Take a look around you and you will see more wood than you would have ever imagined in homes, businesses, furniture, mailbox posts, park benches, and so on. Another thing you may not realize is just how important it is to use the right wood for the products and structures being built and constructed with wood. You can learn more about lumber and choosing the right type for projects here so that you will be off to a better start if you want to conquer your own project.
There are some specific features you can look for
Lumber comes in all shapes and sizes. It also has other things that can make it a good fit or a bad fit for your project. For example, some lumber will have knots in it. While some wouldn't want their lumber to have these knots, others may like them because the natural look of that wood is going to be preserved and displayed.
Also, lumber can end up bowed from things like exposure to dampness and heat. Bowed wood can be impossible to work with in some cases, but it can also be more affordable if the bowing is something that you can work with.
Some other features lumber can have include cracks, curves, and even twists. Again, buying what many would consider to be lumber with defects can help you save money on your project if you are able to incorporate those defects in a way that is beneficial.
There are many types of lumber you can use
What would be considered adequate lumber for most light framing projects would be a standard grade. This is lumber that may have some small defects, but those defects don't affect the integrity of the lumber. However, in some light framing projects the integrity of the wood is not as strict, and there would be some leeway with regard to using lumber with a few more flaws and integrity issues.
When it comes to building homes and other buildings, the highest grade of lumber will need to be used. This is to ensure buildings not only pass inspection but are also going to be structurally sound and protect against premature effects of aging and natural elements that can include earthquakes and excessive wind.
Projects like wood fences and other visible things will require lumber that has a limited number of flaws, but the lumber doesn't have to be as high of a grade. There can be knots, as long as they don't cause unacceptable weakness. Cracks and splits will be unacceptable, however.
For more information, contact a lumber supply company.