When was dimensional lumber introduced

Dimensional lumber sizes refer to depth and width, not length. Dimensional lumber is sawn, planed , and sometimes further smoothed to make it immediately ready for many applications.

Dimensional lumber is the most common type of lumber used for building because its consistent sizing allows builders to use it interchangeably throughout the home. Standardization also means that builders or do-it-yourselfers throughout the entire country are using lumber that is sized the same way.

The modern home would not be possible without dimensional lumber. The term dimensional lumber came into popular use around the beginning of the 20th century to distinguish lumber cut to pre-determined sizes from other types of wood, such as corded wood for fireplaces. During this period, the building industry sought to control costs and minimize waste by developing standard sizes and grades for building timber.

Most significant, though, was the rapid change from the post-and-beam style of house framing to the more efficient balloon framing style. For the average do-it-yourselfer, most long, thin lumber that will be used for building is considered to be dimensional lumber. Other types of lumber, such as plywood and other sheet goods, do come in prescribed standard sizes but are not referred to as dimensional lumber.

It is rarely necessary to use the term dimensional lumber when shopping for building materials. All lumber you will buy at Home Depot , Lowe's, or other home improvement or hardware stores will be already cut to pre-determined sizes.

All dimensional lumber has both nominal and actual dimensions. The most familiar type of dimensional lumber is the two-by-four. Due to the thickness of the saw blade and additional milling processes, the resultant two-by-four product is not 2 inches by 4 inches. It can be difficult to remember the difference between nominal and actual dimensions. Even experienced woodworkers or do-it-yourselfers may find themselves struggling to remember the true width of a two-by-ten.

Nominal is the giveaway and an easy way to remember this one. The same is true of pine. In this case, the planing is necessary for a smoother surface, so that the board could be used for interior applications. The length of the boards is generally exactly what you order, though we usually only stock pieces of even lengths. MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.

He learned to build and weld while working on the farm with his grandad, and after earning a degree in Welding and Materials Engineering, he spent the next 10 years working in the heavy construction building everything from robots to ships to offshore oil rigs before transitioning to residential construction. After spending a couple of years working with industry leading builders in Austin, Jordan and his wife Veronica struck out on their own to form Smith House Co.

Smith House Co. In this article 1 What is dimensional lumber? Share: Facebook Twitter Email. Explore Classes. The same steam engine technology that powered the railroad, for instance, enabled the newly invented circular saw to achieve faster, continuous cuts in the sawmill.

And the differences in how lumber was sized, surfaced, and dried became apparent in the lumberyard, where a medley of species in various dimensions claimed to be 2x4s.

Lumberyards demanded uniformity so that builders could compare cost and quality. As retailers clamored for more regulated measurements and standards, trade associations were formed. In April , attendees of the first American Lumber Congress called for size and terminology standardization. However, disagreement about specific considerations persisted for decades.

In the meantime, demand for ammunition pallets and crates during World War II created lumber shortages. Postwar housing required even more lumber. Foresters and economists faced pressure for maximum utilization.

Engineers promoted light-stick framed construction with plywood sheets and later oriented-strand boards because it used smaller sticks efficiently. The limited availability of lumber and the rapid pace of housing construction made other methods like concrete-block housing viable. This pressured further compromise because thinner 2x4s were a way to compete in price with wood alternatives.

Size standards, maximum moisture content, and nomenclature were agreed upon only as recently as Today, everyone in the construction industry knows that nominal size is not actual size—despite the fact that the 2x4 designation persists in the marketplace.