Some Interesting Facts Concerning Lumber

Lumber, or timber, is the wood that will be, or has been

, used heavily in the construction industry or in the production of paper throughout any of its stages from felling to the time it is shaped into a board. When the harvested wood has reached a finished state it will be categorized by its type and quality. The reason for this categorization is to aid the end user of the wood to quickly select the right piece for an intended project.

The grading of wood that takes place is heavily based on the characteristics and features of the wood that affect its strength, appearance, and durability. For example there are some woods that contain what many consider flaws that are naturally present in the trees they have produced them and thus are of a lower grade. These flaws often include knots, pitch pockets, and checks. Other woods seems to be free of such flaws and are considered to be of a higher quality grade.

Many feel that lumber can be classified into two separate and distinct main types. They are labelled hardwoods (fir, spruce, and pine) and softwoods (maple, ash, cherry, beech, and oak). The hardwoods are most often used in the creation of flooring, furniture, moulding, panelling, and cabinets for any conceivable use. Softwoods in contrast are usually used in paper making, construction, and other types of specialty use.

Under the broad category of hardwood there are also subcategories. They are factory and dimension lumber, and finished products. In turn each of these subcategories have subcategories of their own in an attempt to enable a consumer to better understand the kind of woods they are looking at. For example a few of the subcategories that are under the classification of finished products include stair treads and risers, siding, and trim.

Softwoods on the other hand have been used for a long time as the primary raw material in construction projects and in manufacturing. Classifications for softwood involve such factors as species, form of manufacture and grade. Further categorization involves how it is to be used, or usage. The labels for these categories are yard, structural, and factory or shop lumber.

The uses for which each category of softwood timber are put are many and varied. For example one use for yard lumber if it is of good appearance, rather than if it has strength, is to put some kind of paint, finish, or varnish on it in order to use it in some sort of decorating scheme, or artistic piece.

Once the wood is selected and worked into a finished project the question becomes how can it be preserved. After all who wants are their hard work to go to waste? There are structural and chemical treatments that can be applied to wood to extend its life. Generally these increase the durability of the wood and increase resistance to insects and fungus that would destroy it.

Lumber then is a versatile product. It has been used extensively throughout the years in construction, furniture making, decoration, and the creation of pieces of art. Thus it is a vital part of our every day existence which should move us to work to preserve this resource for the future.

by: Adriana Noton.

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