Why is it called 2×4?

Why is it called 2×4?

"Dimensional" lumber is the general name for framing lumber. … In the past, when a timber was called a 2×4 [or "two-by-four"], it actually measured 2 inches by 4 inches. Now, most timber is milled and planed to give it a little more of a finished look, and a little more of a consistent size and profile.

What are the types of timber?

Wood Timber: Types, Quality and Uses. The common types of well-recognized timbers of hardwood and softwood are Shisham, Sal, Teak, Mango, Mahogany, Kail, Chid, Babul, Fir wood, Walnut and Haldu.

When did 2×4 stop being 2×4?

Here's a document produced by the U.S. Forest Service entitled ​History of Yard Lumber Size Standards (September 1964). While this document is over 40 years old now, it gives an interesting history of when and why lumber was reduced from the common nomenclature (2×4, for instance) to the actual sizes used today.

What is the mean of timber?

Timber traces back to an Old English word initially meaning “house” or “building” that also came to mean “building material,” “wood,” and “trees” or “woods.” Timbers are large squared lengths of wood used for building a house or a boat. In British English, timber is also used as a synonym for lumber.

What is the difference in size between lumber as a board dimension lumber and a timber?

Dimensional lumber is the finished product of timber processing. Timber is the raw ingredient from which dimensional lumber is made. … In some cases, rough cut timber is used in its rough form for construction. The main differences revolve around texture and sizing.

How is lumber measured?

Board Foot: Rough sawn lumber is usually sold by the "board foot" (bd. ft.). A board foot is equal to a piece of wood 12 inches long x 12 inches wide and 1 inch thick, or 144 cubic inches. To figure the board foot measurement of a piece of wood, multiply the length x width x thickness in inches, then divide by 144.

What is a stack of lumber called?

In the United States and Canada, firewood is usually sold by the full cord, face cord or bag. A full cord or bush cord has a volume of 128 cubic feet (3.6 m3), including wood, bark, and air space in a neatly stacked pile.

What type of wood is a 2×4?

One of the most commonly used two-by-fours for framing is made from softwood known as Douglas fir, with hemlock a close competitor. The two species share similar qualities of strength, appearance and durability and are often marketed together and sold as Hem-fir.

What do they call a 2×4 in Europe?

I cant speak for the hole of europe, but at least in Norway a "2×4" is 48×98 mm. If you go to a lumberyard, you buy 48×98 as everything is measured in metric, but in the daily speach most people still use the term 2×4, 2×8 aso.

What type of wood is timber?

Some examples of the most popular hardwoods include oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, walnut, and teak. Commonly used softwoods include pine, hickory, beach, ash, birch, and cedar.

Is lumber a renewable resource?

Wood is the most renewable resource – Sustainable Lumber Company.

What type of wood is used for framing a house?

The most common species of wood used for timber frame homes are white pine, red and white oak, and Douglas fir, cypress and cedar.

How thick is a 2×4?

A piece of surfaced (sanded smooth) 2×4 lumber actually measures 1½ inches thick and 3½ inches wide. In rough-cut condition, a 2×4 is slightly less than 2 inches thick and approximately 4 inches wide. When wood is milled from a rough to a smooth surface, it loses about ¼-inch from each of its four sides.

What is s4s lumber?

S4S stands for "surfaced on 4 sides", meaning that the material is finished on all four sides. Dimensional lumber is commonly S4S. S4S finished lumber and dimensional lumber are labeled according to nominal size, or the size of the rough board before it was planed smooth.

What is cut wood called?

Wood is the main substance in trees. … Wood is very hard to cut, but it is also very strong. A lumberjack is a person who cuts down trees. After a tree falls, the wood in it can be cut into long, straight pieces called lumber.

What is appearance grade lumber?

Appearance Lumber. The lumber grades in this category are intended for applications where strength is not the primary consideration. … The highest grades of Appearance lumber are seldom gradestamped, unless on the back or ends, as the grade stamp would deface the product.

When did lumber sizes change?

After World War I, the increasing demand for construction lumber led to the first national size standard in 1924. This was revised in 1926, 1928, 1939, and 1953, while still another revision is proposed for adoption in 1964.