What is FAS grade lumber

FAS: (first and second grade) This stands for the highest grade of lumber. FAS grade includes some defects but is considered the premier lumber for furniture and cabinet making. #1 & #2 common: These two grades will have a fair amount of allowable defects and color variations.

Is FAS the best grade of hardwood lumber?

FAS is the highest of the hardwood lumber grades. … 1 Common piece of lumber (the poorer side of the wood piece is assigned as No. 1 Common grade) and the reverse side (the better side) grades FAS. The price of Selects and 1-Face is usually the same as FAS.

What are the four grades of lumber?

GradeDesignationTypical UsesNo. 1ConstructionSiding, shelving, panelingNo. 2StandardSimilar uses to No. 1No. 3UtilitySheathing, subflooring, crate constructionNo. 4EconomySheathing, subflooring, creation of forms for concrete work

What is FAS quality?

FAS (First and Second) The top quality – best quality on both sides meeting highest requirements. For use where is finished with clear stain or is to be French-polished in a light color and both sides are visible: for solid wood furniture parts, for furniture fronts, solid wood panals, moldings, stairs, etc.

What grade of lumber is the best?

Hardwood grades are: FAS (First and Second) is the highest grade of hardwood lumber. It’s usually 6-inches x 8-inches and is 83 percent defect-free on its best side. Select is 4-inches x 6-inches and 83 percent defect free on its best side.

Is White Oak stronger than red oak?

According to the Janka hardness scale, white oak’s rating is 1360, while red oak has a 1290 hardness rating. The difference is small, and even if white oak is harder, red oak may still be a better option for its visual appeal.

What does BTR mean in lumber?

BTRBetterB&BB & BetterCON COMConstruction Common RedwoodCON HEARTConstruction Heart RedwoodSTD BTRStandard & Better

What are the different grades of wood?

GradeTrade NameMin. cutting sizeFirsts and SecondsFAS4″ x 5′ or 3″ x 7’FAS One FaceF1F4″ x 5′ or 3″ x 7’SelectSEL4″ x 5′ or 3″ x 7No. 1 Common1C4″ x 2′ or 3″ x 3′

What are the different grades of construction lumber?

There are two primary grades of appearance framing: Finish and Select. Finish grade is higher quality than Select. Finish grading is only available in lumber from Douglass Firs and Hem-Firs. The grades are Supreme, Choice, and Quality.

Is the grade and quality of wood the same?

Grade is the natural look of the wood (knots, streaks, shakes, wane – i.e. all its natural features that haven’t been changed by man.) Quality is the finished wood after it’s been altered (length, width, depth, finish, colour)

Article first time published on

What is #3 grade lumber?

No. 3. Considered a “utility” grade of softwood lumber, No. 3 is better for utility applications, like subflooring and sheathing.

What is Grade C lumber?

Grade C is the highest grade of pine lumber and is commonly used for fine woodworking and interior trim. Select D grade pine lumber is not as fine in appearance as grade C but maintains a similar level of structural quality.

Is #1 or #2 lumber better?

Typically wood that is two or more inches thick is graded only for strength, denoted by #1, #2 and so on. And because stronger lumber has fewer and smaller knots, it’s typically more attractive. So the general rule of thumb for lumber grades is this: the lower the number, the more strength and better appearance.

Which wood is strongest?

Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.

What is FAS walnut?

Walnut FAS/1F Northwest Hardwoods pulls this grade higher than typical NHLA standards and is steamed to enhance the chocolate brown heartwood and darken the sapwood. The 6′ and 7′ boards are graded for clear face cuttings and not defect graded as NHLA allows.

What does the stamp on lumber mean?

When a building is inspected, the inspector will look for a grade stamp on the lumber. This grade stamp is the only way for the inspector to determine if the lumber used in the structure is acceptable. The grade stamp is extremely important to building inspectors, as it is required by all building codes.

What does s4see mean in lumber?

S2S Surfaced two sides. S4S Surfaced four sides. Lumber Sizes. A “quarter” system is commonly used in the hardwood lumber industry when referring to thickness. 4/4 refers to a 1 inch thick board, 6/4 is 1-1/2 inch, 8/4 is 2 inches, and so on.

What is standard grade lumber?

Standard grade lumber is used for light framing projects. Knots in this grade of wood are not restricted regarding quality.

Why is red oak called red oak?

Called the “red” oak because of the fall color and also due to the hint of red in the leaf veins on the underside of the leaves.

Do deer prefer white or red oak acorns?

Whitetails prefer certain varieties of acorns over others. However, when times are tough they will eat all varieties. All acorns contain tannic acid and deer prefer acorns with the least amount. White oak acorns, the number one hard mast choice for deer, contain the least amount of tannic acid.

Why is white oak more expensive than red oak?

Price – In general, there is not a major price difference between red oak and white flooring. Because unfinished hardwood is a commodity item, the price tends to fluctuate weekly. At times, red oak costs more; at other times, white oak costs more. the price will often vary based on width and grade.

Which wood is most commonly used for house construction?

Standard SPF (spruce-pine-fir) lumber – Softwood wood choices: Light structural lumber is mainly used in the residential construction of single family homes. This timber is milled from softwood trees (spruce, fir and pine) that are sawn and machine-planed to standard dimensions (2×4″, 2×6″, 2×8″, etc.).

What are the different grades of treated lumber?

There are many types of treated lumber. There are three main families of treated lumber used in construction: Borate, Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ) and other rot-resistant treatments, and non-combustible (Non-Com).

How can you tell the grade of wood?

Hardwood lumber is usually graded on the basis of the size and number of cuttings (pieces) that can be obtained from a board when it is cut up and used in the manufacture of a hardwood product.

What is No 2 Pine?

#2 Common Ponderosa Pine #2 Common grade is intended for use in housing for paneling, shelving, siding, soffits and fascia. Characteristics may include – checks, knots sound, some black knots, pin holes, pith, pitch, shake, skip, wispy blue stain and warp.

What is premium lumber?

Characteristics. Prime grade lumber provides the same structural properties as #1 grade lumber, but has fewer knots and better appearance. #2 Prime grade has the strength of #2 grade lumber, but will look better, with fewer knots.

What is Southern Pine SS?

Select Structural. *Select Structural Non-Dense. High quality, limited in characteristics that affect strength or stiffness. Recommended for uses where high strength, stiffness and good appearance are desired.

What is D lumber?

This is the Pine grade that includes all of the select grades. This grade may allow sound tight knots (STK), but for the most part this lumber is clear and free of defects.

Is Southern yellow pine stronger than Douglas fir?

In the fact that they are both softwoods, Southern yellow pine and Douglas fir are somewhat different. In strength, durability, weather resistance, looks, and usage. Southern yellow pine is stronger physically. Whereas Douglas Fir is more versatile and easy to work with.

What is D Select Pine?

D Select, which is the lower of the two grades, allows pin knots (maximum size is approximately 1⁄2”) and limits the total number of pin knots to one knot per surface foot. Checks and shake are barely perceptible. The occasional pocket is very small. A split will not exceed 1⁄2 the width.

Is yellow pine the same as Southern pine?

The four principal species – loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf and slash – make up 90% of the Southern Pine timber inventory and are referred to commercially as “Southern Pine” or “Southern Yellow Pine”. “Mixed Southern Pine” includes the minor species of Virginia pine and Pond pine.