Douglas Fir Lumber Grades Explained

All pictures are meant for a general grade description.

Douglas fir lumber grades explained.

By its nature wood is not of uniform consistency and therefore will contain defects that impact the appearance of the lumber that is created from the wood material and which may impact the structural characteristics as well. That little stamp contains all the information that we just talked about above. Before we get into the different grades of lumber let s take a look at the various defects you may find in a piece of lumber. These depend on various factors like the type of wood used and the number and types of defects if any.

An overview of lumber grades and wood quality. So with just a glance you can know the type of tree the lumber came from its classification its grade and its moisture content. That means of course that it does not encompass exotic hardwood species such as ipe or mahogany or softwood species such as red cedar or douglas fir. This lumber must be at minimum 4 wide and 6 long.

Lumber is a wood product sawn and shaped from timbers of harvested trees. Limitations of the nhla grading system. The triangle with d fir in it lets us know that this piece of lumber came from a douglas fir. Spruce pine or fir.

When it comes to douglas fir you re going to see grades from agencies that specialize in softwoods from the western u s such as the west coast lumber inspection bureau or the western wood products association. Lumber of this grade is intended primarely for use in housing and light construction where it is exposed as paneling shelving and other uses where a knotty type of lumber with the finest appearance is required. Establishes lumber quality based on a grader s visual inspection. First and most significantly the nhla grading system as its name implies is limited to domestic hardwood lumber.

Structural lumber including dimension lumber is visually and or mechanically msr graded for its strength and physical working properties appearance is secondary unless specified. These groups grade the lumber based on its intended use. This lumber must be at minimum 6 wide and 8 long and 83 of the board must be free of defects. Underneath the umbrella of alsc are numerous lumber grading agencies.

Douglas fir l western larch syp. The abbreviations for framing grade softwoods from strongest to weakest are as follows. Doug fir d fir l. Western wood products association 1500 sw first ave ste 870 portland or 97201 phone.

Select grade douglas fir. Douglas fir ponderosa pine white fir and western red cedar are the most common single species sold as dimension lumber products. Lumber is graded based on the quality and appearance of the wood.