Wood Sizes

When you decide to build a new home or embark on a remodel project of some sort it can be a little confusing when it comes time to purchase the lumber Westchester, NY.  There are many different grades of lumber.  There are hardwoods and softwoods and many species in each type.  There is unique sizing system to the lumber industry that can actually seem very foreign if you haven’t ever worked with lumber before.  When you visit a lumber store you will see that the lumber comes in these different sizes.  There is even a difference in the way hardwoods and softwoods are sized.  The numbers can be quite deceiving if you aren’t familiar with the way they are done in the industry.  Knowing some basic information can really help you in this area. 

Most people have heard of a 2 x 4, which is said “two by four”.  But most people don’t realize that the actual length and width of a 2 x 4 is actually approximately 1 ½” x 3 ½” determined by how dry the material is and how it was milled.  Just like this example, a 1 x, which is said: one by” is actually approximately ¾” thick.  When wood is dried it shrinks.  How long the lumber is usually not affected by this shrinkage like the other dimensions are.  So if a piece of lumber is 8’ to begin with, it usually is very close to that after drying.
 
The majority of softwoods used in homes and for working with wood come in 1 x and 2 x sizes.  But remember that the size of the wood is really not exactly as it sounds.  Hardwood sizing is different and can be harder to understand because it is determined on whether the lumber Westchester, NY is surfaced on two sides or one side.  For example, if you have a 1” piece of lumber it will likely measure about 7/8” if it is a one side surface and will probably measure 13/16” if it is of the two side surface.  Softwoods may come in standard sizes, but hardwoods often don’t.  The hardwoods are usually measured in board-foot. 

Plywood is often sold in 4’x8’ sheets.  But here again, the thickness can be different than is implied with the name of the size.  For example a sheet that is said to be ½” is really about 15/32” thick and a sheet that is said to be ¾” is actually about 23/32” thick.

Knowing these basic guidelines can really help you when you are purchasing lumber Westchester, NY for your project.