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| Lumber-buying Basics |
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| Know what to look for - lumber types, sizes, grades and how they are sold. Carefully judge your requirements, so you don't buy excessive amounts, wrong materials, or unnecessary quality. Shop around. Make a list of your requirements and call several dealers for the best price. Hardwood or Softwood? Hardwoods come from deciduous trees, softwoods from conifers. Hardwoods are usually harder than softwoods. But, balsa, the softest of woods, is classifed a hardwood. Pine and fir are the two most commonly used softwoods. Pine cuts easily and resists splintering. Most hardwoods are very strong, have handsome grain and colouring, and finish beautifully with more resistance to wear. Of the hardwoods, ash and birch are the least expensive, walnut and teak the most. Choose wood that is kiln dried, straight, and flat. Avoid knots unless you are buying them for effect. By hand selecting your lumber, you can get better lumber for your money. Check out the lesser grades, working your way up until you find something suitable. Plywood Plywood is available in large sheets, has exceptional strength, high resistance to warp, and in most cases, lower cost. Plywood comes in softwood and hardwood. The difference lies in the species of wood covering the outer faces of a panel. Plywood comes in a range of thicknesses. If you would rather not see the edges, mask them with veneer tape or mouldings. Alternatively, you could paint the edges. |
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