Follow Us How to Choose Lumber for Your Next Project June 4, 2017 Are you planning your next home renovation or construction project? Quality lumber is a key to making your project a success. For the inexperienced, choosing good lumber can be tricky! Don’t worry. The team at Kaufman Lumber can help. These 5 tips will help you make better choices at the lumber yard. Make a List Going to the lumber store without a plan can be overwhelming, and worse, you might come home with the wrong sizes or without all the lumber you need. Before shopping, make a detailed list of the boards you need. Depending on what you are constructing, you might need to organize boards into “like groups” of same-sized boards. Creating these groups will simplify your experience in the lumber yard. Check Dimensions The dimensions stated on the boards may not be accurate. For some types of lumber, the dimensions stated are actually the dimensions of the lumber before it was milled. This means most boards are smaller than their stated dimensions. Measure the important lengths yourself to ensure your boards fit together as expected. Look for Defects Defects can make your boards weak and prone to rot, so be sure to examine your lumber to avoid any defects. Knots are the type of defect most frequently found. However, not all knots are defects. Tight knots are well integrated with the rest of the board and do not affect the strength of the wood. Loose knots, on the other hand, indicate where a dead branch was not strongly attached to the tree. A loose knot is usually dark in appearance, has cracks or is softer than the surrounding wood. Because this type of knot is not securely integrated with the board, it is common for loose knots to rot or to fall out, reducing the strength of the lumber. Avoid choosing boards that contain loose knots or holes. In addition to knots, check the board’s sides and ends for cracks, which make the wood weak and liable to break. Check for Straightness It’s important to avoid noticeably curved boards. To check that your board is straight, you should ‘sight’ a few edges. Doing this is quite simple. Holding one end in front of your face, place the other end of the board on the floor. With one eye closed, look along one end of the board. If the board appears straight, turn it 90 degrees check another edge. Don’t worry about getting a perfect rectangle. If both edges look straight and everything else checks out, the board will stand up to the job. Choose Visually Appealing Boards Call into your mind a mental picture of your completed project. If the wood you’re using will be visible, this stage is where your vision really comes through! You should now have a pile of lumber that has the right dimensions and is straight and free of defects. Using the groups you made in step 1, choose boards that look good together; their tone and grain patterns should be similar. Now, you’re ready to take your lumber home and get started! Recent Posts What is Considered Construction Hardware Interior Design Services Tool Shed Project Inspirations for Summer What Order Do You Decorate Your House? Tool Shed and Garage Organizational Tips for Spring Cleaning Recent Comments Thomson Smith on 3 Benefits Of Having Carpet Flooring In The Right Rooms Karen McPeake on How to Choose Lumber for Your Next Project Eric T on 5 Home Office DIY Projects Nicholas Elian on How To Make The Best Flooring Choices For Your Home Archives June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 Categories Blog Designer Hardware Flooring Home Decor Home Renovation Tips Lighting Tool Rental Windows and Doors Meta Log in Entries feed Comments feed WordPress.org 1 Comment Karen McPeake on March 6, 2021 at 2:50 pm Wood Fence Panels. 6 x 8 or 4 x 8. Do you have any in stock or can they be ordered? Reply Submit a Comment Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * 2021 © KAUFMAN - LUMBER - BY DESIGN - BY DESIGN WEST | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Website Design by Rock City Digital Join the VIP list for exclusive deals! ▲