Tips For Buying Hardwood Lumber

Always take the extra time at the store to check every single board before buying them.

Tips for buying hardwood lumber.

If it looks straight rotate the board 1 4 turn and look down the next side. 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. The thinnest rough cut boards labeled 4 4 and called four quarter are 1 in. 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.

To check a board for straight hold it up to your nose and look down the length of the board. It doesn t matter what your skills are we aim to provide friendly service and advice. Here are some pointers for how to buy lumber at a distributor or lumberyard. You can have a 2 4 that s six eight or even ten feet long.

If you visit us in person you simply pick out the boards that you think will work the best for you. An excellent selection of some of the most beautiful woods in the world. Follow the regional links below for distribution yard kiln dried hardwood lumber pricing in the continental united states. A wide variety of domestic hardwoods in various thicknesses and price ranges.

Rough lumber thicknesses are measured in 1 4 in. Prices are for rough lumber per 1000 bd ft in quantities of 1000 bd ft to 200 bd ft and are to be considered estimates only. Keep in mind that this thickness is taken down before any type of surfacing and drying is done. 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.

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. When buying hardwoods you won t see lumber thickness marked in inches but instead the convention is to use a measurement in quarters. If you don t see a thickness you want give us a call 1 877 232 3915 we can mill exactly what you need. Tips for buying and using rough lumber.

We re here 8 00 am to 5 00 pm monday through saturday. You will be able to see if the board curves or twists. Hardwood lumber domestic hardwood. It s still a 2 4.

While the thickness and width is standard the length is not. This story originally appeared in american woodworker magazine october 2001 issue 89. Why are sizes random. For example a 1 inch thick board is typically written as 4 4.

Scroll down to the faqs at bottom to learn more. 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.