Typically, solid wood and other wood-based compounds are the best materials for insulating, constructing, framing, and completing residential houses. When planning to construct a house and discussing your plans with your contractor, it is crucial to understand the fundamentals of wood framing and the different types of wood available. Read on to learn about the various types of wood and how to choose the best wood for house wood framing and other applications.
When it comes to home framing, the quality of wood is referred to as framing lumber or structural wood. It is ideal to consider its technical properties. The following are the different types of wood commonly used for house framing.
Remember, structural lumber is different from sawn lumber. Structural lumber consists of graded pieces of wood widely used for house framing, while sawn lumber refers to wood cut apart after the trees have been harvested.
What is Softwood?
Species such as fir, pine, and spruce are hundreds of years old at the time of their harvest. These trees usually grow in temperate climates but often experience freezing temperatures, particularly during the winter season.
All these species share characteristics: they are generally easy to paint or stain, do not warp due to moisture changes, are easy to work with, straight-grained with excellent weathering properties, and have a light color.
Fir
Due to its excellent weathering qualities, fir is commonly used for home exteriors. Also known as Oregon pine or Douglas fir, this species originates from the Pacific Northwest states. You can choose between two grades – good (grade #2) and common (grade #3).
When choosing the best grades, ensure they are knot-free and have completely clear wood between knots. Typically, common grades have several knots.
Nevertheless, it’s relatively easy to work with and finishes excellently. Additionally, exterior grades are available in framing lumber widths, while interior grades might be hard to find.
Pine
Pine, often referred to as yellow pine or western pine, is available on the US Pacific coast. It is commonly used for residential framing and other applications such as railroad ties, telephone poles, and fencing.
Pine has two grades – good (grade #2) and common (grade #3). Grade #2 is preferable as it has wider widths and fewer knots compared to grade #3. Yellow pine is knotty because of the gum pockets found on the wood rays.
The grain pattern can vary from slightly wavy to perfectly straight. Pine is easily accessible in most lumberyards and very easy to work with. Although the framing grade is readily available, the flooring grades are quite rare and difficult to find.
Spruce
Spruce framing lumber is easily accessible and has two grades – excellent (grade #1) and good (grade #2). Spruce is popularly used for residential construction, particularly for single-family houses.
It can also be used for the exterior of multifamily structures. Apart from being readily available, spruce is very easy to work with. Unfortunately, it is not preferred for flooring as it tends to warp, although it can be installed in other areas with careful installation.
These three types of softwood belong to the Light Structural Lumber category and are primarily used for building single-family homes. Generally, they are very easy to work with and are factory-cut to precise dimensions.
What is Hardwood?
Also known as heavy timber, hardwood is any lumber with a thickness of over 4.5″. It is typically used for timber frame or post-and-beam construction. Wood with high dimensions can carry heavy loads and wide expansions and are excellent fire-resistant materials. Some of the most commonly used wood species in this category are southern yellow pine, Douglas fir, and oak.
Southern Yellow Pine
Southern Yellow Pine is more suitable for interior work only since it is not durable in moist conditions. Although it is quite stable, it is difficult to nail. This wood consists of two grades – good (grade #2) and common (grade #3). Both grades are knot-free with a straight grain.
Douglas Fir
Douglas Fir is great for exterior work as it does not twist or warp compared to other woods. There are two grades for Douglas fir lumber – good (grade #2) and common (grade #3). Exterior grades should be knot-free and have excellent face values, with grading based on the National Hardwood Lumber Association rules. Douglas fir is decay-resistant, stiff, and tough.
Oak
For centuries, oak has been commonly used in construction. This heavy hardwood has a coarse texture and is not good at holding nails and screws compared to softwoods such as pine or fir.
Oak timbers consist of two grades – good (grade #2) and common (grade #3). Oak is usually used for heavy construction, including buildings and bridges. Due to its interlocked grain pattern, oak is hard to bend and form.
What is Finger-Jointed Lumber (FJL)?
Finger-Jointed Lumber (FJL) can be either softwood or hardwood, consisting of short, dry wood pieces that are milled and glued together using water-resistant structural adhesive.
This is an environmentally friendly process because it uses short pieces of wood to create bigger, more stable, and easier-to-align products. Finger-jointed lumber is typically used in commercial construction and can be made from various wood species.
What is Engineered Wood?
Compared to standard lumber, more work needs to be done to engineered wood to make it suitable for wood framing. Because of this, it is more expensive compared to the other types of wood mentioned above. Additionally, it has an extensive eco-footprint due to the various processes it undergoes. The following are some major types of engineered wood commonly used for house construction projects.
Plywood
Plywood consists of an odd number of layers of wood, for instance, three, five, etc. These layers are cross-bonded using a waterproof adhesive to form a single sheet. Plywood is popularly used for walls, floors, roofs, and subflooring. It can be made from softwood or hardwood and comes in different varieties – marine, moisture-resistant, and exterior.
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is one of the most typical types of engineered wood used for constructing houses. It is created by binding together wood strands, similar to papermaking.
The top and bottom surfaces are filled with water-resistant adhesive and pressed to form a mat. Finally, a mesh of wood strands is placed on the surface. OSB comes in 4’x8′ sheets and is an excellent choice for underlayment for framed walls or sheathing due to its moisture resistance, ease of installation, and affordability.
Cross-Laminated Timber
Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) involves stacking several sheets of wood on top of each other and then attaching them together. The final product is a wood material that is less likely to split, swell, or shrink. This strong material is often used on non-loadbearing walls and exteriors. It can span large distances without needing an interior support system such as posts or beams. Its R-value is similar to concrete, which is 3.5, making it extremely energy efficient.
Conclusion
Understanding the different types of lumber used in home construction allows you to negotiate and discuss effectively with your contractor. It is important to ask questions and understand the materials that will be used for your house construction project.
M-1 Framing Subs Inc can help you with the framing construction of your house. If you need assistance with your house construction, call us at 562.362.6074 or email us at m1framingsubsinc@gmail.com.
0 Comments