Wood Properties – US Timber™

A Resource Guide to Lumber Properties

Wood timber storage
Neatly arranged cut lumber
Heavy Timber joinery

Heavy Timber & Wood Properties Resources

Wood products are the oldest and most common building materials still in use. Even with structural improvements offered with steel and composite materials, more than 90 percent of residential construction still turns to wood as the “go-to” for sturdy walls and foundation. Picking the right size lumber for an upcoming job, or topping off current inventories as a retailer can mean the difference between turning a profit or exposing the bottom line. With more than a dozen different types of hard and softwoods dominating the market, it’s can be hard to see the “forest for the trees” when it comes to selecting a quality grade. Making a clean-cut decision on your next heavy timber purchase streamlines engineering and manufacturing.

What’s The Difference Between Hard and Soft Wood Products?

When looking at heavy timber, most wood products fall under two categories: hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods refer to the angiosperm trees and include oak, birch, walnut, hickory, and pine among others. Because hardwood trees take longer to mature, they typically cost more than softwood heavy timber wood products. On the other side of the grain, softwoods typically have a lower density, so craftsmen and carpenters find this variation of heavy timber much more malleable and easier to work with. Softwood category of trees include pine, cedar, Douglas fir, spruce and western Red cedar. Picking the right type of wood for your next building project will come down to application.

With a more dense heart of cut, hardwoods yield a more durable and stronger piece of lumber to work with. Because they take a fraction of the time to mature, soft woods have become more readily available and can best suited for finishing interior moldings, window and interior framing and as well as plywood. Although softwood products have a shorter service life, builders rely on softwoods for interior building projects only. There’s a reason why they say “buying hardwood is a lifetime investment.” Hardwoods stand both the test of time and the elements. Because of the cheap readily availability of softwoods, lumber yards and retailers will want to keep ample supplies of softwoods during the building season.

What Gives With The Different Sizes?

If you haven’t spent too much time strolling the lumberyard, you might get lost in the jargon of board sizes that gets slung around by the more seasoned pros. If you take a closer look at the stated size on the label of any wood product, you will quickly realize the “actual size” is quite different than what it is advertised. The difference is called dimensional lumber. Because lumber is cut to size and then sawn to make it as straight as possible, the actual size of the board will be smaller than what is originally stated. For example, a 2″x4″ on the stated label will actually be cut to 1 1/2″ and 1 1/2″ when finished. Don’t worry. No one is trying to pull a switch a bait. The difference isn’t reflected in pricing and the terminology comes down to simplifying inventorying.

Why Going Cheap Costs More Long-term

Cutting corners when it comes to sawing off poor cuts of wood will costs builders and clients more money in the long-haul. Picking a softer, cheaper wood in a situation that clearly calls for a denser and heartier hardwood might lessen the initial financial hit, but you will see far more rainy days when your home begins to succumb to the elements. U.S. Timber supplies retailers, lumber yards and even residential customers with premium top grade quality cuts with minimal blemishes and free of blight. You don’t have to worry about overcharges and price hikes. There’s no middleman in our forest of quality heavy timber products. Below is a comprehensive guide to examining common lumber defects and issues pertaining to general construction techniques.

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Common Lumber Defects

An info sheet illustrating common lumber defects, such as warping, splitting, etc.

Author unknown. (2 pages)

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Construction

General Construction Techniques

Lumber Data & Specifications

Connection Guides

Engineering

Properties

Performance

Douglas Fir

Western Red Cedar

Eastern White Pine

Specialty Timbers

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WWPA Grade Stamps

A visual guide to interpreting standard lumber grade stamps.

Published by the WWPA. (2 pages)

Note: a signup/account (free and fast process) is required to download and view WWPA documents.

About the WWPA

Supported by Western lumber manufacturers, WWPA delivers lumber grading, quality control, technical, business information and product support services to sawmills as well as those who use Western softwood lumber products throughout the world.

Western Wood Products Association represents lumber manufacturers in the 12 Western states and Alaska. The largest lumber association in the region, WWPA provides service covering over 8 billion board feet of annual Western lumber production.

Services
WWPA provides services to Western mills in three areas: Quality Assurance, Technical Services and Market Services. Member mills have access and can guide Association activities in all three service areas. WWPA also provides nonmember quality assurance services, including grade inspection, heat-treating, remanufactured wood, and glued products.

Membership
WWPA mills produce more than 60% of the lumber manufactured in the West each year. The Member roster features the top independent lumber companies in North America, with mills that lead the industry in manufacturing technology, operating efficiencies and sales strategies.

Staffing
WWPA’s headquarters are located in Lake Oswego, OR. The Association’s field staff are recognized throughout the sawmilling industry, with each averaging more than two decades of lumber quality control experience. WWPA technical and product support professionals are the acknowledged experts in the use of Western lumber in construction. The statistical and product information created by the Association’s staff are sought by thousands of people each year.

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