The Complete Lumber Buying Guide

New Post From James Donaldson

James Donaldson
July 21, 2024

The Complete Lumber Buying Guide

Choosing the right wood for your woodworking or construction project may seem like a daunting task, but it's actually not as hard as it seems.

Here's the information you need to get started:

Wood Basics

There are basically two kinds of wood from which to choose: hardwoods and softwoods. The terms have almost nothing to do with the actual hardness of the wood. Certain characteristics are common in all wood types.

Hardwoods are deciduous trees that lose their leaves in the fall. Although there is an abundant variety, only 200 are plentiful and pliable enough for woodworking. Hardwood trees are generally slower-growing, making the wood denser than softwoods. These woods have a more interesting grain pattern which makes them popular with woodworkers. Much like our skin, hardwoods have microscopic pores on the surface. The size of these pores determines the grain pattern and texture. Because of this, hardwoods are classified by pore openings as either: Closed Grained (smaller pores), like cherry and maple, or Ring Porous (larger pores), like oak, ash, or poplar.

Softwoods come from coniferous trees, commonly referred to as evergreen trees. Only 25 percent of all softwoods are used in woodworking. Softwoods have a closed grain (small pores) that is not very noticeable in the finished product. The most popular softwoods are cedar, fir, pine, and spruce. Softwoods are faster-growing, with straighter grain; good for framing, construction, and outdoor projects.

Do you like shopping on Amazon? Then this offer is perfect for you! You can get $750 towards shopping on Amazon HERE. Just complete deals and get your reward.

Treated Lumber

Treated lumber is produced for exterior use only and pressure-treated for ground or above-ground contact. It is resistant to rotting and insect damage.

Boards can be painted or stained. Make sure you choose the right fastener (galvanized or stainless steel) when working with treated lumber.

Decking

Decking includes floor boards and railing, either composite or treated lumber. Composite decking is manufactured from wood by-products and plastic.

It is denser, heavier, and longer lasting (and more expensive) than treated wood. Decking products are milled with rounded edges, ready to cut and install.

Dimensional Lumber and Studs

Dimensional lumber and studs are milled on all four sides. Available in different lengths, these products are used for a wide number of wood projects and construction.

Plywood and OSB

Plywood and OSB panels are manufactured (engineered) from various wood products and by-products.

Plywood is produced by layering thin sheets of wood. Oriented strand board (OSB) is made from flakes or chips of wood.

Both are made with glue or resin and cured under heat and pressure. These products are used for shelving, subfloors, sheathing, and several other applications.

Boards

Boards include a broad category of products used for light construction, crafts, woodworking projects, cabinetry, furniture, shelving, internal joinery, and molding.

Boards can be stained or painted. Larger boards may be edge-glued (two or more boards glued together to provide a wider size) or solid.

Hardwood Grades

Boards include a broad category of products used for light construction, crafts, woodworking projects, cabinetry, furniture, shelving, internal joinery, and molding.

Boards can be stained or painted. Larger boards may be edge-glued (two or more boards glued together to provide a wider size) or solid.

Softwood Grades

Softwoods are divided into two categories: dimensional lumber, with a grade based on strength, and appearance boards, which are typically used for woodworking projects. Grades listed here are from highest to lowest.

C Select = Almost completely clear of defects. Widely used for interior trim and cabinets.

D Select = Fine appearance, similar to C Select. May have dime-sized knots.

1 Common = Best material for high-quality pine with a knotty look. Knots will be tight, meaning they won't fall out, and are generally small.

2 Common = Tight knots, but larger than found in 1 Common. Often used for paneling and shelving. Very suitable for general woodworking projects.

3 Common = Knots larger than in 2 Common. Also used for paneling and shelving, but is especially well-suited for fences, boxes, and crates.

Grade Stamp

While lumber of the same species and size is at the mill, it is designated and separated by grade. It is then identified by a stamp and often inventoried by its grade and species.

When selecting wood, be sure you look for its grading stamp because different lumberyards sometimes use different names for the same grade. Remember, if you are having trouble figuring it all out, ask for help.

Grade designations depend on particular defects such as knots or wanes. Keep your project's final results in mind when selecting the grade of wood. Grade does not indicate consistency of color or grain patterns.

Manufacturer: Mill's number, name, or symbol. (ex. 12)

Certification mark: Symbol of the agency providing quality control supervision. (ex. WWP®)

Grade: Often abbreviated. 1 Common shown. (ex. 1COM)

Moisture content (MC): Abbreviations for MC when board surfaced: MC 15 is 15 percent or less; KD or S-DRY is 19 percent or less; S-GRN is green wood with more than 19 percent MC. (Ex. S-DRY)

Species mark: Symbol or abbreviation for types of tree. An example shown is Ponderosa pine. (Ex. PP)

P.S. If you like this newsletter, check out the tool I’m using. It’s called Beehiiv and you can try it completely free of charge for 30 days and get 20% off for 3 months! Check it for yourself here: https://www.beehiiv.com?via=James-Donaldson

Lumber Definitions

In addition to hardwoods and softwoods, certain characteristics are common in all wood types.

Density

Heavy woods like oak are identified by their weight and tight grain pattern and resist wear, dents, and scratches better than softwoods.

Texture

Texture is the wood property that determines the condition of the surface and its stability. It plays an important role in deciding how a wood is finished.

Color

Color contributes to the personality of the wood. For example, red cedar will give you a very different look and character than white pine.

Wood Grain

Each tree has its own grain pattern, so two boards of the same species can look very different. Wood grain is the direction in which the wood cell fibers grow. These variances in grain direction can have a significant impact on your project.

The grain direction is important to consider when building either structural projects or decorative projects such as furniture or crafts. For instance, when working on a structural application, a straight-grained board is generally the strongest. In more decorative projects, grain with varying characteristics can add beauty and personality to the project. Grain pattern density determines strength. As you'd expect, a piece of lumber with a tight pattern is stronger than one with a loose grain pattern.

Common Lumber Defects

Defects in wood are natural and appreciated by many woodworkers for the unique character they contribute. However, defects in structural lumber should be kept to a minimum.

Below, you'll find a list of common defects in lumber: