Lumber grades chart See full list on thomasnet. Whether you are building a deck, framing a house, or crafting furniture, understanding lumber grades is crucial to ensuring the strength, appearance, and suitability of the wood for your specific application. See photographs of the main grades for nine species and how to measure board feet and surface area. This guide will help clarify the differences in types of lumber. Jun 20, 2022 · Learn about the different grades of lumber, from Select Structural to Utility, based on their strength, appearance and defects. Learn how to choose the right type of Southern Pine lumber for your project based on appearance, structural integrity, durability and code compliance. LUMBER GRADES EXPLAINED Lumber grades categorize wood based on strength and appearance to help you make the right decision according to your application. In these cases your yield will exceed the National Hardwood Lumber Association standard. May 14, 2025 · Learn how to choose the best lumber for your DIY projects. Find out the grade descriptions, characteristics and typical uses of visually, mechanically and glued lumber products. Lumber is classified into different grades based on its quality, appearance, and strength. There are three Southern Pine lumber grading methods for sorting Southern Pine dimension lumber and assigning design values: Visually Graded Lumber This is the oldest and most common of the three methods. This comprehensive guide is designed to equip contractors, builders, and designers with the essential information they need to make informed decisions regarding the strength Understanding framing lumber grades The species of lumber and lumber grades available will often vary depending on which region you are in. Jan 17, 2025 · When choosing lumber for your projects, understanding lumber grades and standards is essential. As you move east, lumberyards stock both DF-L and Hem Fir (HF). This system of grading hardwood lumber has Aug 20, 2025 · Learn what lumber grades mean, how they’re determined, and why they matter for your construction or woodworking project. Oct 20, 2020 · Dimensional lumber is sold in multiple sizes, cuts, and types, and different types of wood have different characteristics, such as density and hardness. Jul 18, 2025 · Lumber is a fundamental material in construction, woodworking, and various DIY projects. In California, for example, the predominate species of dimensional lumber used for home building is Douglas Fir-Larch (DF-L). See the different grades of lumber, from Select Structural to Utility, and their uses and characteristics. Use the chart to compare different pieces of wood, paying attention to the visual and technical specifications outlined. Discover the differences between common lumber grades and how to choose the right one for your needs. Structural framing products are graded for their strength and other physical properties, as opposed to appearance products, which are graded for their aesthetic properties. See the criteria and examples for each grade and how they are used for framing projects. Some imported woods are available only in small cuttings. . The National Hardwood Lumber Association developed the uniform system of grading with the cooperation of both producers and consumers of hardwood lumber. A lumber grade chart visually represents the grading criteria, such as grain, knots, and defects. com Learn about the NHLA grading rules for American hardwood lumber, based on the percentage of clear wood in the board. 120) for the species listed in its rules (see Para Dec 17, 2024 · In this article, we will explore the lumber strength chart in construction, helping you understand the various types of lumber, their strength classifications, and how to apply this knowledge to your next building project. The American Lumber Standard Committee lumber program, operating under the Board of Review, currently has 31 accredited independent Nov 1, 2024 · Understand lumber grades to choose the best quality materials for durable, high-quality construction projects. Lumber grading provides buyers and builders with a standardized way to assess the quality and Learn how lumber is graded based on the quality and appearance of the wood and the number of defects. Qualified graders perform visual grading in the mill. Oct 19, 2021 · Go into your local lumber yard with confidence once you understand the basics of lumber grades and numbers. Industrial products include a combination of both structural and non-structural properties. The National Grading Rule for Dimension Lumber (NGR) applies to all species of softwood dimension lumber, nominal 2" to 4" thick, which are covered by grading rules developed and approved under Voluntary Product Standard PS 20 – American Softwood Lumber Standard (PS 20). These graders sort each piece of lumber into various grades based on visual characteristics known to affect lumber strength and stiffness The standard grades of hardwood lumber are: Lumber sold by Woodworkers Source, unless marked otherwise, is graded “Select” or higher; however, some boards may be cut for shipping or to make “Packs”. In 1898 the National Hardwood Lumber Association was established, with the express purpose of establishing a uniform system of grading rules for the measurement and inspection of hardwood lumber. The NLGA Grading Rules conform to the provisions of the NGR (see Para. adgyt voobhu gbxo hrtlw xzbl jba xkoh iqg dfhg xctwsg dezuexo lfgio ficfe fkb uncqri