Tips For Buying Lumber

Wandering amid the stacks of lumber at your local home improvement center can be daunting, especially knowing that the staff isn't going to be able to help you pick out the best boards for your project.

Here, then, are a few tips to help you get the most for your dollar.

1.) Don't be shy about sorting through the stack. Wood is not cheap, so you want to make sure you are getting the best boards for your project.

2.) Lumber that has been returned, as well as lumber that has been rejected by other customers, is simply placed on top of each stack. The best boards are often buried beneath them. If needed, bring along a friend to help you move them aside. (But be sure to place your rejects back on the stacks.)

3.) Any wood you will be using outdoors needs to have been 'pressure-treated' to ward off insects and water. The water used in the treatment process causes the boards to swell. Pick out boards that have dried and shrunk back to their normal size. Avoid boards that are still water-logged, as they will shrink after you install them.

4.) Interior woods are graded according to their knots. Clear #1 has no knots, but is the most expensive. #2 has tight knots and #3 has loose knots. Pick the grade according to your project. For furniture and trim, select clear #1. It is worth the extra money, as knots turn darker when they are stained or finished.

5.) If you are buying pressure-treated lumber or #2 interior lumber, pick boards with the smallest number of knots. Avoid boards with knots that go through to the other side, as this makes the board weak in that area.

6.) Place one end of the board on the floor and sight down the edge. Discard any boards that are twisted, bowed or warped, for you will not be able to correct them.

7.) Minor cracks at the end of a board are not a serious problem, provided you intend to cut off that portion. Cracks in the middle of the board are a serious problem. Avoid them.

8.) Streaks of light-colored sapwood along the edge of a board are not a problem if they will be trimmed off. If you need the entire width of the board, keep in mind that sapwood will not absorb a stain the same color as the older heartwood next to it.

Old-fashioned lumber yards still exist, but they are often harder to find. Seek them out, as they typically have higher quality lumber than the Big Box stores, will always have a well-informed staff and may be ready to match the Big Box prices.

Good Luck!

- Bruce