Understanding Lumber Terminology
If you're lucky enough to have a hardwood lumber yard nearby, you're in for a treat. You can access a wide variety of wood species in different widths, lengths, and shapes—maybe even some live edge slabs! However, buying lumber can feel overwhelming if you're new to it or unfamiliar with the terminology. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through some essential terms and tips to help you better understand what to ask when you visit the mill.
Types of Lumber
When it comes to purchasing lumber, there are two main categories: rough cut and dimensional. Rough cut lumber is straight from the mill and hasn’t been processed further. It’s raw and typically used by those who plan to dimension it themselves, either manually or with tools. Some lumber yards also offer partially surfaced boards. This leads us to important terms like S1S (surfaced on one side) and S2S (surfaced on two sides). S1S means the board has been planed on one face, while S2S means both faces have been surfaced. You can also get boards surfaced on one or both edges, known as S4S (surfaced on four sides). The more surfacing a mill does, the higher the cost. Most lumber yards charge per linear foot, often adding an extra $0.20 per foot. These boards may still vary in width, unlike dimensional lumber, which is uniform.
Dimensional lumber refers to standardized sizes like 2x4 or 2x6. It's surfaced and processed to meet strict standards and is commonly used in construction. While it's more expensive per board foot than rough cut, it's ideal for projects requiring consistent measurements.
How Rough Cut Lumber is Measured
Rough cut lumber is sold based on a "board foot," which is a unit of volume. One board foot equals 144 cubic inches (1 inch thick x 12 inches wide x 12 inches long). For example, a board that’s 1 inch thick, 6 inches wide, and 72 inches long would be (1 x 6 x 72) = 432 cubic inches, or 3 board feet.
Another key concept is "quarters." These refer to the thickness of rough lumber. A 4/4 board is 1 inch thick, 5/4 is 1.25 inches, and so on. When you surface a 4/4 board, it usually ends up at about 3/4 inch. So, if you want a 1-inch thick table top, you’d buy 5/4 lumber and mill it down.
Conclusion
Now that you understand these basics, you can better estimate how much lumber you need for your next project. Think in terms of quarters—how many pieces are made from 4/4 or 8/4 lumber? Convert that into board feet, and you'll have a good idea of your project's material cost. This helps when someone asks, “How much would it cost to build me a coffee table?†You can work backward to give an accurate estimate. Plus, this knowledge will make your next trip to the lumber yard much less confusing.
Do you have any other tips or suggestions? Feel free to share them in the comments below!
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