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Appendix: LUMBeR
Chapter 1: Types of Lumber
• Alightcoloredsectioniscalledspringwoodandadarkersectioniscalledsummerwood.Springwoodiswiderthansummerwoodbecauseitisformedinthespringandgrowsfasterandthereforeislessdensethanthesummerwood.
• Asthenumberofannualringsincreases,thosenearestthecenterreceivelessnourishmentandbecomeinactiveusuallychangingtoadarkercolor.Heartwoodandsapwoodmaybeaboutequalinstrength,butheartwoodmaybemoreresistanttorotanddecay.
• Verticle grainiswhenthegrainofthewoodrunsparalleltothewidthofthepiece.
• Flat grainiswhenthegrainrunsperpendicular.
Green sizes oF Lumber• Thestatedsizeoflumberiseitherstatedinitsnominalsize,drysizeorgreensize.Calleditsnominalsize;thisisnot
theactualsizeoflumber.Forexample:anominal(stated)sizemightbe2”x4”,buttheactualsizeis1-1/2”x3-1/2”.
• Thepiecestartedoutapproximately2”x4”,butafterdryingandplaningitissmaller.Howmuchitshrinksdependsonwhetherthelumberhasbeenleftgreen(un-dried)orifit’sbeendriedtoamoisturecontentof19%orless(whichisconsidereddry).
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Inthechartbelow,you’llnoticethegreenlumberisslightlylargerthanthedrylumber.Whenthegreenlumbereventuallydriesout,itwillbeaboutthesamedimensionsasthedrylumber.
NominalSize ActualSize GreenSize
1” 3/4” 25/32”
2” 1-1/2” 1-9/16”
4” 3-1/2” 3-9/16”
6” 5-1/2” 5-5/8”
8” 7-1/4” 7-1/2”
10” 9-1/4” 9-1/2”
12” 11-1/4” 11-1/2”
Common deFeCTs oF soFTwood• Thestatedsizeoflumberiseitherstatedinitsnominalsize,drysizeorgreensize.Calleditsnominalsize;thisisnot
theactualsizeoflumber.Forexample:anominal(stated)sizemightbe2”x4”,buttheactualsizeis1-1/2”x3-1/2”.
• Thepiecestartedoutapproximately2”x4,”butafterdryingandplaningitissmaller.Howmuchitshrinksdependsonwhetherthelumberhasbeenleftgreen(un-dried)orifit’sbeendriedtoamoisturecontentof19%orless(whichisconsidereddry).
• Inthechartbelow,you’llnoticethegreenlumberisslightlylargerthanthedrylumber.Whenthegreenlumbereventuallydriesout,itwillbeaboutthesamedimensionsasthedrylumber.
Somecommonnamesofdefectsforsoftwoodsare:
•Check—Woodseparationalongthelengthofthegrain.
•decay—Rottingofthewoodusuallycausedbyfungiand/ormoisture.
•Knots—Manykindsofknotsclassifiedbysizefrompinknotstolargeknots,thoseover1-1/2”indiameter.
•Pitch—Resinaccumulatedinthewoodcellsmakingapatchyappearance.
•split—Woodseparatedlength-wisecompletelythroughfromonefacetotheother.
•wane—Bark,ornowoodatthecorneroredgeoflumber.
•Therearemorenaturalandmanufactureddefectsthanlistedhere.Themoresevereandfrequent,themoretheyaffectstrength.
•Lumberusedforfinishing,appearanceandnon-structuralpurposescanbewhateverthecustomerissatisfiedwith.Butlumberusedforstructuralpurposesmustmeetstructuralrequirements.Sobuildingcodesrequiregradestampedlumberforthesepurposes.Thislumberisgradedtoanationalstandardreflectingthedefectseverityandfrequency.(Formoreinformation,seenextpop-upwindow.)
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GradinG aGenCies For soFTwoods• Thereareseveralgradingagenciesforsoftwoods,buttheyhaveallvoluntarilyadoptedthesamegradingstandards.A
piecestamped“CONSTRUCTION”byanyagencywillmeetthesamestandards.
• Oneofthelargestlumberproducersassociationsisthewestern wood Products association (wwPa),whichdefinesgradesoflumberproducedinthewesternstates.Thereareotherreputableassociationsgradingwesternlumber,butmostinformationonwesternlumberinthistrainingcoursecomesfromtheWWPA.
• The southern Pine inspection bureau (sPib)definesthegradesofsoftwoodlumberproducedintheSoutheasternUnitedStates.
• The northeastern Lumber manufacturers association (neLma) isthemajorruleswritingassociationintheNortheasternUnitedStates.
• Canadiansoftwoodsaregradedunderthenational Lumber Grades authority (nLGa).
• Remember,alltheseagenciesusethesetofstandards(PS20-99)forgradinglumbersetbytheAmericanLumberStandardsCommittee,whichispartoftheU.S.DepartmentofCommerce.
• Inaddition,somesinglespecieshavetheirownassociationsoflumberproducers.Thebiggestoftheseisprobablythe California redwood association (Cra),whichusesitsRedwoodInspectionService(RIS)tograderedwoodboardsanddimensionlumber.Westernredcedaralsohasitsowngradenames.
• Dependingonyourlocation,youmayuseWesternlumber,Southernpine,Eastern,Canadianlumber,oranycombination,dependingonmarketconditions.
sizinG boardsAboardisgenerallyapieceoflumber1”nominalinthickness(3/4”actual)andanywidth.
Thickness
•Mostboardsare3/4”inactualthickness(1”nominal).
•Someboardsare5/8”or1/2”thick,buttheyareusuallysoldfordrawersides,hobbywork,etc.
•Boardsthickerthan1”nominalarecalled5/4(five-quarter)or6/4.Thesearegradedunderboardgradingrulesandmightbeusedinmakingtrim,cabinetsorstairtreads.
•Boardsthatare5/4areoftensoftwoodsinfinishgrades.
•Technically,boardscanbeasthickas16/4accordingtothegradingrulesforboards.Mostlumberyards,though,don’tcarryanythingthickerthan6/4.
Width
•Boardsaretypically2”andwider.
•Typicalstockforastoreis1”x2”,1”x3”,1”x4”,1”x6”,1”x8”,1”x10”and1”x12”.
•Withthickerboards,itiscommontobuyS2Slumber(surfacedontwosides,notontheedges).Theyareoftenrandomwidths.
Length
•Lengthsforboardsareuniform.
•Sizesstartat6’andgoto24’,andbeyond.
•Typicalstockforastoreisboardsinevenfootlengthsfrom8’to16’.Somemarketswilldemand18’,20’and24’.
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Patterns
•Someboardsareprecutintostandardshapesforusessuchaspaneling,siding,flooringorshiplap,whichisaboardwithnotchededgessoadjoiningpiecesoverlap.
•Standardpatternsareassignedanumberandarecompiledina“StandardProductPattern”bookletpublishedbytheWWPA.
•Storescanorderaspecificpatternfromamillandbeassuredtheywillgetthesameshape.
module 2: dimensional Lumber
dimensionaL Lumber GradinG ThesearethegradingguidelinesestablishedforSouthernPine.Thesegradesaresimilartootherspeciesgradesbuttheyhavemoregradeseparationsavailable.However,mostmillsdonotmanufactureallproductsandmakeallgradeseparations.Thoseproductsandgradesmanufacturedbyrelativelyfewmillsarenotedwithanasterisk.
• select structural: highquality,relativelyfreeofcharacteristicsthatmayimpairstrengthorstiffness.
• *dense select structural: Recommendedforuseswherehighstrength,stiffnessandgoodappearancearerequired.
• no. 1: Provideshighstrength,recommendedforgeneralutilityandconstructionpurposes.
• no. 1 dense: goodappearance,especiallysuitablewhereexposedbecauseofknotlimitations.
• no. 2: AlthoughlessrestrictedthanNo.1,suitableforalltypesofconstruction.
• no. 2 dense: Allowswell-spacedknotsofanyquality.
• no. 3: Assigneddesignvaluesmeetwiderangeofdesignrequirements.Recommendedforgeneralconstructionpurposeswhereappearanceisnotacontrollingfactor.ManypiecesincludedinthisgradewouldqualityasNo.2exceptforasinglelimitingcharacteristic.Provideshighqualityandlowcostconstruction.
• stud: CompositeofNo.3strengthandNo.1nailingedgecharacteristics.
• *no. 3 dense: Recommendedforgeneralconstructionpurposeswhereappearanceisnotacontrollingfactor.ManypiecesincludedinthisgradewouldqualifyasNo.2exceptforasinglelimitingcharacteristic.
• *Construction: Recommendedforgeneralframingpurposes.Goodappearance,strongandserviceable.
• * standard: RecommendedforsameusesasConstructiongradebutallowslargerdefects.
• * utility:Recommendedwhereeconomyisdesired.Excellentforblocking,platesandbracing.
• economy: Usablelengthssuitableforbracing,blocking,bulkheadingandotherutilitypurposeswherestrengthandappearancearenotcontrollingfactors.
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Glossary
S2S: surfaced 2 sides
RGH:rough sawn, as it came off the lumber mill
S4S:surfaced on all four sides
4/4:one inch rough sawn
5/4:one and one quarter inch rough sawn
6/4:one and one half inches rough sawn
8/4:two inches rough sawn
13/16:one inch surfaced
BF:board foot
J1E:jointed (straightened) one edge
SD1-80:sanded one side with 80 grit sandpaper
FAS:first and seconds
FT: foot or feet
IN: inch, inches
JTD:jointed
KD:kiln dried
LBR: lumber
LGR:longer
LGTH:length
LF:linear foot
T&G:tongue and grooved
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module 3: boards
sizinG boards
Aboardisgenerallyapieceoflumber1”nominalinthickness(3/4”actual)andanywidth.
Thickness
•Mostboardsare3/4”inactualthickness(1”nominal).
•Someboardsare5/8”or1/2”thick,buttheyareusuallysoldfordrawersides,hobbywork,etc.
•Boardsthickerthan1”nominalarecalled5/4(five-quarter)or6/4.Thesearegradedunderboardgradingrulesandmightbeusedinmakingtrim,cabinetsorstairtreads.
•Boardsthatare5/4areoftensoftwoodsinfinishgrades.
•Technically,boardscanbeasthickas16/4accordingtothegradingrulesforboards.Mostlumberyards,though,don’tcarryanythingthickerthan6/4.
Width
•Boardsaretypically2”andwider.
•Typicalstockforastoreis1”x2”,1”x3”,1”x4”,1”x6”,1”x8”,1”x10”and1”x12”.
•Withthickerboards,itiscommontobuyS2Slumber(surfacedontwosides,notontheedges).Theyareoftenrandomwidths.
Length
•Lengthsforboardsareuniform.
•Sizesstartat6’andgoto24’,andbeyond.
•Typicalstockforastoreisboardsinevenfootlengthsfrom8’to16’.Somemarketswilldemand18’,20’and24’.
Patterns
•Someboardsareprecutintostandardshapesforusessuchaspaneling,siding,flooringorshiplap,whichisaboardwithnotchededgessoadjoiningpiecesoverlap.
•Standardpatternsareassignedanumberandarecompiledina“StandardProductPattern”bookletpublishedbytheWWPA.
•Storescanorderaspecificpatternfromamillandbeassuredtheywillgetthesameshape.
module 4: decks and Fencing
GradinG oF deCKs and FenCinG
redwood
HearTwood Grades
• Clear all Heart:Normallykiln-dried,well-manufacturedandfreefromdefectsononesurface.Surfacedorsaw-textured.Finestarchitecturalheartwoodgrade.Usedforsiding,paneling,trim,cabinetry,moulding,fascia,soffits,millworkanddecks.
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• Construction Heart:Containsknotsofvaryingsizesandotherslightimperfections.Usuallyunseasoned.Surfacedorrough.Usedfordecks,retainingwalls,fences,stairs,gardenstructuresorotheroutdooruses.
• merchantable Heart:Economicalgrade.SlightlylargerknotsthanConstructiongrades.Holeslimitedtosizeofknots.Allowschecks,somesplitsandsomemanufacturingflaws.Unseasoned,surfacedandrough.Usedforfences,retainingwallsandgardenstructures.
saPwood Grades
• Clear:Containssapwoodandheartwoodinvaryingamounts.Normallykiln-driedwithsomeimperfectionsthatarenotpermittedinClearAllHeart.Surfacedortextured.Usedforsiding,paneling,trim,fascia,moulding,deckingandgardenshelters.
• b Grade:Qualitygradecontainingsapwood,limitedknotsandother.Kiln-driedorunseasoned.Surfacedorsaw-textured.Usedforsiding,paneling,trim,fascia,moulding,deckingandgardenshelters.
• Construction Common:SamegeneralcharacteristicsasConstructionHeartbutpermitssapwoodinvaryingamounts.Unseasonedorseasoned.Surfaced,roughorsaw-textured.Usedunseasonedfordecking,fenceboardsandotherabovegardenuses.Usedseasonedforrusticsidings.
• merchantable:SomecharacteristicsasMerchantableHeartbutcontainssapwoodinvaryingamounts.Unseasonedbutcanbeorderedsurfacedorrough.Useforfenceboards,railingsandotherabove-groundgardenuses.
oTHer Grades
• select Heart:Tight-knottedheartwoodresistanttoinsectsanddecay.Facefreeofsplitsorshake.Usuallyunseasoned,surfacedorrough.Usedfordecking,fenceboards,gardenstructuresandotherabovegroundusesnotrequiringdurability.
• select:Containssapwoodinvaryingamountswithsomeimperfectionsonthebackside.Usuallyunseasoned.Surfacedorrough.Usedfordecking,fenceboards,gardenstructuresandotherabove-groundusesnotrequiringdurability.
• Finger-Jointed:Clearboardsupto24’.Madeofkiln-driedpiecesfinger-jointedandend-glued.Normallysurfacedmixedgrain.Usedforfascia,exteriortrim,exteriorsiding,interiorpaneling,trimandmoulding.
Cedar
FollowingaregradingguidelinespublishedbytheWesternRedCedarLumberAssociationusedtogradecedarwood.
• architect Clear®—Thefinestappearance.Manufacturedwithastrictstandardthatrestrictsnaturalcharacteristics.
• architect Knotty®—Permitsknots,buttheymustbetightandsound.Knottypostsofthebestquality.
• Custom Knotty®—Agoodappearanceforthepricesensitivecustomer.Defectssuchasunsoundknotsarerestricted.
• standard and better—Commonlyusedforfenceconstructionwherestructureismoreimportantthanappearance.Allowsforarangeofnaturalcharacteristics.
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staining
Clear stain:Maintainsthenaturalcolorofthewood.Inadditiontoprotectingagainstnormalwearandtear,aclearstainshouldprotectagainstwaterandUVrays.Aclearstainrequiresfrequentrecoating.
Tinted stain:Onestepremovedfromaclearstain.Theyaddaslightpigmenttothewoodandlastlongerthanaclearstain.
semi-Transparent stain:Addsahintofcolorwhileallowingthegrainandtextureofthewoodtoshowthrough.Notforuseonwoodpreviouslypaintedasolidcolor.Useonlyonwooduntreatedorstainedwithalightershadeofstain.
solid Color stain: Changesthecolorofthewoodwhilestillallowingthegraintoshowthrough.Offerthebestprotectionandareidealforwoodthathasbeguntoshowitsage.Theylastlongerthanothertypesofstains.Canusetocoverpreviouslystainedorpaintedsurfaces.
Here are some additional tips for finishing redwood.
•Waterrepellentwithmildewcideisarecommendednatural,stand-alonefinishandanexcellentbasecoatforpaintorstain.Itreducescheckingandtheeffectsofdirtandweather,resistsmildewandavoidsnaturaldarkening.Withtwocoats,woodgraduallylightenstobuckskintan.
•BleachingOilscontainingmildewcideproducepermanentdriftwoodgray,eliminatingdarkening.Theymaycontainorcanbemixedwithwaterrepellentandgraystain.
•Semi-transparentstainsinlightcolorstonewoodwithouthidinggrainpatterns.Waterrepellentiscontainedin,orcanbemixedwith,theselow-maintenancefinishes.
•Heavy-bodieslatex-basedstainsapplysolidcolorsthatobscurewoodgrainsbuthighlighttextures.Theyshouldbeappliedovercompatibleoil-basedprimer.
•Paintshouldbeappliedovercompatibleoil-basedprimer.Particularlywithsaw-texturedwood,twotopcoatswilllast8-10years.
•Factoryfinishavailableonsomeredwood.Thefinishmaybeawaterrepellent,paintprimerorstain.Canbemoreeconomicalanduniformthanfieldapplications.
maintaining
Herearesometipsyoucangiveyourcustomerswhoneedtoclean,waterproof,striporstaintheirwooddeckorfence
Cleaning
• Keepthesurfacesweptofleavesanddirt.
•Alwayscleandirt,mildewandalgaebeforestaining
•Repairlooseorrottenboardsbeforestaining
•Cleanwithapowerwasher,butlimitthepowerto1,500psi
•Letthecleanersitonthefenceforabout2minutesbeforerisingwaterproofing
• Everywoodsurface,evenifit’spressuretreated,needswaterproofing
•Applywater-basedproductsjusthoursaftercleaningthesurface
•Applyoil-basedproductstoacompletelydrysurface
•Applyonlyonecoat.Multiplecoatswillnotresultinextraprotection.Rather,itwillleaveatackyfinish
•Useproductsthatoffermildew-resistance
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stripping
•Useapowerwasherandbesuretowearprotectiveclothing
•Coverplants,sidewalksandanythingelsethatmightbedamagedbythestrippingsolution
•Useasynthetic,stiffbristlebrush(notawireornaturalbristlebrush)toscruboutstubbornstains
•Afterapplyingthestripper,thoroughlyrinsetocompletelyremovethechemicalresidue
•Letthefencedrythoroughlybeforestaining,usuallyacoupleofdays. staining
• Testasmallareatobesureyouaresatisfiedwiththecolor
•Mixgallonsforuniformityofcolor
•Useanairlesssprayeronthelowestsettingandwithafinemistandusealargeorificetip
•Haveabrushhandytoeliminatepoolsofstain
staining Tips
Clear stain:Maintainsthenaturalcolorofthewood.Inadditiontoprotectingagainstnormalwearandtear,aclearstainshouldprotectagainstwaterandUVrays.Aclearstainrequiresfrequentrecoating.
Tinted stain:Onestepremovedfromaclearstain.Theyaddaslightpigmenttothewoodandlastlongerthanaclearstain.
semi-Transparent stain:Addsahintofcolorwhileallowingthegrainandtextureofthewoodtoshowthrough.Notforuseonwoodpreviouslypaintedasolidcolor.Useonlyonwooduntreatedorstainedwithalightershadeofstain.
solid Color stain.Changesthecolorofthewoodwhilestillallowingthegraintoshowthrough.Offerthebestprotectionandareidealforwoodthathasbeguntoshowitsage.Theylastlongerthanothertypesofstains.Canusetocoverpreviouslystainedorpaintedsurfaces.
Here are some additional tips for finishing redwood.
•Waterrepellentwithmildewcideisarecommendednaturalstandalonefinishandanexcellentbasecoatforpaintorstain.Itreducescheckingandtheeffectsofdirtandweather,resistsmildewandavoidsnaturaldarkening.Withtwocoats,woodgraduallylightenstobuckskintan.
•BleachingOilscontainingmildewcideproducepermanentdriftwoodgray,eliminatingdarkening.Theymaycontainorcanbemixedwithwaterrepellentandgraystain.
•Semi-transparentstainsinlightcolorstonewoodwithouthidinggrainpatterns.Waterrepellentiscontainedin,orcanbemixedwith,theselow-maintenancefinishes.
•Heavy-bodieslatex-basedstainsapplysolidcolorsthatobscurewoodgrainsbuthighlighttextures.Theyshouldbeappliedovercompatibleoil-basedprimer.
•Paintshouldbeappliedovercompatibleoil-basedprimer.Particularlywithsaw-texturedwood,twotopcoatswilllast8-10years. Factoryfinishavailableonsomeredwood.Thefinishmaybeawaterrepellent,paintprimerorstain.Canbemoreeconomicalanduniformthanfieldapplications.
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module 5: Hardwood Lumber
Common CHaraCTerisTiCs oF HardwoodThefollowingarecommoncharacteristicsofhardwoodnotconsidereddefectswhengradingthequalityofaboard.
Quarter sawn
Toquartersawapieceofwoodmeanscuttingthelogata90ºangletothegrowthring.Thiswillproduceauniformorverticalgrainpattern.Thismethodofcuttingproducesfewerboardsperlogandthusquarter-sawnboardsaremoreexpensive.Theyareusuallyusedfordecorativeapplicationsandwillexpandandcontractlessthanboardscutfromthelogbyothermethods.
Plain sawn
Toplainsawapieceofwoodmeanstocutittangentiallytoatree’sgrowthring.Thiscreatesaflame-shapedorcathedralpattern.Cuttingalogthiswayproducesmoreboardsandthusplainsawnboardsaremorecosteffective.Italsoexpandsandcontractsmorethanaboardcutbyothermethods.
Heartwood and sapwood
Heartwoodisthemorematurepartofthelog,closertothecenterofthetreeanddarkerincolor.Sapwoodisthelighter,youngerpartofthelogclosertothebark.
burl
Aburlisagrainpattern.Itisatwistoraswirlthatdoesnotcontainaknot.
mineral streaks
Thesearestreaksofcolorthatusuallyfollowthegrainpattern.
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Common deFeCTs oF HardwoodThefollowingarecharacteristicsofhardwoodthatareconsidereddefectswhengradingthequalityofapieceoflumber.
worm Holes
Theseareholesinthewoodthatrangeinsizefrom1/16”tomorethan1/4”.
split Thisisalengthwiseseparationofthewood.Itusuallyoccursasthepiecedries.Ifthereisaseparationalongthegrowthrings,itiscalledaShake.ACheckisalengthwiseopeninginthefaceoftheboard.Itdoesnotgothroughtheentireboardlikeasplit,butitisalsocausedbyfaultydrying.
Knot
Thisisacircularareawheretherewasoncethebaseofabranch.Insomecases,thewoodismissing.Othertimes,itmaybesolidwithnosignsofdecay..
GradinG aGenCies For HardwoodTheNationalHardwoodLumberAssociationestablishesthesegradesofhardwoodlumber.Sincehardwoodsarerarelyusedforstructuralpurposes,themainfactorinhardwoodgradingisappearanceandthenumberofclearcuttingspossiblefromapiece.
•Fas(FirstandSeconds).Themostpiecesclearofdefectsandalsothemostexpensive.Boardsaregenerally6”andwiderand8’andlonger.Usedforfinefurnitureandcabinetry.
•selects.Acost-effectivesubstituteforFASwhenonlyonegoodfacingisrequired.Boardsare4”andwider,6’andlonger.
•#1 Common.Ashoporthriftgradewhereboardsare2/3clearfacecuttings.Agoodvalueforwheresmallerpieces,4”x2’or3”x3’,canbeused.
• #2 Common.Boardshave50percentclearfaces.Generally3”andwiderand4’andlonger.Usedforsomepanelingandflooring.
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Appendix: LUMBeR
Chapter 2: selling Lumber module 1: board Feet
orderinG Lumber
Truckloads
• Youcanalsoorderlumberbythetruckload.Commontruckloadquantitiesvarybyspecieandbywhatgeographicalareatheycomefrom.
• Theyareusuallyabout27,000boardfeet(BF),rangingfrom23,000BFto30,000BF.
• Mostlumberwillbedeliveredbytruckdirectlytoyourhomecenterorlumberyard.However,youmayhaveitdeliveredbyrailcar.
railcar Loads
• Ifyouorderlumberisbytherailcar,youmightorderbytheboxcar,whichisusually80,000BF,butmightbefrom40,000to90,000BF.
• Aflatcarisusually112,000BF,butmightbefrom70,000to120,000BF.
• Muchofthelumbercostcanbethefreightchargesfromthemilltoyourstore.Therefore,freightchargescanbeadeterminingfactorinthekindoflumberyoustock.Certainminimumweightamountsgiveyouthebestfreightrate.
• Ifyouunloadlumberdirectlyfromatrain,youhaveacertainamountoftime,suchas48hours,tounloadacarafteritisinapositiontobeunloaded.Youarechargeddemurrageifyoutaketoolongtounload.
• Itiseasiertounloadiflumberisbandedtogether.
Lumber Producing regions
• Lumbercanbecategorizedbytheregionofthecountrywhereitisgrown.
• CoastlumberisconsideredtobeWestCoastspeciesgrownbetweenthePacificOceanandthemountainranges.ExamplesareDouglasFir-coastal,Larch,RedwoodandCedar.
• InlandlumberisconsideredtobefromtheWest,butharvestedeastofthecoastalplainsallthewaytotheGreatPlains.ExamplesareDouglasFir-inland,Larch,Cedar,IdahoWhitePineandHem-Fir.
• SouthernPineisthemajorspeciefromtheSouth-SoutheastpartoftheU.S.
• EasternwoodsfromtheAppalachianareaincludeSpruce,Fir,NorwayPine,VirginiaPonderosaPine,EasternWhitePineandmore.
• CanadianlumberismuchthesameastheWesternandEasternspecies,butisusuallynotedinthecodebookswith“North”followingthespecies.ExamplesincludeSpruce-Pine-Fir,DouglasFir,Hem-FirandalsoEastCoastspeciessuchasEasternWhitePine.
Lumber quantity chart
• Inthischartyoucanseesomestandardlumberunitquantitiesandsizes.
• Inthepieces/unitcolumn,thefirstnumberlistedforeachsizecategoryisthemostcommonlysoldunit.Thenextquantitiesarethoseusedbysomelumbermillsand/orwholesalers.Thesemaynotbeavailableinyourarea.
• •
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size Pieces/unit
2x4 294
2x4 192
2x4 180
2x4Studs 294
2x4Studs 312
2x4Studs 192
2x6Studs 189
2x6Studs 128
2x6 189
2x6 128
2x8 147
2x8 96
2x10 105
2x10 80
2x12 84
2x12 64
board Feet Practice Problems
Howmanyboardfeetareinthefollowingquantities?
1.7piecesof1x4–4’____________
2.560LFTof2x4_______________
3.25piecesof2x4–15’______________
Howmanylinealfeetareinthefollowingquantities?
4.1,500BFof1x8___________
5.210BFof2x4____________
6.800BFof2x10____________
Howmanypiecesoflumberareinthefollowingquantities?
7.1,100BFof2x4–16’____________
8.200BFof1x2–14’____________
Whatisthecostofthefollowingquantitiesoflumber,pricedat$550/M?
9.20pieces2x4–8’$________
10.9pieces1x4–16’$_________
11.300pieces2x4–16’$_________
12.1,000BF2x8$_____________
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module 4: board Feet
who publishes building codes?
•Therearethreemajorbuildingcodesthathaveevolvedasmodelbuildingcodes:theNationalBuildingCode(publishedbytheBuildingOfficialsandCodeAdministratorsInternationalInc.),theUniformBuildingCode(publishedbytheInternationalConferenceofBuildingOfficials)andtheStandardBuildingCode(publishedbytheSouthernBuildingCodeCongressInternationalInc.).
•TheInternationalCodeCouncilisacooperationofthreemajorbuildingcodes.ThiscouncilpublishestheInternationalResidential.•Inanefforttostandardizebuildingcodes,thesethreebuildingcodescooperateastheInternationalCodeCouncilandpublishtheInternationalResidentialCode(IRC)forOne-andTwo-FamilyDwellings. Common sTress TyPes
Followingisamoredetailedexplanationofthevariousstresstypesplacedonlumber.
Calculating modulus of elasticity
•Inthecourse,welearnedthatthemodulusofelasticityisabbreviatedEandishowmuchapieceoflumberwillsagordeflectinrelationtotheloadplacedonit.•Thebuildingcodewillsetalimitonhowmuchapieceoflumberisallowedtodeflect.Thesearereflectedinthespantables.
•Ageneralruleis1/360thofthespan.Thatisamaximumsagof1”forevery360”(30’)ofjoistlength.
•Youcanfigurethedeflectionbychangingthespanlengthintoinchesthendividingby360.
Answers:
1.9-1/3
2.373-1/3
3.250
4.2,250
5.315
6.480
7.103+
8.85+
9.107BF/$58.85
10.48BF/$26.40
11.3,200BF/$1,760.00
12.1,331BF/$733.70
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•Thespantablesweusedpreviouslywereacceptableforspanlimits.Asadoublecheck,notethesymbolL/=360intheupperright.Thatindicatesthedeflectionlimitis1/360,acceptableforcode.•Typically,thesedeflectionlimitsdonotmeanthatthejoistswillactuallysagtothefullacceptableamountanytimeyouusethem.Morethanlikely,thepieceoflumberyouareusingwillsaglessbecauseitisnotbeingloadedorspannedtocapacity.•Codesallowceilingjoistsslightlymoredeflection,commonly1/240thofthespan.•ModulusofElasticityisaratiobetweentheamountamaterialwilldeflectinproportiontoaload.Itisrepresentedby“E”andexpressedinpsi(poundspersquareinch).Thatvalueisoftenshortenedbydividingby1million.Example:AnEvalueof1,500,000isoftencalled1.5E.
Compression Parallel to Grain •AbbreviatedFC.•Anormalstressonapost,column,stud,etc.
•Typicalstresswheretheloadissupportedontheendofthepiece.•Thefibersinthewoodareuniformlystressed.Stressisparalleltoandalongthefulllengthofthewood.•Rarelyaprobleminhomeconstructionasmostlumberisverystrong.•TheoppositekindofstressisFiberStressinTension(Ft),thenthestressesonthelumberistryingtopullitapart.Thisisrareinhousebuildingandrarelyafactorinchoosinglumber.
Compression Perpendicular to Grain
•AbbreviatedFC•Thestresswhenafloorjoist,ceilingjoist,beam,etc.,restsonasupport.Theloadtendstocrush,orcompress,thefibersatthebearingpoint.•Thebearingareahastobelargeenoughsothattheloaddoesn’tcrushthefibersatthesidegrain.•Buildingcodessetminimumbearingsforlumber.•Minimumbearingforwoodfloorandceilingjoists,rafters,beamsandgirdersis1-1/2”onwoodand3”onmasonry.Joiststhatarelappedmustbelappedatleast3”.Ifyoufollowtheseminimums,youwon’thavetoworryaboutcompressionperpendiculartothegrain.
Horizontal shear
•Stresswhenwoodfibersslideoverthemselveshorizontallyrightatthetoptobottommid-pointofthemember.•Theonlytimewhenthisstressisaproblemisinshort,heavilyloadedbeamsthataredeep.•Thesolutionistoincreasebeamcrosssection.