A Quick Glossary of Timber Terms
by Julius Manninen
Choosing sawn and dressed timber is not always as easy as you might imagine, as wood pieces may all look alike to you but they will all be different as to their strength, appearance and a number of other factors that will affect how they're used. One way to ensure you get the right type of timber for a home improvement project is to understand the terms you're likely to encounter at the lumberyard. Note a few of these here.
1. Clear timber
This is timber free of any imperfections in its appearance. For projects like cabinet making or wood floors, you want clear timber. However, since it may be more expensive than timber with knots and other visual imperfections, you might not need to use it for framing or in any area where it's not going to be exposed.
2. Cup
This refers to a bend or bow in the timber. You may see it noted that a board has a very distinct cup, or it may be without a cup. Boards with a cup may be trimmed, depending on where the cup is located and its overall size, but for framing and jobs where you need the board to be perfectly straight and cannot trim it, choose ones without a cup.
3. Finished size
When timber has been trimmed it will have a finished size, and depending on the trimming done, the finished size may be much smaller than what you need. When checking the diameter of timber boards and beams, always check the finished size so you know they will fit the dimensions needed for your project.
4. Gauged
When timber has been finished to a precise size, it may be referred to as gauged. If you need a precise size for boards and beams, look for gauged timber and then the measurement you require.
5. Moisture content
Timber often increases in strength the more that it is dried, so when shopping for timber that needs to maintain its strength such as for framing, note the moisture content. This timber may be more expensive since it may take more energy to keep it in a kiln longer, but it will retain its durability over time if it has a lower moisture content.
6. Structural timber
This is timber that is dense and dry enough to hold up the weight of a structure. You should always use structural timber for framing and flooring; start shopping where you see the term structural timber used to make your choice easier.
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Welcome to my blog. My name is Emilie. When I turned thirty, I received the most thoughtful gift from my mum: a tropical tree in a pot. I loved it. I would have never imagined buying something like that, but it lit up my home, and it produced yummy fruit. After having such a positive experience with a potted tree, I decided to invest in a few more. Through the years, I have learned how to take care of potted trees, how to plant them outside and how to ensure they are getting the light they need inside. If you want to buy a tree in a pot or if you already have one, explore these posts. They will guide you toward great tree care.