Hardwood grades are:
- FAS (First and Second) is the highest grade of hardwood lumber. It’s usually 6-inches x 8-inches and is 83 percent defect-free on its best side.
- Select is 4-inches x 6-inches and 83 percent defect free on its best side.
- No. 1 Common is 3-inches x 4-inches and 66 perfect defect free on its best side.
- No. ...
What is the highest grade of lumber used for?
This is the highest grade of lumber, used for its strength and durability. You’ll find the least number of defects in this grade of lumber. Knots are permitted in certain sizes, as long as they are sound, firm, tight, and well spaced. With this grade of lumber, few defects are allowed.
What are the different grades of pine lumber?
There are four grades of pine lumber that fall under the common class. They are the premium, finish, standard and industrial classes. The finish grade is defined as a board with a fine appearance and tight knots. Premium grade is similar to the finish grade but encompasses boards with larger knots.
What is the difference between industrial grade and grade lumber?
Industrial grade is the lowest grade. It allows boards with knots and other characteristics of any size as long as the board remains structurally sound. These grades of lumber allow for larger and more frequent knots than the select grades and a generally rougher grain of wood.
What is cabinet grade lumber?
This type is sometimes referred to as cabinet grade. No. 1 Common lumber must be at least 3″ wide x 4′ long, with a clear face yield of at least 66-⅔ percent but not as high as the FAS minimum yield.
Which is better #1 or #2 lumber?
Typically wood that is two or more inches thick is graded only for strength, denoted by #1, #2 and so on. And because stronger lumber has fewer and smaller knots, it's typically more attractive. So the general rule of thumb for lumber grades is this: the lower the number, the more strength and better appearance.
What are the four grades of lumber?
Table 2: Lumber Grades for Common (nonstress-graded) LumberGradeDesignationTypical UsesNo. 1ConstructionSiding, shelving, panelingNo. 2StandardSimilar uses to No. 1No. 3UtilitySheathing, subflooring, crate constructionNo. 4EconomySheathing, subflooring, creation of forms for concrete work1 more row
What is the best grade of hardwood lumber?
FAS: (first and second grade) This stands for the highest grade of lumber. FAS grade includes some defects but is considered the premier lumber for furniture and cabinet making. #1 & #2 common: These two grades will have a fair amount of allowable defects and color variations.
What is the highest structural lumber grade?
Hardwood Lumber Classification and GradingFAS (First and Second). This is the highest quality grade. An FAS board must be at least 6 inches wide, 8 to 16 feet long, and is 83.3% clear on its poorest looking side.Select — No. 1 Common. ... Select — No. 2 Common. ... Select — No. 3 Common.
What is the strongest 2x4 wood?
Hickory is the hardest, commercially available common wood.
What should I look for when buying lumber?
7 Tips for Buying LumberDon't use curbside pickup for lumber – choose your own boards. ... Spend extra for quality. ... Check wood for warping and knots. ... Stack barcodes up for faster checkout. ... Check the discount section. ... They will cut the wood for you (if you need it) ... Even 8-foot boards fit in most cars.
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.
What is the highest grade of softwood lumber?
Select appearance lumberSelect appearance lumber is the highest quality softwood for exposed applications where looks matter. It's divided into four grades, A-D.
What are the 3 grades of softwood lumber?
Construction grades can be divided into three categories: Appearance. Nonstress-graded. Stress-graded.
How do you pick lumber that won't warp?
You can check this for yourself by examining the grain pattern closely. If the grain is very straight, and packed together with less than 1/32 inch between grain lines, the wood is less likely to warp or shrink no matter what kind of wood it is. The straighter and tighter the grain, the more stability it will have.
What is the strongest type of wood?
Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale.
What wood makes the strongest beams?
Douglas firPerhaps the strongest wood beams made this way are Douglas fir.
What are the 3 grades of softwood lumber?
Construction grades can be divided into three categories: Appearance. Nonstress-graded. Stress-graded.
What is #3 grade lumber?
#3 Grade: When appearance is of no concern, this construction grade will contain large knots, excessive wane, occasional knot holes, and manufacturing defects.
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.
What is the highest grade of softwood lumber?
Select appearance lumberSelect appearance lumber is the highest quality softwood for exposed applications where looks matter. It's divided into four grades, A-D.
What is the most common grade of lumber for framing?
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.
What is standard grade lumber?
Standard grade lumber is used for light framing projects. Knots in this grade of wood are not restricted regarding quality.
How are the grades of lumber determined?
The various grades of lumber are determined by the strength of the wood, appearance of the wood and the number of defects. These grades are determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the American Lumber Standards Committee.
What is construction grade lumber?
Construction grade lumber is used for light framing. Knots must be sound, firm, encased, and tight. There are limits on most of the defects, with the exception of some occurring only on the surface.
Is lumber a stud?
Lumber of this grade has strength and stiffness values that make it suitable for use as a vertical member of a wall. In other words, a stud. There are varying levels of quality within this grade regarding appearance.
What Is Lumber Grading?
Lumber grades are a standardized way to judge the quality of a wood or piece of lumber. Both softwood and hardwood have separate grading scales. Softwood specifically has a larger variety of grading options depending on the intended application for the lumber.
Which grade of lumber has the most defects?
Also considered an “economy” grade of lumber, No. 5 softwood has the most waste areas and defects. It’s used in similar applications to No. 4 where it won’t be seen, but can make forms, molds or models.
What is softwood grade?
Softwood lumber grades are divided into categories based on the lumber’s use. Since softwood is so versatile, it can be used for almost everything from supporting and framing a house to paneling it. Having different categories of softwood lumber grades helps make it easier to pick the correct grade for your application, ensuring the proper strength and quality of your build.
What is appearance lumber?
Appearance lumber is any softwood lumber that’s used in applications where it will be seen, such as furniture building. As such, the appearance of the wood is important. It is divided into two categories: Select and Common, each of which can be broken down into their own specific grades.
What is non stressed lumber?
This first category of softwood lumber is primarily considered in building, for applications that don’t require a great deal of structural support, but that also aren’t highly visible.
Why is hardwood more durable than softwood?
Since hardwood forms more slowly than soft wood, it has a higher density, making hardwood lumber stronger and more durable. For this reason, hardwood is most commonly used in construction applications where longevity and appearance are both major factors, like flooring, cabinetry, furniture making, and more.
What is stress graded lumber?
Stress-graded softwood lumber is any lumber that has been graded to support weight. Stress-graded lumber is assessed by its load-bearing capacity and is primarily used for building applications that are non-visible and structurally vital, like beams, posts, studs, rafters, and joists.
What is the highest grade of appearance lumber?
With appearance lumber, there is additional emphasis on the physical look of the lumber given that it may be exposed once installed, e.g. used to make softwood furniture. The highest grade of appearance lumber is designated as finish, followed by selects and common. There is some variation in these terms and grades depending on the agency responsible.
What is stress graded lumber?
Softwoods that are stress-graded are used as beams, posts, studs, rafters, and joists, for example, where the material is functioning in a load-bearing capacity and working stresses will be applied. The stress gradings may be determined either by visual means or through mechanical testing according to ASTM standards and procedures, establishing standard working values for mechanical properties such as the modulus of elasticity and the bending moment. These pieces are referred to as structural lumber.
What is softwood lumber used for?
The majority use case for softwood lumber is for what is characterized as construction lumber, which may be further subdivided into stress-graded, nonstress-graded, and appearance lumber. Appearance lumber is judged mainly by the overall visual quality, whereas stress-graded or nonstress-graded lumber is more concerned with the structural integrity of the wood. Retail lumberyards typically sell nonstress-graded and appearance lumber, which is collectively referred to as “yard lumber”. Grading is done after the drying and surfacing operations are completed and is accomplished based on both the size and number of defects appearing on the better side of the piece.
Which is lighter, hardwood or softwood?
These trees are ones which usually have needles and cones as opposed to leaves. Softwood lumber tends to be lighter and has a lower density than hardwood, owing from the fact that these trees that exhibit a higher rate of growth than hardwood trees.
What is the best wood for framing?
Some of the most commonly used softwoods that are created into lumber include: Cedar – both red and yellow most commonly. Fir – often called Douglas Fir. Pine.
What is lumber made of?
Lumber is a wood product, sawn and shaped from timbers of harvested trees. By its nature, wood is not of uniform consistency and therefore will contain defects that impact the appearance of the lumber that is created from the wood material, and which may impact the structural characteristics as well.
What is yard lumber?
Retail lumberyards typically sell nonstress-graded and appearance lumber, which is collectively referred to as “yard lumber”. Grading is done after the drying and surfacing operations are completed and is accomplished based on both the size and number of defects appearing on the better side of the piece.
What is the grade of fence board?
When referring to fence boards, this grade is often called Appearance Grade. #1 Grade: When appearance becomes more of a factor, #1 Grade will contain smaller, fewer, sound, tight knots and have less wane than found in #2 Grade.
What is C grade flooring?
It is most commonly used in applications requiring a fine finish such as flooring and wall paneling. C Grade: When appearance is of paramount concern, this grade, as the name implies, is virtually knot-free and contains no wane. It is also most commonly used in applications requiring a fine finish.
What is premium decking?
Premium: When appearance becomes more of a factor, this decking grade will contain far fewer and much smaller knots than Standard and is also virtually wane-free.
What is wane in lumber?
It has a warm, rich, distinctive wood grain and is denser in nature. Wane: The presence of bark or the lack of wood fiber along the edge of a piece of lumber. The amount of wane varies according to lumber grade as described in the Southern Pine Inspection Bureaus grading rules.
Is Clear decking knot free?
Clear: When appearance is of paramount concern, this decking grade, as the name implies, is virtually knot-free and contains no wane.
Does CLEAR GRADE have wane?
While it can have wane similar to that found in #1 Grade, it has tighter growth rings and contains smaller and fewer knots. CLEAR Grade: When appearance is of paramount concern, this grade, as the name implies, is virtually knot-free and contains no wane.
What is grade A plywood?
In brief, Grade A means the surface is blemish- free; Grade B may have plugged knotholes; Grade C may have small knotholes and splits (checks). Relatively larger knotholes are permitted in Grade D. Plywood is sold in a variety of thicknesses, commonly from a quarter to three-quarters of an inch.
How many levels of lumber are there in white pine?
Lumber grading is tricky and often counterintuitive. The grading system for white pine alone consists of about ten levels. If you are going to work with wood professionally, I’d suggest you consult a basic reference work on wood and master some of the subtleties. But most of us need to know only a couple of basic facts.
What is the difference between plywood and sheathing?
Many varieties of plywood are sold. Finish plywood has at least one quality surface, while sheathing plywood, intended for use beneath siding, has rougher surfaces.
What is pressure treated lumber?
This is regular lumber that has been injected or soaked in chemicals to prevent decay and rot.
How thick is 2 by 3 lumber?
Standard dimension lumber, as well as pressure-treated stock, is sold in a wide array of two-inch pieces (the dimensions refer to sizes before planing, so nominal two-by stock is actually one and a half inches thick). Two-by-threes, fours, sixes, eights, tens, and 12s are standard (actual widths: three and a half, five and a half, seven and a quarter, nine and a quarter, and eleven and a quarter inches). Common lengths are eight, ten, 12, 14, 16, 20, and 24 feet. Four-inch thicknesses are also sold in some widths.
How wide is a board?
Four- inch, six-inch, eight-inch, and ten-inch-wide boards are generally available (actual widths: three and a half, five and a half, seven and a quarter, and nine and a quarter inches). Lengths vary, but eight- and sixteen-foot stock is usual.
Is fir lumber stronger than spruce?
You’ll also find when you move into larger stock that fir, for example, is much stronger (and more expensive) than spruce or pine, but better suited to wider spans for floor joists or longer rafters. When building outdoor or damp-area structures, pressure-treated lumber is another choice.
Lumber Definitions
Lumber is sold in various forms, sizes, types and cuts. These characteristics are used to describe the different types of wood lumber. Certain projects may require one or more of these specific traits.
Wood Basics
In addition to the basic lumber definitions, there are two kinds of wood from which to choose: hardwood and softwood. The terms have almost nothing to do with the actual hardness of the wood. There are certain characteristics that are common in all wood types.
Hardwood Grades
Grading designation depends on the number of defects in a board. A lower grade can be perfectly acceptable, depending on placement and usage. Hardwoods are graded by the National Hardwood Lumber Association. Here are the features of each grade.
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.
Lumber Grade Stamp
While lumber of the same species and size is at the mill, it's designated and separated by grade. It's then identified by a stamp and often inventoried by its grade and species. When selecting wood, look for its grading stamp because different lumberyards sometimes use different names for the same grade.
Treated Lumber
Treated lumber is produced for exterior use only and pressure-treated for ground or aboveground contact. It's resistant to rotting and insect damage, making it ideal for projects like DIY garden beds. Boards can be painted or stained once dry. Make sure you choose the right fastener (galvanized or stainless steel) when working with treated lumber.
Dimensional Lumber and Studs
Dimensional lumber and studs are milled on all four sides. Available in different lengths, these products are used for a variety of wood projects and construction.
What are the different grades of pine lumber?
There are four grades of pine lumber that fall under the common class. They are the premium, finish, standard and industrial classes. The finish grade is defined as a board with a fine appearance and tight knots. Premium grade is similar to the finish grade but encompasses boards with larger knots.
What is industrial grade lumber?
Industrial grade is the lowest grade. It allows boards with knots and other characteristics of any size as long as the board remains structurally sound. These grades of lumber allow for larger and more frequent knots than the select grades and a generally rougher grain of wood. Advertisement.
What is construction grade board?
Construction grade boards are simply the pine boards from the standard grade that do not make the cut to be designated as appearance grade. All pieces in this category must meet the minimum requirements for standard grade lumber. These requirements include limiting the size and frequency of wormholes to one medium hole allowed per 2 linear feet. Construction grade pine boards do not limit the level of machine burn on boards and have the least stringent requirements for incipient and advanced decay. The construction grade limit knots from two-thirds to one-half the width of the board, depending on the type. Unlike appearance grade pine lumber, construction grade pine lumber is unlikely to exceed its minimum requirements.
What is appearance grade board?
Appearance grade boards generally come from the higher end of standard graded boards. This type of board is used mainly for construction purposes and allows larger knots than the finer grades of pine lumber. This grade permits knots up to two-thirds the width of the board depending on the type of knot.
How many organizations regulate pine lumber?
Image Credit: Kim Steele/Photodisc/Getty Images. While seven different organizations in North America regulate the classification of pine lumber, all operate voluntarily under the direction of the American Lumber Standard Committee. These agencies under this direction regulate pine lumber standards for overlapping regions of North America.
What is a select D grade?
Select D grade pine lumber is not as fine in appearance as grade C but maintains a similar level of structural quality. The minimum requirements for Select C grade only allow for a single half-inch knot per 4 feet of surface area. Select D grade allows one tight half-inch knot for every foot of surface area. Advertisement.
What Different Types of Lumber Grades Mean
Softwood Versus Hardwood
- Woods may be classified as being either softwood or hardwood. However, those terms are not a strict indicator of the relative hardness of the wood itself. Softwoods are those which are derived from the harvesting of coniferous trees (gymnosperms), which are more often known as evergreen trees. These trees are ones which usually have needles and con...
Softwood Lumber Grades
- The American Lumber Standard Committee (http://www.alsc.org) serves as the body that developed and maintains the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS 20 under auspices of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The majority use case for softwood lumber is for what is characterized as construction lumber, which may be further subdivided into stress-graded, nons…
Hardwood Lumber Grades
- Grading of hardwoods is significantly less complicated than that of softwoods. The American Hardwood Export Council (https://www.ahec.org/) has developed The Illustrated Guide to American Hardwood Lumber Grades which provides the basis for the grading system, measurement standards, and descriptions of the characteristics and defects associated with th…
Useful Nomenclature
- There are specific terms and definitions that are used in the grading of lumber, a few of which are summarized here for convenience: Board foot– defined as the product of the width of the board by the thickness (both in inches) multiplied by the length of the board in feet. Surface measure– defined as a measure of the surface area of the board. Surface measure is calculated by taking t…
Summary
- This article presented a summary of the different grading systems for softwoods and hardwoods. To learn more about the suppliers of lumber, see our guide to lumber suppliers in the U.S. To explore other topics, consult our additional guides or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platformto locate potential sources of supply or view details on specific products.