You can enhance your lumber-purchasing experience by learning the terminology used to describe different cuts and measurements of lumber beforehand. Rough lumber, hardwood, and defects are among the important terms you should know. Continue reading to learn more.
Rough Lumber
Rough lumber is any cut of lumber that has not be planed smooth. Some people prefer rough lumber for aesthetic reasons or because they want to smooth the lumber themselves. Conversely, surfaced lumber refers to cuts of lumber that have already been planed.
A Board Foot
You may scratch your head in confusion when hearing references to a unit of measurement known as a board foot. This is a typical unit for lumber that represents one square foot by one inch—a measurement equal to 144 cubic inches.
Hardwood and Softwood
You may think that you can knock on a piece of lumber to determine whether it’s hardwood or softwood. However, the two designations actually have no bearing on the relative hardness or softness of a particular piece of lumber. The terms refer to the deciduous or coniferous species of the lumber itself. Hardwoods are deciduous flowering broadleaved trees, and softwoods come from coniferous needle-leaved trees. As it turns out, some hardwoods are actually softer than some softwoods.
Defects
Defects aren’t necessarily a bad thing in terms of lumber purchasing. Defects are the naturally occurring features found in certain wood species and are appreciated by many woodworkers because they contribute unique character to the wood.
Grain
Grain is an easily recognizable characteristic of a cut of lumber. It refers to the orientation of the wood-cell fibers on the wood—in other words, the pattern of small lines found throughout a piece of lumber.
Now that you know some of the most common lumber-buying terms, use your new lingo when shopping at J & W Lumber. We’ve been specializing in providing lumber decking, fencing, and more to the Southern California area since 1957. Call us at (760) 741-8776 to find out more.