All You Need to Know About Lumber

Determining whether your lumber will be used inside or outside decides the next set of questions that you will need to ask yourself. 

For interior products you must plan for how it will look when stained or painted or how the woodgrain will look in your home. Keep in mind that the kind and color of the light that comes in through the windows can change the color of everything from flooring to exposed ceiling beams. 

For exterior products, the same aesthetic concerns are important, but also you must plan for how long they will be exposed to the elements, pests, animals, and more. These products will need to be sturdy and dependable to withstand all that usage. Some exterior wood products are pre-treated to ensure their protection from the elements, some are not.

Thinking through these different aspects of the lumbers usage and general qualities will help you to decide which one is the best fit for your project.

Have in mind the material that you are hoping to build with. Pick a species of wood and that will narrow down your next few decisions considerably. Hardwoods are good for flooring, and siding. Softwoods are good for siding, beams, fencing, moulding, and other millwork.

Whether you've got your heart set on a beautiful mahogany for your new desk or maybe a some redwood trim to match the siding on your house, let us help you source it!

Depending on what you will use the product for, we suggest taking a look at the standards of grading and quality that are out there for your specific material. If you can provide us this information, we can get what you need.

There are over 30 different grades of Redwood alone, but most people don't need to worry about that level of specification when they are doing a project. If you aren't intending to have your lumber bear a lot of weight or look perfectly clear, then you might not have to worry about the grade at all.

If you'd like clear product with no knots or sap,we can find it. If you don't mind a bit of character we can source that for you as well. 

If you need a standard thickness, width, and length we can often order the product for you and when it arrives it will be yours. If you need specific sizes and cuts, we can help with that too. We have full milling and custom tooling facilities to help create your dream building products. Just provide the measurements for us and we will let you know your options!

Sometimes dimensions can be tricky to find, especially if you are looking for wide boards from a small tree. In most cases, it is easy to get boards in the dimensions you prefer. Then you must specify whether your dimensions are going to be "net" or "nominal".

In woodwork, the terms "net" and "nominal" refer to the actual size and the understood size of lumber, in that order. Whenever a measurement is written without specifying "net" width/length/breadth, then it is understood as "nominal".

Before the lumber was dried and surfaced, it really was 2"x4". After years of items being labeled as 2"x4" while actually measuring 1 3/4"x3 3/4" due to the processing once it was cut, these terms became necessary. It has become standard in the industry to specify the difference

In short, when you buy a standard 2"x4", if you measured with your calipers you would see it is actually 1 1/2"x3 1/2". This is called "nominal" sizing, as the size is really only the name. 

If you need the dimensions exactly, be sure to specify that you need "net" sizing. This will ensure that your 2"x4" is actually two inches by four inches.

Measure your space and look at your plans. Often, the amount of wood you need will change the availability, price, and more. 

Let us know in feet for lumber and reclaimed wood, in sheets for plywood and MDF, and in pieces for  live-edge slabs, and products like that.

Jackson Milling & Lumber, Inc. is located in Valencia, California. We'd love to help you find the perfect lumber for your projects! We have been in the business over 30 years and our specialities are sourcing unique woods and custom cutting any kind of lumber and manufactured wood products. Give us a call or send us an email anytime.