What is Lumber?

Lumber, a term used mostly in North America, is wood that has been cut. The word lumber can refer to the wood in several stages, from the time the tree falls to the time it is prepared to use in construction. It can be cut into shapes, like boards. There are two types of lumber: rough and finished.

• Rough lumber requires cutting and shaping. It is a raw material and is used for making furniture. Typically, rough lumber is cut from hardwoods.




• Finished lumber comes in sizes that are standard to the construction industry. Typically, finished lumber comes from coniferous species of softwood, such as spruce, cedar, pine, hemlock and fir.




• Dimensional lumber is finished lumber that has been cut to a standard width and depth. These dimensions are measured in inches. For example: 2x4. The length of the boards are not included in these dimensions and come in different sizes also. A standard 2x4 can come in four, eight or twelve foot lengths.




• Engineered lumber is finished lumber made by a manufacturer to use for a specific purpose. There are five main categories: wood I-joists, finger-jointed lumber, manufactured trusses, laminated veneer lumber and glu-iam beams.




• A preservative can be applied to protect lumber from defects caused by insects, moisture or fungus. This can increase the lumber's life up to ten times.