What is softwood used for and why?
What is Softwood Used For?
- Decking
- Cladding
- Doors
- Façades
- Furniture
- Windows
- Structural Beams
- Flooring
- Skirting
- Fencing
What is the difference between softwood and hardwood timber?
Hardwood and Softwood: What’s Their Differences?
- Origins of Hardwood Timber. Hardwood timber originates from an angiosperm tree, a tree type with seeds that are usually enclosed, like pods or shells, while softwood comes from a gymnosperm ...
- Origins of Softwood Timber. ...
- Timber Durability. ...
- Timber Pricing. ...
What are some example of softwood?
What Are the Examples of Softwoods? There are various examples of softwood trees, some of which include the juniper, yew, spruce, pine, Douglas fir, redwood and cedar. Gymnosperm trees, which normally have cones and needles, usually produce softwoods.
What are the main characteristics of softwood?
- Compression strength is high in the fibre direction, with the grain, but much lower, around 1/6, across the grain.
- Tensile strength is high with the grain, but much lower, around 1/30, across the grain.
- Bending strength is usually measured with the grain.
What types of wood are considered softwood?
Softwood trees grow faster than hardwood trees, feeding timber mills and wood-products plants at a faster rate and thus keeping end-users' costs down. Softwoods are notoriously less expensive than hardwoods....Examples of softwood trees:Pine.Cedar.Redwood.Spruce.Douglas fir.
How can you tell if wood is soft or hard?
How to tell the difference between hardwood and softwoodGrain: Softwoods do not have vessels and therefore have a softer, less pronounced grain than hardwoods, which are characterised by a heavy, distinctive grain.Colour: Hardwoods tend to be darker than softwoods, which are often lighter.More items...•
Is a 2x4 considered softwood?
Nominal Dimension The nicknames for lumber sizes. Softwood dimensions give thickness and width, as in 2x4 ("two-by-four") or 1x8. Hardwood dimensions give only thickness, expressed as a fraction over 4, as in 4/4 ("four-quarter") for 1 inch, or 12/4 for 3 inches.
Is oak a hard or soft wood?
Oak, mahogany, and teak are some of the better-known species of hardwoods, while pine, spruce, and fir are common softwoods.
Is framing lumber soft wood?
The different density makes softwood easier to work with as it takes screws and nails with a lower risk of splitting. With such a wide range of end uses, softwood is a versatile product. It is widely used as framing (construction) material, furniture building, and paper products.
Is framing wood a softwood or hardwood?
For instance, softwood is used for framing lumber, such as studs, joists, and beams. It is also used for trim and finish components such as doors or windows. It can also be used for engineered products, like plywood, OSB, and paper.
What are the 4 types of lumber?
The hardwood, softwood, plywood or MDF are the four main varieties of wood that you may use for any type of woodworking project and the following points give you the confidence to select the right type of wood for your project.
What lumber is used for framing a house?
The two most common engineered wood products used in modern framing are LVL beams and I-joists. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is just what it sounds like: wood veneers (typically poplar, pine, or fir) laminated together under heat and pressure with a moisture-resistant resin.
What grade of lumber is used for framing?
No.No. 2 lumber is the most common grade for framing. Lumber of this grade contains few defects, but knots are allowed of any quality as long as they are well spaced and do not exceed the size regulations.
Is hickory a hardwood or softwood?
hardwoodsThe hardest of all domestic hardwoods, hickory has a ranking of 1820 on the Janka scale. This makes it a tough and durable option for your flooring.
Is poplar a hardwood or softwood?
hardwoodPoplar is a hardwood, but it's not very hard. That's because the terms “hardwood” and “softwood” are rather misleading. Botanically speaking, poplar is an angiosperm, which is referred to as hardwood. The gymnosperms, which include conifers such as pines and cedars, are called softwoods.
Is plywood a hardwood or softwood?
Softwoods are commonly used for interior mouldings, the manufacturing of windows, construction framing and generating sheet goods such as plywood and fibreboard.
Is there an app to identify wood type?
I.D. Wood is your Pocket Guide to Woods from around the world with full screen samples and detailed information for over 200 different woods. The standalone application will work with or without an Internet connection so that the samples and information are always at your fingertips.
How can you tell the difference between different types of wood?
Confirm it is actually solid wood. ... Look at the color. ... Observe the wood grain. ... Consider the weight and hardness of the wood. ... Consider its history. ... Find the X-Factor. ... Look at the endgrain.
How do I tell what wood my furniture is made of?
Inspect the wood grain for textures that indicate it is a hardwood. Softwoods usually have smooth grain patterns, while hardwoods have rougher, more porous patterns. Look at the grain and feel it with your fingertips to determine if it has the texture of a hardwood.
How can I tell what kind of wood My floors are?
Scrape Some of the Finish Off This will allow you to identify wood flooring more accurately. So, push a fingernail into the finish a bit harder. If it's a softwood, like pine, you will see a dent forming. Nevertheless, if it's hardwood, the finish will remain unmarked.
What Are the Types of Softwood Lumber?
Depending on what you’re doing, you might need different types of softwood lumber. Softwood lumber falls into three categories: structural, yard, and shop and factory. You can usually find all three types wherever you buy wholesale building supplies.
What is structural lumber?
Structural – Structural softwood lumber is the main type of wood used in construction projects, including house framing. Generally, structural softwood comes in “two-by…” lumber sizes.
What is shop and factory lumber?
Shop and Factory – Shop and factory lumber is mainly used for remanufacturing purposes. More specifically, it’s used for non-structural projects, such as boxes, doors, pencils, and ladders.
Is softwood lumber more flexible than hardwood?
Softwood lumber is much more pliable and flexible than hardwood. It comes from pine, fir, cedar, and spruce trees and it tends to absorbs and retain water easily. Make sure you use special care when using softwood since it can be easily dented or damaged. All in all, softwood is a more inexpensive building material than hardwood.
What is softwood lumber?
Softwood lumber is a primary wood product suitable for all non-heating uses. The 2 x 4s used extensively in Quebec in the construction sector are a good example of this.
What kind of lumber does Usihome use?
As suppliers of prefabricated structural wood products, Usihome is proud to use local softwood lumber to create solid products that are designed for easy installation.
What is the CSA O86 standard?
The softwood lumber design values are published in the CSA O86 Standard – Design Rules for Wood Framing. These values vary according to wood type, moisture content, visual classification and mechanical grading.
What is MSR wood used for?
Not surprisingly, this wood harvested right here is used to manufacture machined structural components such as prefabricated roof trusses and floor joists.
What is MSR lumber?
Softwood lumber can also be graded by mechanical stress using equipment that measures the stiffness of the pieces and their resistance to bending. In this case, it is known as MSR (Machined Stressed Lumber).
Does lumber price fluctuate?
As is the case for many goods, the price of softwood lumber tends to fluctuate according to supply and demand. For example, when production slows down or housing start increases, prices will tend to rise.
Is wood wet or dry?
This is the main reason why it is important to know whether the softwood lumber is dry or wet before using it as timber or for other purposes.
Why is softwood lumber used?
Softwood lumber is used for many woodworking projects because it is usually strong and easy to work with. Softwood is used by many woodworking professionals, including carpenters, cabinetmakers, furniture makers and woodcarvers.
What is the best wood for building?
Softwoods are frequently used as building materials. Softwoods come from evergreen and conifer trees, such as pine, cedar or spruce. The other class of wood is hardwood, which comes from angiosperms, such as walnut, hickory or maple. Softwood lumber is used for many woodworking projects because it is usually strong and easy to work with.
Why is the classification of wood misleading?
The classification of the wood is misleading because softwood is not necessarily soft. While there are hardwoods that are denser than softwood, many types of softwood are much harder. Softwoods do not have the same structure as hardwoods because they do not require vessels to transport water. The use of softwoods is considered to be environmentally ...
What Is Softwood Lumber?
Softwood lumber is much more pliable and flexible than hardwood. It comes from pine, fir, cedar, and spruce trees and it tends to absorbs and retain water easily. Make sure you use special care when using softwood since it can be easily dented or damaged. All in all, softwood is a more inexpensive building material than hardwood.
What are the different types of softwood lumber?
Depending on what you’re doing, you might need different types of softwood lumber. Softwood lumber falls into three categories: structural, yard, and shop and factory. You can usually find all three types wherever you buy wholesale building supplies.
What is structural lumber?
Structural – Structural softwood lumber is the main type of wood used in construction projects, including house framing. Generally, structural softwood comes in “two-by…” lumber sizes.
What is shop and factory lumber?
Shop and Factory – Shop and factory lumber is mainly used for remanufacturing purposes. More specifically, it’s used for non-structural projects, such as boxes, doors, pencils, and ladders.
What is softwood lumber used for?
For purposes of grading, softwood lumber may be categorized into two categories of intended use: construction or remanufacture . Construction lumber is lumber that will function as graded and sized after primary processing – sawing , surfacing, etc. It is commonly available in retail lumber yards and serves as the primary softwood resource for many woodworkers. Lumber for remanufacture can be expected to undergo secondary manufacturing to create a product that may differ markedly from the original graded piece. Industrial operations are the typical users of this type of lumber. Some examples include stock for pencils, ladders, poles, boxes, and moulding. Most softwood lumber is sold as construction lumber and that will be the emphasis of the following discussion.
What is the standard for softwood lumber?
Softwood lumber in the United States is most commonly graded according to the guidelines of the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS 20-70, established by the U. S. Department of Commerce. Canadian softwood lumber imported into the U. S. is graded by inspection agencies in Canada that also adhere to the American Softwood Lumber Standard.
What is dimension lumber?
This category includes most softwood lumber that is nominally 2 to 4 inches thick, referred to as “dimension” lumber. Examples include posts, beams, decking, studs, rafters, joists, timbers, and other structural lumber where working stresses will exist. Important qualities for stress-graded wood are strength, stiffness, and uniformity of size. Stress ratings may be determined either visually or mechanically to derive working values for properties such as bending stress and modulus of elasticity (E). A single set of grade names and descriptions are used throughout the United States although the allowable properties vary with wood species. Dimension stock is carried in nominal 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inch widths and 8- to 18-foot lengths in multiples of 2 feet.
What is non stress grade lumber?
With nonstress-graded lumber, pieces are graded primarily for serviceability but appearance is also considered, especially in the higher grades. Imperfections such as knots and knotholes are allowed to become larger and more frequent as the grade drops. The primary product is boards that are less than 2 inches in nominal thickness and 2 inches or more in nominal width. The standard 3/4″ thick board found in retail lumber yards is an example familiar to most woodworkers. Common nominal widths are 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inches. Lengths are usually from 6- to 18-feet in increments of 2 feet. Boards may be sold square-edged, tongue-and-grooved, or shiplapped. Three to five different Common grades may be applied to boards in this group depending upon the species and the lumber manufacturing association involved. In descending order of quality, the grades are No. 1 (Construction), No. 2 (Standard), No. 3 (Utility), No. 4 and No. 5. The first three grades are most commonly available in retail lumber yards.
What is yard lumber?
The term “yard lumber” is often applied to the nonstress-graded and appearance lumber that is sold by retail lumberyards. This is the type of lumber that many woodworkers utilize.
What is appearance lumber?
Appearance lumber (graded as Finish or Selects) is often nonstress-graded but a separate category exists due to the greater importance placed on appearance. Boards in this category will be of most use to the woodworker interested in making quality softwood furniture with a natural finish. In addition to boards, this group includes most softwood lumber that has been custom milled to a pattern or otherwise surfaced on all four sides (S4S). Examples are trim, siding, shingles, flooring, casing, base, stepping, and paneling. The highest grade of appearance lumber is Finish, which is subdivided into grades composed of letters or combinations of letters (B&BTR, C, D) or names such as Superior or Prime, depending on the grading agency. The next level down is Selects which has grade designations composed of numbers, letters, and names of combinations of them (B&BTR, C Select, D Select).
How thick is 3/4" plywood?
The primary product is boards that are less than 2 inches in nominal thickness and 2 inches or more in nominal width. The standard 3/4″ thick board found in retail lumber yards is an example familiar to most woodworkers. Common nominal widths are 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inches. Lengths are usually from 6- to 18-feet in increments of 2 feet.
What is pine lumber?
In North America, pine lumber has three main types. One of these is the southern yellow pine characterized by its high density and strength .
What is the best type of lumber for construction?
3 Common Types of Softwood Lumber and Their Uses for Construction. If made to choose between softwood and hardwood, most home builders might consider softwood as the more economical choice, since softwood trees are abundant and grow faster than hardwoods.
What is a cedar chest made of?
Most cedar chests available in the market are also made of red cedar. Remember that you do not have to stick to one type of lumber for one project. You may mix and match them according to what they are good for, like using white cedar for the shingles, poplar for ceiling moldings, and blue pine for the floor.
What is pine good for?
But its softness makes it easy to craft into various things, making it great for handicrafts, furniture, and carpentry.
Why do cabinet makers use poplar?
Cabinet makers, in particular, favor using poplar because it can look like the more expensive hardwoods, such as oak and cherry, when it is stained properly.
Is cedar good for outdoor use?
Another softwood lumber, cedar is good for indoor and outdoor projects, and has two main types:
Is blue pine the same as yellow pine?
Blue pine has the same qualities as the southern yellow pine, except for the color. The color of blue pine could range from blue or brown to gray. The variations in color are expressed by the fungus that tends to grow on it. It is also dense and strong, and can bear a lot of weight but does not stain very well.
What is softwood lumber?
Softwood is categorized into two categories of use: construction or remanufacture (such as wood that goes through a secondary manufacturing process to become paper, boxes, and so forth ). For these purposes, we’ll discuss construction grading.
What are the characteristics of lumber?
Here are four important characteristics of lumber, all key as you choose which type of to use for certain projects: Density. One physical property of wood that builders must consider in their projects is density, or the actual wood material in a unit volume of wood. Expressed in units of mass divided by volume, ...
How is lumber graded?
With so many variables among the physical properties of wood and the desirability of their characteristics, the construction industry relies on a set of grading standards for lumber—or a standardized way to judge the quality. They indicate how a builder can use each piece of wood for construction and what they can expect from the quality of the wood. Because of the major differences between hardwood and softwood, each type of wood has its own grading system.
Why is appearance important in hardwood flooring?
Appearance is one of the most important qualities in the grade, since most hardwood is exposed (such as in decking and flooring), and the highest graded lumber appears defect-free. Size matters in hardwood, since higher grades have a larger percentage of aesthetically pleasing usable material compared to lower grades.
What is the grain pattern of wood?
Grain. Every tree has its own wood grain pattern, or the lines that naturally appear in lumber that indicate the direction in which the wood cell fibers grew. The grain direction is crucial to understand in construction projects. A straight-grained board is generally the strongest, and the grain pattern density is one determiner of strength.
What is lumber 2020?
Oct 20, 2020. The idea of lumber should be simple: it is a log that has been sawn or cut to be used for building or woodworking projects. But the specifications of lumber are myriad—it’s sold in multiple sizes, cuts, and types. Furthermore, different types of wood have different characteristics, such as density, hardness, and compression strength, ...
What is the best wood for furniture?
Dense wood is best for furniture and building, and softer, less dense wood can be ideal for making engineered wood products and paper. Texture. Wood texture describes how a wood feels, from coarse to fine, given an equal amount of sanding.
Softwood Lumber Classification by Wood Type
Softwood Lumber Classification by Moisture Content
- Wood is a material that reacts to water and ambient humidity fluctuations. The amount of moisture it contains therefore influences its behaviour and mechanical properties. This is the main reason why it is important to know whether the softwood lumber is dry or wet before using it as timber or for other purposes. Wood is considered dry if its moist...
Visual Softwood Lumber Classification
- Softwood lumber can also be sorted according to its visual defects: 1. Holes 2. Nodes 3. Wood grain deviations 4. Warping 5. Colour 6. Etc. Many sawmills are equipped with scanners that accurately measure these defects and their location on the softwood lumber. A large knot in the middle of a board will affect its strength more than a small knot in a corner. Following this visua…
Mechanical Softwood Lumber Classification
- Softwood lumber can also be graded by mechanical stress using equipment that measures the stiffness of the pieces and their resistance to bending. In this case, it is known as MSR (Machined Stressed Lumber). This method is governed by NLGA’s Special Products Standard (SPS) 2. Grades are appointed based on two values: 1. Allowable bending stress (Fb in lb/in²) 2. Average modulu…