Lumber Buying Tips: What to Look for When Buying Hardwood Lumber
Published: August 17, 2022
Buying hardwood lumber for your home is a great way to add value to your property and make it feel more like an upscale apartment rather than a rental. But buying quality wood can be overwhelming if you've never done it before. After all, there are so many different types of lumber, and most of them have specific properties that make them better suited for certain uses than others.
Fortunately, much of the confusion over the properties of different types of lumber has been eliminated through standardization and testing requirements. Nowadays, virtually all residential hardwood lumber must meet the same minimum standards in order to be sold as "quality" lumber. In addition, most major brands sell their products at similar prices and have comparable quality. If you know what to look for when buying lumber for your home , you'll find it much easier to find good deals on high-quality wood from reputable suppliers. After all, not everything on sale costs less just because it isn't brand-name quality!
What do you need to know before you start looking for lumber?
Prized for its hardness, stability, and variety of colors and grain patterns, hardwoods are the material of choice for many applications such as furniture, outdoor projects and flooring. Some of our most popular hardwoods include cherry, mahogany, maple, oak, poplar, teak, and walnut. In addition to the decorative quality of the grain, look for boards that will be as stable as possible in the environment in which they will be used. For example if you are looking to build something that will be outside and exposed to the elements you will want to choose a wood that can withstand the beating from weather changes and other exterior pests.
There are different grades of hardwood lumber
Flat Sawn
Flat sawn is the most common cut you will see out there. The milling process involves simply slicing horizontal layers along the length of the log. Although it is the most affordable option, this type of wood may have problems with twist, cupping, and bowing over time.
Instead of an even grain, flat sawn wood has an irregular, wavy pattern.
Rift Sawn
Rift Sawn hardwood is more stable than Flat Sawn hardwood and has an end grain that is slanted between 30 to 60 degrees.
Quarter Sawn
Quarter sawn planks have a fairly straight grain. Quarter Sawn lumber has a fairly straight 60 to 90-degree vertical grain, with an end grain that runs up and down. Quarter sawn lumber may have ray flecks that add an interesting pattern in many species of hardwood lumber including maple, oak, sycamore, and beech.
However, because it's not possible to use all the wood in a cut of timber with this method, these planks are generally more expensive.
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Build an Instant QuoteSelecting Quality Hardwood Lumber for Your Project
Whether you are building furniture, trimming out a room, or crafting custom millwork, the quality of your lumber determines the quality of the finished product. Estate Millwork supplies kiln-dried dimensional lumber in species selected specifically for architectural and furniture-grade applications. Kiln drying reduces moisture content to eight to twelve percent, which minimizes warping, cupping, and cracking after installation.
Mahogany is the flagship lumber species for exterior applications. Its interlocking grain pattern resists splitting, its natural oils deter insects and rot, and it machines to a glass-smooth finish. For exterior trim, deck railings, and boat building, Mahogany delivers performance that justifies its premium price. Spanish Cedar shares Mahogany's workability and weather resistance at a lighter weight, making it preferred for large-panel applications like shutters and doors.
Domestic hardwoods cover the full spectrum of interior projects. Red Oak and White Oak provide strength and visible grain for flooring, stairs, and paneling. Cherry and Walnut are prized for furniture and cabinetry where natural color and figure are the primary design elements. Maple is the hardest common domestic species, ideal for cutting boards, countertops, and high-wear surfaces. Poplar is the versatile utility player: easy to machine, stable, and affordable for painted trim and millwork.
Shop dimensional lumber by species:
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