Lumber is the raw wood material used in the construction of houses, fences, and certain types of furniture. One of the most common sizes in construction is the 2 X 4, but lumber is available in a variety of dimensions. You may have noticed that lumber sizes can often be deceptive. The "nominal" dimensions of a piece of lumber, like 2 X 4 or 1 X 6, are always slightly larger than the actual, or dressed, measurements. This is because dressed lumber has been smoothed and planed on all four sides (known as S4S). The nominal size is determined before the lumber undergoes surfacing.
Board and Lumber DimensionsOne-by (1X) lumber is called "board":
| Nominal Size |
Dressed Dimensions (inches) |
| 1 X 6 |
3/4 X 51/2 |
| 1 X 8 |
3/4 X 71/4 |
| 1 X 10 |
3/4 X 91/4 | Two-by (2X) and four-by (4X) lumber is called "dimension lumber":
| Nominal Size |
Dressed Dimensions (inches) |
| 2 X 2 |
11/2 X 11/2 |
| 2 X 4 |
11/2 X 31/2 |
| 2 X 6 |
11/2 X 51/2 |
| 2 X 8 |
11/2 X 71/4 |
| 2 X 10 |
11/2 X 91/4 |
| 2 X 12 |
11/2 X 111/4 |
| 4 X 4 |
31/2 X 31/2 | |
Board measure is a system used to measure lumber, with the basic unit being 1 foot long by 1 foot wide and 1 inch thick, referred to as a board foot. It is calculated using the nominal dimensions of the lumber, not the actual size. The simplest formula for calculating nominal board feet is:Thickness x Width x Length12The answer is measured in board feet. Lumber is frequently priced by board feet, but many building material suppliers and lumberyards also offer pricing by the running foot for simpler calculations. For example, a 2 X4X8 is priced as eight times the cost per running foot, rather than being priced at 5.333 board feet.
Lumber is a fundamental material used in constructing homes.Not what you're looking for? Try these:
- Home Repair Tools: Whether you rely on the Yellow Pages for home repairs or consider yourself a seasoned DIY enthusiast, there are essential tools that everyone should have in their toolbox. Find out more in this article.
- Materials: Having the right tools is crucial, but often you'll need materials like lumber or drywall to get the job done. Check out this article for tips on materials.
- Plywood: Available at home improvement centers, hardware stores, and lumberyards, plywood can be more suitable than lumber for some tasks. Learn about the different grades of plywood in this article.
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