Choosing rough sawn lumber requires preparation and consideration of carpentry skills and tools. Hardwoods are more durable but expensive, while softwoods warp easily. Drying and shaping the wood properly is crucial, and purchasing larger pieces is recommended. Lumber yards grade the wood based on its condition, so consider project types before purchasing.
The important thing to remember when choosing rough sawn lumber is that it will need a significant amount of preparation before it can be used for construction projects. This means you should consider your carpentry skills and your access to the proper tools before purchasing any rough sawn lumber. Think about what projects you want to complete before choosing wood, as project types will often decide which type of wood is best. There are two general varieties of wood: hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods tend to be more durable and resistant to damage, but they also tend to be more expensive.
Softwoods are more susceptible to damage and warp much more easily than hardwoods. This means that as the wood dries, it is likely to bend or curl, so you’ll need to pay much more attention to this type of rough-sawn lumber during the seasoning process. Rough-sawn pieces of wood are shipped green, which means they have not been kiln-dried or naturally dried; you’ll need to do the drying process yourself, which means you’ll need a kiln or space to store the wood while it’s naturally drying. It is best to choose hardwood rough sawn lumber for these purposes.
Rough sawn lumber is usually sold in much larger chunks than finished lumber, as the pieces will need to be cut and planed. Think about how large a piece of lumber you need for your project, and purchase a piece of rough sawn lumber that is larger than what is needed. You will eventually plan out the piece and even cut it to make it straight and flat, so having extra material is more conducive to getting the correct shape and size.
In general, rough-sawn lumber is less expensive than finished lumber because it hasn’t undergone any of the processing that finished lumber has. This can be beneficial, but if the wood isn’t dried and shaped properly, you can end up losing money on the project. Be sure to find out what grade the wood has been given before buying; Lumber yards will often sort the wood as it arrives on site and assign each piece a certain grade based on its composition and general condition. Consider the types of projects you plan to complete when choosing the type of lumber you will purchase.
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