Different Lumber Categories for Construction Usage

Lumber is a wonderful construction material comprising vast usage. The material comes with a number of qualities. These qualities make it ideal for most of the concerning usage. (To have details about the usage its respective lumber takeoff is needed). Despite that lumber does come in different variations and their respective qualities. 

Timber or Lumber is majorly classified into two types softwood and hardwood.

Softwood Lumber

This type of lumber is made from evergreen trees. These trees include such as pine, spruce, cedar, and fir. The name softwood comes from the nature of the external surface of the wood. These can be easily dented with a little push. Even a push of the fingernail is enough to cause such a deformity.

Another important aspect of this type is that it absorbs moisture. This also makes it a bit less strong than hardwood. Pressure treatment is used to make it more resistant to various elements. The trees that provide softwood grow faster and hence these are more abundant. This makes this type of timber cheaper as compared to hardwood.

It is used for makes frames for houses and other buildings. In addition to that, this is fit for DIY projects. 

Hardwood Lumber

Contrary to softwood, this type is made from deciduous trees. These trees have board leaves that only come off in the winter seasons. These trees include maple, oak, hickory, mahogany, and walnut. These are harder and hence do not get dented with little force. One exception lies in the case of balsa wood.

Similarly, the trees grow slower than the previous one and therefore do not have much abundance. As a result, these are expensive. The material itself is used for furniture making, woodworking, flooring, and cabinetry.

Different Specifications for Lumber

Every tree grows individually as to the number of nutrients, water availability, and other environments. These factors affect the tree and the quality of the resulting lumber produced through it. This gives birth to different strengths and shapes.

 Further, the processing defines the different types of final lumber forms. Material takeoff services make material acquiring through the information provided in them. Similarly, these give birth to different thicknesses, lengths, and widths.

Some major specifications parameters include:

Yard Lumber

This is the lumber intended for routine construction reasons. This lumber is graded visually. The grader gives the grade just by looking at it. Yard lumber is categorized into select and common.

Common Yard Lumber

The yard lumber is fit for building and other related purposes. It is classified with numbers.

• No. 1 Common

This is the highest quality of lumber. It consists of small and very tight knots.

• No. 2 Common

This comes after the No. 1 common lumber. Hence it is used for making shelves and for paneling purposes. However, it is used for other woodworking requirements.

• No. 3 Common

This common lumber is of the least quality. The material has bigger knots than no. 1 common and no. 2 common. Often the lumber graded as No. 3 common yard lumber is typically damaged or blemished. This grade is used for fences, boxes, and crates.

Select Yard Lumber

This is a much nicer and more durable quality of lumber than common yard lumber. Select yard lumber has almost no or totally no knots in it. The material for finishes is both natural and painted.

This is classified using letters.

• C Select

These are the neatest type of lumber. Due to their outward appeal, they are used for making interior trims and for cabinetry uses.

• D Select

While this lumber is neat but has minute knots on it.

Conclusion

Lumber is a miraculous material for construction needs. Its uses include a vast range of items from tiny ones to huge ones. To build them various types of lumber are used. These are mainly classified into softwood and hardwood. Further, these are divided into common yard lumber and select yard lumber. To properly utilize quantity takeoff services can be availed.