interior windows,…

  • The southern magnolia is the state tree and state flower of Mississippi, and it grows all over the southern states. While the magnolia is an evergreen tree, it also produces large fragrant blooms in…

  • Spruce trees belong to the genus Picea, a group of evergreen conifers native to the Northern Hemisphere. Several members of this genus are sold simply as "spruce" on the lumber market. These species…

  • Untreated lumber, exposed to the elements and moisture, is at risk of weathering and rotting over time. Lumber that has been factory pre-treated is the best to use for outdoor furniture and other…

  • Spruce wood comes from several species in the Picea genus, which are known as the spruces. These trees are native to the Northern Hemisphere, primarily North America and northern Europe. Spruces are…

  • Spruce lumber comes from several species in the Picea genus, a group of coniferous evergreen trees that grow in temperate and boreal forests in the northern hemisphere. These trees may not be labeled…

  • The term "gum lumber" can refer to wood taken from the sweet gum or black gum trees, both North American natives. It may also refer to lumber from several species in the Australian Eucalyptus genus,…

  • American chestnut wood, or Castanea dentata, is rare on the North American lumber market. This wood was once plentiful and used in a wide variety of woodworking projects. However, in the early part of…

  • Being able to identify logs that a lumber mill will accept is crucial to developing a market for your logs. Inspect each log before it is loaded for hauling. Identify those that are lumber-mill…

  • Drying oak lumber, whether it is cut into boards or slabs, can be done using the air-drying technique. Air drying is the process of drying lumber by exposing it to natural atmospheric conditions. Air…

  • Freshly cut lumber, known in the trade as "green" wood, has a high moisture content that makes it unsuitable for most construction uses until the moisture is reduced. Dried lumber has greater…

  • Most dimensional lumber comes in length increments of 2 feet. Industry standard lengths helps architects, suppliers and builders. Using uniform lengths makes drawing, planning and constructing the…

  • Redwood lumber comes from the Sequoia sempervirens tree, better known as the coast or California redwood. This tree is native to the coasts of central and northern California, and prefers heavy winter…

  • If you're working on an outdoor project that requires a lot of wood like a deck, shed or other type of structure, consider purchasing from a lumber yard. Lumber yards have a wide variety of boards in…

  • Shower curtains are the largest piece of decor in most bathrooms. Available in many colors, patterns and styles this piece can set the tone for the whole room. Most shower curtains come in one…

  • If you ever want to make a profit by selling your sports cards you need to get them professionally graded. Getting a card graded means that a third-party organization examines the card and gives it a…

  • Lumber Liquidators is a company that sells prefinished and unfinished hardwood floors. The company advertises that it takes out the middleman and sells the flooring products directly to the consumer,…

  • Untreated lumber is wood that is not pressure treated for the outdoors. Pressure treated lumber undergoes water and other treatments to prepare it to be outside. Treated lumber is often used in decks…

  • Wood is a ubiquitous building material that has a high density (mass per volume) and high strength. There are many varieties of wood, including ash, poplar, oak, pine and walnut. Each species of wood…

  • Redwood is a popular choice for decking and outdoor furniture projects. The best wood is found toward the center, or heart, of the redwood tree. Sapwood, found nearest the bark, is the tree's most…

  • For builders and woodworkers alike, the sheer number of choices regarding which type of wood to work with for your latest project can be overwhelming. Pine is a softwood, meaning that it grows faster…

  • Trees have a large amount of water content and when cut, this moisture remains in the wood. Pine is a commonly used lumber for all sorts of projects from house framing to furniture and needs to be…

  • When it comes to choosing lumber for your new construction project, you have seemingly limitless possibilities, and each wood offers something different regarding strength, appearance and durability.…

  • Unlike materials such as concrete or sand, commonly sold by the pound, lumber is sold by the piece. Once you know how many pieces of lumber you need you can then determine how much all those pieces…

  • Although many structures are made from stone and metal, lumber still remains one of the most widely-used building materials contributing to homes, buildings and furniture. In fact, lumber is a blanket…

  • Cedar lumber has long been a popular choice among builders looking for a wood that's light and porous but also durable. In addition to having a high insulating value, cedar retains its size and…

  • Lumber comes in two types: rough and dressed. Rough lumber has not yet been sanded and smoothed for use. The standard sizes for rough wood are also called the nominal dimensions. Surfaced wood, also…

  • In the United States, cypress trees grow in swampy areas along the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River valley. The southern and South Atlantic states produce about 75 percent…

  • Hard maple, also occasionally called rock maple, is a colloquial term for the species known as Sugar maple, Acer saccharin. The lumber from the tree is considered to be one of the most important…

  • Choose drapery in a standard length to avoid costly custom curtain orders or spending extra time hemming your drapes yourself. Keep your drapery length proportional to the rest of your room. Plan to…

  • Composite lumber products have several technical and physical advantages over ordinary or traditional lumber products. Because composite lumber can be made with smaller pieces of wood, less wood is…

  • For centuries the characteristics and properties of white oak have made it a highly valued lumber. Because of its special properties, it is a desirable choice in applications ranging from ship…

  • The popularity of structural composite lumber (SCL) is a result of the efficiency, strength and predictability of this manufactured wood product. By using adhesives and heat to press thin layers of…

  • A 2x6 board you purchase at a home improvement center doesn't measure 2 inches thick and 6 inches wide. Between drying the board to a stable moisture content and planing the board to smooth it and…

  • Timber harvesting benefits dense woodlands by removing trees that compete for sunlight and by providing more space for fewer trees to prosper. Good forest management often includes replacing trees…

  • Treated lumber is lumber cut to a specific sizes and shapes and dried in a particular way. One of the most-used forms of treated lumber is plywood. There are many different grades of plywood and…

  • During a housing boom, materials like wood tend to be inexpensive or discounted because lumber mills ramp up production to meet need. However, if the housing boom goes bust, production tends to get…

  • Redwood is an expensive building material and for good reason: the wood is naturally waterproof. Untreated redwood structures can last up to 30 years before succumbing to water damage. Still, some…

  • Molded plastic parts are manufactured for a variety of reasons. They're often made from PVC, acrylic and other plastics. Sometimes these plastic parts fit in toys or tools. In other instances,…

  • The white oak rates as a popular shade tree and vital source of lumber in the United States, according to the Department of Natural Resources, with its wood used as material for homes, furniture and…

  • Wood is the most common material used in decking construction, but wood features a number of drawbacks, including mold potential and weathering over time. Composite decking mixes wood with recycled…

  • When drying maple lumber, the keys to great looking boards are harvesting fresh wood and drying as quickly as possible. Failure to dry quickly can result in stains to the wood. There are a variety of…

  • Kiln drying and air drying are the two most common ways of preparing green lumber for use in building. Green lumber refers to any lumber that is freshly downed and cut that is unfit for building…

  • People have dried trees for centuries so they can use them in construction, furniture building and craft work. In the past, people placed wood in a dry, dark location and waited, sometimes years, for…

  • Redwood is one of the strongest and most durable woods for constructing a number of things. There are more than 30 different grades of redwood, each of them with their own specific purposes.…

  • Rough cut lumber sells for a lower price than traditionally cut lumber. However, this lumber lacks finish and is more susceptible to damage from weather and water. To use rough cut lumber as…

  • Whether you're installing rough-cut lumber on the outside of your home or using it for shelves inside, you can paint the wood yourself to help seal it from spills or outside elements. Rough-cut lumber…

  • Purchasing lumber for your next construction project should be the second stage. You should first consider the type of wood and quantity you need for your project.

  • Many home-maintenance and repair troubles develop from the characteristics of framing lumber that invite problems. Cracked wall coverings, such as drywall or plaster, and mold or mildew often stem…

  • Forest crops are long-term investments, and many of the most valuable trees take 80 to 120 years to fully mature. Most trees with diameters approaching 16 inches are marketable for lumber. The…

  • Ash is a lumber commonly used in crafts, furniture making and sporting equipment because of its strength and flexibility. Similar to oak because it shares the same course, porous grain type which…

  • When choosing supplies for a building project, consider the alternatives to traditional wood lumber. The obvious benefit for those concerned about the environment is alternative lumber doesn't require…

  • Rough cut lumber has been cut and sold as-is, rather than run through a surfacing tool and "dressed." It is less expensive than surfaced lumber, but requires further refinement before use in most…

  • Dawn redwood was thought to be extinct and was only known through fossils until the middle of the 20th century. It was rediscovered in 1949 in China. The tree's seeds were shipped to the Arnold…

  • Maple and oak are commonly used woods for furniture, cabinets and flooring. Each has characteristics that separate it from the other and appeal to different tastes in grain, color and finish.

  • Reclaimed wood salvaged from old houses, barns, and commercial buildings has a patina that new wood can't match. Using reclaimed wood allows for building with some types of wood that are no longer…

  • Construction lumber made from softwood such as fir, spruce, or other pine and conifer trees is sized according to accepted standards for nominal dimensioning of wood building products. The American…

  • Recycled lumber is most commonly made of reused wood or some blend of plastics. They can both be donated to charity in every state in the U.S. The Building Materials Reuse Association has members…

  • Known for its flexibility and stability, cedar wood is ideal for humid or wet indoor areas like bathrooms, kitchens, or steam rooms. Even when exposed to moisture, cedar does not warp or lose its…

  • Rough-cut lumber is wood that has not been finished or treated at the sawmill. It needs to be dried, which takes approximately one year per inch of thickness. And as its name suggests, it is rough and…

  • Plastic lumber is referred to as Recycled Plastic Lumber (RPL) as it is created from recovered high-density polyethylene (HDPE) waste such as plastic milk jugs. Plastic lumber has a number of more…

  • Despite advances in plastic and other manufactured material, lumber is still one of the most common building materials and can be found in thousands of homes around the world. Still, all lumber is…

  • A variety of white spruce, native to higher elevations of South Dakota's Badlands, Black Hills spruce (Picea glauca 'Densata') matures slowly to 40 to 60 feet tall and 25 feet wide. An evergreen…

  • Though used or salvaged wood makes an attractive addition to a living space, each board must be carefully inspected and sometimes trimmed to remove damaged portions. Larger boards also can be used for…

  • The structure of modern homes is mostly in the hidden lumber frame underneath the siding, brick or other sheathing that covers the exterior. Since it is unseen it is a mystery to most. In reality…

  • Cedar is a richly aromatic wood that people use throughout their homes. The intense color of the trees' heartwood provides warmth to rooms and decks while the scent is lingering and just potent enough…

  • Red cedar lumber suitable for exterior building may not offer the beauty of finish needed for fine cabinetry or other interior work, according to the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association. Different…

  • There are many decisions to be made when building or remodeling a home, from what material goes on the roof to whether to use nails or screws as fasteners. Included in this is what size wood studs you…

  • Red oak is among the top tree species for making lumber and provides some of the best materials for mechanical plane-and-hole boring. The steam-bending capacity of "green" red oak boards exceeds that…

  • Redwood, a type of evergreen tree native to the western United States, produces a high quality timber valued for its appearance, light weight, resistance to insects and decay, and low flammability.…

  • Drying non-standard lumber board sizes is virtually the same as drying standard lumber board sizes. When treated lumber leaves the mill and heads toward a lumber yard, it is extremely wet and can…

  • Trex is a composite lumber substitute made from recycled materials, including wood chips and plastic. The manufacturer molds the materials into various wood-like patterns. Trex lumber is used…

  • Black oak lumber can be hard to identify for several reasons. Although it is known as black oak, often times it is mistakenly called yellow oak. To add to the confusion, it usually is sold alongside…

  • A simply built bed or dresser bought at a furniture store will cost you far more than it cost the retailer. You can save those profits for yourself, and learn a lot in the process, by building your…

  • Lumber racks provide organization and storage for boards. Many times, carpenters have multiple jobs to complete, and to save time and money, they buy bulk lumber. A lumber rack provides a spot to…

  • Lumber yards use wood-drying kilns to dry out pieces of freshly cut lumber before selling the pieces to customers. However, the average home owner does not own a large kiln he can use for this…

  • Framing walls with lumber requires patience and skill. It is important to give proper consideration to many elements of the framing process to ensure the stability of the structure. Failing to follow…

  • Cedar lumber is a popular choice for siding and decking. An aromatic soft wood with a clear pattern, it is also very durable. There are several types of cedar trees used for lumber production.…

  • The abbreviation MDF stands for medium density fiberboard, which is a form of pressed wood product. Manufacturers shape MDF into panels for building and construction purposes, according to the U.S.…

  • Drying lumber prior to building allow the wood to shrink and contract naturally. As green wood drys and shrinks, its density increases. Most commercially cut and processed southern pine lumber is kiln…

  • White pine is a type of pine wood that has a lighter color than other kinds of pine wood. White pine is somewhat of a misnomer, as the wood is rarely white and is often much darker. White pine has…

  • Chestnut is an excellent wood to choose for building. It's beautiful and sturdy, and as an added bonus, it's also resistant to decay. Chestnut lumber has been being used since the pioneer days, and…

  • Buy lumber directly from a lumber mill to save money on large projects. Lumber purchased through a middle vendor can be more costly for large orders and purchasing lumber from a discount store can…

  • Cedar is wonderful lumber and can be used for a wide variety of projects. If you are making things for outdoor use, you may want preserve or waterproof the cedar. Not only does waterproofing cedar…

  • Lumber yards have been used for centuries as a way to trade finished lumber products between individuals. Today there are far fewer lumber yards, and they have different principles and priorities than…

  • While seven different organizations in North America regulate the classification of pine lumber, all operate voluntarily under the direction of the American Lumber Standard Committee. These agencies…

  • Melamine lumber is a sheet lumber product that is used for cabinets and furniture. The smooth surface and void-free core make it an ideal material choice for budget conscious builders and…

  • Due to the expense of obtaining hardwoods, all framing lumber in modern usage is cut from soft wood trees, primarily from the pine and fir families, often referred to as white wood. For beginners, the…

  • Woodworkers looking for lumber different than the sizes available at most building supply stores often choose to buy rough lumber and size it themselves. With the careful use of power saws and…

  • Two-thirds of all maple lumber is manufactured and produced in the Middle Atlantic and Great Lake states, according to Maple Info website. Maple lumber is classified in two groups: hard maples and…

  • Before cherry lumber can be cut into pieces and be used for building, the lumber must be dried. Moist lumber once dried will shrink up to 35 percent from its original size. The best method for…

  • The most economical way to buy lumber is to buy it in its rough cut form. Rough cut lumber is cut green and skips a couple of finishing steps at the sawmill. Commercial lumber is smoothed and dried so…

  • Composite lumber is a building material made of recycled wood and plastic which resembles dimensional lumber. Composite lumber is most often used as decking material, but may also be used for door and…

  • A lumber rack stores and organizes wood for easy access. It also separates different wood species like maple and oak. The woodworker and carpenter find them indispensable in a work shop. Accessing the…

  • Whether you are building a deck, a picnic bench, or a table, you are going to need to purchase some raw number. Fortunately, there are numerous stores, both chains and local, that will sell you many…

  • Calculating the size of lumber means you not only measure the lumber, you also compare the measurements to the standard sizes for lumber to determine whether you have nominal lumber or dimensional…

  • When a homeowner decides to use wood in a home project, durability and appearance are two important characteristics. Any type of exposed wood can decay or become infested with termites, but some wood…

  • Price comparisons of Red Oak and Red Birch within the same lumberyard indicate that Red Birch costs about 20 to 35 percent more than Red Oak. But price differences from lumberyard to lumberyard,…

  • Construction-grade lumber usually comes from softwood trees, often fir or pIne. Softwood lumber comes in one of three general grade types--stress-graded, non-stress-graded and appearance. Most…

  • Composite lumber is a mix of wood shards, strands and particles that are bound together with adhesive to form usable boards. It may be made from hardwoods, softwoods or even saw dust. Painting…

  • Trees hold a lot of water in their wood tissue, so it stands to reason that, when a tree is cut down and hauled to a mill to be sawed into lumber, the lumber will have a lot of water in it too. This…

  • HDPE lumber is made from recycled high-density polyethylene retrieved from recycled water bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles and other plastic containers. Manufacturers add chemicals to prevent…

  • You may use lumber from a saw mill for building, woodworking or miscellaneous craft projects. Sometimes saw mills are equipped to cure (dry) lumber for you prior to purchase, but buying "green" or…

  • You may not be aware of it, but the lumber you purchase for your home projects is not always the size it is labeled at. The reason for the discrepancy is that solid wood lumber is first rough-cut to…

  • As old barns fall into disuse and can no longer be mended, farmers and businesses have been finding it worthwhile to recycle the salvaged barn lumber and make it available to consumers for many…

  • Rough sawn lumber, which is also called rough cut lumber, is simply wood that has been cut into boards but not finished off. It is cheaper than finished lumber boards because not as much work has been…

  • The bamboo industry is on the rise as more people discover the wonderful abilities of this plant. Bamboo can make anything from hardwood floors to soft bath towels. Bamboo makes such a great lumber…

  • Homeowners use lumber to create garden walls or retaining walls that hold the dirt in a sloped area of the yard in place. Landscapers position the lumber in the yard or garden and then drive railroad…

  • Brazilian pine, a durable, honey-colored wood, has a straight grain and subdued growth ring pattern. It lends itself well to construction projects and has a superior ability to hold screws.

  • When you're working on a home renovation, the urge to purge all of your scraps can be hard to resist. Holding on to that cedar, pine or maple siding or flooring, however, can net you a tidy profit.…

  • You can make plastic lumber at home for projects that you have in mind. It's not easy, however, and there are dangers as well as expenses involved in addition to the materials you need. Whether you…

  • Lumber is wood that is cut fresh from logs and is usually purchased from a sawmill. Its moisture content can be 200 percent higher than the moisture content in wood sold to builders and other…

  • White pine is a soft, light-toned and versatile wood used in a wide variety of carpentry applications. Preserve and protect your white pine lumber by staining it. Because white pine is a soft wood, it…

  • A fresh coat of stain can transform any wooden surface from ordinary into something beautiful. This is true even of rough-cut lumber. However, because rough lumber often contains areas with jagged or…

  • A growing stack of fragrant cherry lumber leaned against the back wall of the lumber warehouse. Recently arrived from a local forester, the wood was freshly cut and already exhibited some of the rich…

  • Reclaimed lumber is a highly sought-after commodity. This wood is prized by residential and commercial builders who want an "old-time" look for the interior of a building. In addition, homeowners with…

  • Worms in old lumber are actually the larva of wood-boring beetles. The old lumber provides a safe environment where the larva achieve adult beetle form. The adult beetles then burrow out of the wood…

  • Prices for chestnut lumber skyrocketed after a devastating blight infected virtually all of the American chestnut population, forcing suppliers to import European chestnut lumber. American chestnut…

  • Cedar is a soft, very stable wood. For that reason it has historically been used in high humidity areas such as in kitchens, baths and steam saunas. Cedar is a very easy wood to work with: one of the…

  • All lumber cut on a sawmill, from trees or logs, is called green lumber. Green lumber signifies that the boards are not properly dried. There are two basic methods to drying green lumber, air drying…

  • Cedar has a number of characteristics that make it desirable for outdoor projects including decking, siding and construction. Cedar takes on a wide variety of colors, is low in pitch and resin, has a…

  • If you are starting a big project such as a home renovation or construction of a deck or clubhouse, you will probably require a decent amount of lumber in order to complete the project. To ensure…

  • Green lumber is a term for wooden boards that have been freshly cut on a sawmill. The lumber is "green" since it still contains large amounts of moisture. Store-purchased lumber is dried in gas-fired…

  • Lumber racks protect your lumber from damage caused by warping, water and termites, among others. A lumber rack will allow you to store your wood up off the floor while keeping it clear from your work…

  • Plastic lumber is a popular choice for outdoor structures, such as fences, decks and pergolas. Plastic lumber doesn't rot; resists stains, mold and mildew; comes in different colors; and has the…

  • White maple lumber is a hard white maple, also known as Acer saccharum. Other common names include hard maple, rock maple and sugar maple. It is strong and durable, making it ideal for flooring and…

  • All lumber, regardless of the species, is cut from logs on a sawmill. Fresh lumber has a heavy moisture content and is called green lumber. Green lumber can have as much as 200 percent moisture…

  • Native to both the eastern U.S and eastern Canadian provinces, white pines (Pinus Strobus) are evergreen conifers that come from the North American pine family (Pinaceae) and are considered both…

  • The board-foot (BF) is a unit of volume that specifically measures lumber. It is an estimate of the volume of raw lumber and is primarily used in the United States and Canada, although the term "super…

  • Oak lumber that is freshly-cut is described as "green." Green lumber that isn't properly dried can crack, warp or grow black mold. The best way to dry oak lumber is by putting it in a "rick stack."…

  • Because cypress lumber is sturdy with an attractive grain, it's a popular building material. Cypress also resists decay, fungus and damage caused by insects and the elements. These qualities make it…

  • Buy pretreated wood to withstand weather related conditions for outdoor DIY (do-it-yourself) projects. Purchase lumber with tips from a home repairman in this free video on home improvements.

  • Types of softwood used for construction include mainly pines, the Southern Yellow pine used in stairs and floors, cedars, spruce, hemlock and fir. Choose between red and white cedar for your…

  • Grading begins by identifying the type of wood. Wood is referred to as soft wood or hard wood. Each has its particular uses. Hard wood is for cabinets and furniture, and softwood is used for…

  • Maple trees are a hardwood, broadleaf, deciduous species that is converted into lumber. The diverse varieties of these trees are located in the temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere in Africa,…

  • Calculating the weight of lumber can be a useful skill when constructing that outdoor deck or tool shed. By having the knowledge of the load weight of the wood, you can determine the type of…

  • Cedar lumber is a member of the redwood family, and it is desirable in that it deteriorates very slowly, thus making it useful for lap siding on the exterior of homes. Find out how cedar lumber is…

  • When buying maple lumber, inspect the wood for any imperfections, such as scratches, nicks or knots, and make sure the board does not bow in any direction. Choose flawless wood for the best results…

  • Cedar lumber is ideal for exterior home protection because it deteriorates very slowly, and it is available in different grades including vertical grain, horizontal grain and various levels of…

  • When buying oak lumber, look the board over thoroughly to locate any damage, nicks, scratches, deep gouges or knots in the wood, and examine the board for any curves, warps or bowing. Buy high-quality…

  • Sought for its natural ability to withstand moisture and temperature variations, cypress is common in the installation of exterior siding in coastal regions. The cypress tree (Taxodium distichum) is…

  • Cherry lumber is a type of hardwood that's prized for its durability, attractive grain and warm glow. Cherry lumber is used for cabinetry, furniture, hardwood flooring, beams and fireplace mantels,…

  • Lumber of all types comes from trees. When the trees are harvested from a forest, they are generally cut to length before being shipped to the sawmill. Hardwoods, which are classified as any tree that…

  • Lumber yards are retail or wholesale locations where people can buy lumber and other home improvement and construction-related products. Lumber yards are the most common suppliers when contractors and…

  • Pine lumber is the most commonly used framing material in the United States. It is strong, lightweight and relatively inexpensive, which makes it an ideal choice for many applications. Pine lumber is…

  • Teak lumber is made from the wood of the teak tree, a native of Southeast Asia. Teak is primarily used in the flooring industry in the United States, although it is sometimes used for other purposes.…

  • Reclaimed wood from old farm buildings and other structures can be used to build gorgeous new homes, flooring and furniture. Several companies across the United States specialize in creating new…

  • Deck lumber comes in many more varieties and options that can replace an old deck or repair one that may just need a few new boards. This article touches upon the types of lumber and composites…

  • When planning a project for the home, whether it be building a deck, putting up a porch railing or fence, constructing wood cabinets, installing wood flooring, adding wood trim and moldings or…

  • Buying plastic lumber (PL) is an alternative to the use of wood products. It is waterproof, will not rot and is resistant to insect damage. Its use can help reduce usage of the earth's dwindling…

  • 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…

  • With the various online and retail options available to buyers and sellers in search of affordable tree lumber, it is easy to find the exact type of wood that you require and at a price that you will…

  • 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…

  • Lumber can be expensive, and the larger your project is then the more lumber you're going to need in order to finish it. Buying discount lumber can often be difficult, since many of the discounted…

  • Many do-it-yourself projects such as fence building, deck building and interior remodeling require purchasing raw lumber. When setting out to buy raw lumber, take the time to examine the lumber.…

  • Figure out the proper lumber and screws necessary for building a sawhorse in this free educational video series.

  • Learn about lumber to use for building a gazebo, wood stain, brackets, plywood and screws in this free construction video.

  • Before putting screws into boards, plan where they're going to go. Learn how to plan screws on a bookcase from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • Remember to measure lumber before beginning to build a bookcase. Learn how to measure lumber from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • The lumber for a bookcase should be nice and smooth. Learn how to sand lumber from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • Decide how you're going to use your pieces of lumber to build a bookcase. Learn how to select the right boards from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • Check the lumber for a bookcase for mistakes and defects. Learn how to fill defects in lumber from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • Buy lumber that suits your bookcase building project. Learn how to pick lumber to build a bookcase from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • Lumber for a bookcase should be measured to the same width. Learn how to measure and cut lumber from a woodworker in this free home carpentry video.

  • If you have a dying tree, a storm-damaged tree or a large tree you just want removed from your yard, having it cut down and turned into lumber is a smart idea. The wood boards can be used in a number…

  • Reclaimed wood is not only beautiful, it's environmentally conscious as well. Just think, it's estimated that over 3 trillion board feet of lumber have been produced since the early 1900's, and much…

  • A successful do-it-yourself project starts with good wood. At first you may think there's a secret lumberyard code when you confront the many types and dimensions of wood. But once you take time to…

  • It's easy to pick out wood if you know what to look for.