Tips For Buying Hardwood Lumber

Keep in mind that this thickness is taken down before any type of surfacing and drying is done.

Tips for buying hardwood lumber.

The thinnest rough cut boards labeled 4 4 and called four quarter are 1 in. If you don t see a thickness you want give us a call 1 877 232 3915 we can mill exactly what you need. You will be able to see if the board curves or twists. Follow the regional links below for distribution yard kiln dried hardwood lumber pricing in the continental united states.

If you visit us in person you simply pick out the boards that you think will work the best for you. Rough lumber thicknesses are measured in 1 4 in. If it looks straight rotate the board 1 4 turn and look down the next side. For example a 1 inch thick board is typically written as 4 4.

Lumber grades might be a bit confusing if you re just starting out with purchasing hardwood lumber. Here are some pointers for how to buy lumber at a distributor or lumberyard. Always take the extra time at the store to check every single board before buying them. It doesn t matter what your skills are we aim to provide friendly service and advice.

When buying hardwoods you won t see lumber thickness marked in inches but instead the convention is to use a measurement in quarters. Tips for buying and using rough lumber. Hardwood lumber domestic hardwood. An excellent selection of some of the most beautiful woods in the world.

The standard pre cut sizes allows carpenters and house framers to buy lumber without having to do as much cutting when they get it to the construction site. Actual pricing will vary among distributors. It s still a 2 4. If you re ordering online you can request minimum widths or lengths so that the lumber you buy is larger than your required minimum sizes.

You can have a 2 4 that s six eight or even ten feet long. After the lumber has been sawn and dried a board that starts out as 4 4 will end up being a little closer to 7 8. Scroll down to the faqs at bottom to learn more. Like the more familiar lineal foot pricing where you pay according to the length of a piece board foot measurement does not account for the drying and surfacing of lumber.

Board foot pricing allows a lumberyard to group several different dimensions say 2 by 4s 2 by 6s and 2 by 8s under one price. A wide variety of domestic hardwoods in various thicknesses and price ranges. This story originally appeared in american woodworker magazine october 2001 issue 89. We re here 8 00 am to 5 00 pm monday through saturday.

Woodworkers source started in 1978 to provide the finest hardwood lumber to all types of woodworkers from beginners getting started with the craft to long time professionals. Why are sizes random.