Here we will define each to help you better understand the sizing methods used when referring to lumber "size". That’s per the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS 20-05, which BTW is a voluntary … Note that all shelf hanger widths are actually … 8 ft-16 … Additional sizes may be available or on special order. google_ad_slot = "1049003120"; The old standard of calling this board a 2 x 4 still remains, even though in today's lumber practices, the board has never been 2 x 4 inches in … Three stocking warehouses on a 3-1/2 acre site … Nominal dimensions which identify certain board, beam or post do not represent its actual parameters. Thickness and width dimensions mean the nominal sizes of the timber at a moisture content of 20%.The standard … 3/4″ plywood is also an economical choice for wide shelving. Premium Yellow Southern Pine Dimensional Lumber (3-Pack). //-->. Surfaced construction lumber, whether fir, pine, redwood or cedar, is sold by the foot and available in 2-foot increments from 6 to 16 feet at most lumber yards. Besides having an abiding interest in popular science, Deziel has been active in the building and home design trades since 1975. Both 18- and 20-foot lengths are produced by mills but are not commonly stocked at most building-supply stores. Some lumber might be sold in odd sizes such as 7 or 9 feet, but it is rare and might be available just from certain lumber retailers. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3422521475473541"; At the same time, length of lumber normally does not have nominal dimensions and only actual size determine. The American Lumber Congress first established nationwide standards for lumber dimensions in 1924 in the midst of the construction boom that followed World War I. The current standards for dimensioned lumber sold in the United States were set by the American Lumber Standards Committee in 1963. Other common sizes include 1 x 4 lumber, 1 x 6 lumber, 2 x 2 lumber, 2 x 6 lumber, 2 x 8 lumber and 2 x 12 lumber. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Standard Thicknesses. However the following lengths are readily available from most lumber yards and some home centers. So, this example board's actual length is 8 feet. /* Bottom ad image 728x90 */ google_ad_width = 728; lumber led to the first national size standard in 1924. As stated earlier, their actual sizes are 1 1/2 inches and 3 1/2 inches. Job specific joists, glulams, beams, timbers and more are brought in daily. (2) Boards less than the minimum dressed thickness for 1″ nominal but which are 5/8″ or greater thickness dry may be regarded as American Standard Lumber, but such Boards shall be marked to … In 2 in. These lengths are used for wall plating, window and door framing and bracing. Moreover, retailers usually conform to a different standard when sizing hardwood lumber. 1×4. What Kind of Wood Are Lathe Boards Made From? //-->. Most lumber for residential construction comes from 8 feet (244 centimeters) to 16 ft. (488 cm) long with 24” (71 mm) increment. Common treated lumber dimensions are available through most building supply retailers. Nominal Size. Typical length of lumber Most lumber for residential construction comes … Surfaced construction lumber, whether fir, pine, redwood or cedar, is sold by the foot and available in 2-foot increments from 6 to 16 feet at most lumber yards. These measurements are the depth and width of the board. x 6 in. x 4 in. If you strap your ceilings, as many East Coast carpenters do (see “ Strapping Ceilings ,” Sep/14), while using standard precut studs, you usually have to rip a bit off the edge of one of … Depending on a quality, treatment process and wood species the cost of lumber might vary even if the actual dimensions will be identical. 1. 2 in. Early American builders had ready sources of lumber that they could cut to any size they needed. x 4 ft. Actual sizes are exact lumber measurements thickness x width in inches (imperial units). Nominal and actual widths are also equal, and the wood is sold by the board-foot. Woods-length logs are typically bucked into mill-length … The maximum length of dimension lumber that can be obtained is about 7 m (23 ft), but varies throughout Canada. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3422521475473541"; Chris Deziel has a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in humanities. 3/4" × 1-1/2". Surfaced boards with nominal thicknesses of 2 inches or more are actually 1/2 inch thinner than their nominal values. As of 2012, it is 3/4 inches. Naturally Endowed: South Africa is a beautiful country and our commercial tree farming areas’ are naturally endowed with warm summers, mediocre winters, deep soils and an annual rainfall of … Lumber measurements in width and thickness normally 0.25 inches (6 millimeters) – 0.75 in (19 mm) smaller than nominal sizes. Consequently, the actual dimensions of a 2-by-4-inch framing stud are 1 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, and those of a 1-by-4-inch trim board are 3/4 by 3 1/2 inches. google_ad_height = 90; Standard lengths for these range from 8 feet up to 16 feet. Dimensional Lumber. Prior to the 1963 modifications, the actual thickness of a surfaced 1-inch board was 25/32 inches, and before 1929, it was 13/16 inches.