| Commercial lumber is basically any lumber traded in | | | | Finished hardwood market products are graded in |
| the free market system, bought or sold at either the | | | | finished form and generally require no further |
| retail or wholesale level. It comes in many forms, | | | | processing. Examples of finished products include |
| types and species, and is generally graded into | | | | siding, stair treads and risers, trim and moulding, |
| categories of quality to enable users to select the | | | | construction boards and timbers, and hardwood |
| quality best suited for their purposes. | | | | flooring. Of these hardwood flooring is probably the |
| The grading of commercial lumber is based upon the | | | | highest volume product on the market. |
| characteristics and features that may lower its | | | | Softwood lumber has been used for many years as |
| strength, durability or appearance. Knots, checks and | | | | the primary raw material for use in construction and |
| pitch pockets are some of the visual features that | | | | manufacturing. It is produced in a wide variety of |
| are a natural part of trees. While those grades that | | | | products and from a wide variety of species. |
| make up the vast majority of commercial lumber can | | | | Softwood lumber can be classified by its species, |
| contain numerous knots and other features, some | | | | grade and form of manufacture, and can be graded |
| grades are virtually free of such features. | | | | into the three main use categories of yard lumber, |
| Lumber can be divided into two major categories: | | | | structural lumber, and factory and shop lumber. |
| hardwood and softwood. Hardwood lumber is | | | | Yard lumber can be further graded into "Select" and |
| primarily used for remanufacturing into furniture, | | | | "Common" classes. Select lumber is usually not graded |
| flooring, paneling, moulding, cabinetry and other | | | | according to strength but rather according to |
| millwork. Softwood lumber is primarily used for | | | | appearance, as it is generally intended to receive |
| construction work. | | | | natural or paint finishes. Common lumber is also not |
| Hardwood lumber can be graded into the three main | | | | usually graded for stress, is of lower appearance than |
| categories of factory lumber, dimensioned lumber and | | | | the Select grade, but is suitable for light construction |
| finished products. | | | | and utility uses. |
| There are several grades of hardwood factory | | | | Structural lumber is almost always produced in |
| lumber. The best grade is known as "FAS"; the | | | | standard dimensional sizes, graded for stress and |
| second-best grade is "FIF"; and the third-best grade | | | | strength, and assigned allowable structural properties. |
| is called "Selects". These grades are followed by "No. | | | | As the name implies, structural lumber is used as |
| 1 Common", "No. 2A Common", No. 2B Common", | | | | structural members in construction. |
| "Sound Wormy", "No. 3A Common" and "No. 3B | | | | Factory and Shop lumber comes in a wide variety of |
| Common". Hardwood lumber comes in standard | | | | species, sizes and grades of softwood and is typically |
| lengths of one foot increments ranging from four | | | | the raw material for many different secondary |
| feet to sixteen feet in length. Standard thicknesses | | | | manufacturing uses where appearance and finishing |
| are in either 1/8 inch or 1/2 inch increments ranging | | | | characteristics as well as physical properties are |
| from 3/16 inch to 3-3/4 thicknesses. Hardwood | | | | important, such as trim moulding and cabinet stock. |
| lumber is manufactured to random widths as the | | | | Various inspection bureaus and grading agencies |
| grades do not specify standard widths. | | | | typically supervise the grading processes at lumber |
| Dimensioned hardwood lumber, also known as | | | | mills, provide re-inspection services and write grading |
| "hardwood dimension stock" or "dimension parts", is | | | | rules for the products and species they represent. |
| stock that has been processed into specific lengths, | | | | Architects, engineers and construction contractors |
| widths and thicknesses and can be either | | | | should be well versed in the types, grades, species |
| semi-machined or completely machined products. | | | | and physical properties of commercial lumber. The |
| These products are usually kiln-dried and graded into | | | | study of commercial lumber is an excellent topic for |
| the three main classes of "hardwood dimension | | | | the continuing education requirements of these |
| parts", "rough solid kiln-dried squares" and "surfaced | | | | professionals. More information is available from the |
| solid kiln-dried squares". | | | | U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. |