Got a Project in Mind? How to Choose the Perfect Wood

Are you in the midst of planning out your next wood project? If so, then the first step, and one of the most important steps, is to choose the right wood. The following are a few tips for choosing the right wood for your project:

Choosing the right wood can be a difficult process. If you don’t already know, there are a ton of options out there.. Begin with the type of lumber. There are two main types – softwood and hardwood. Softwood is cheaper and often used in construction. Hardwood is used in fine woodworking, cabinetry and furniture.

There are several types of each as well. Softwood includes yard lumber, structural lumber and shop and factory lumber. When it comes to choosing hardwood, you’ll notice that it’s cut in quarter-inch increments. There are also four hardwood lumber grades to choose from that are determined by the amount of clear surface area each board has. FAS is the highest grade.

You’ll also want to look for defects to avoid, such as bows, cupping, crooks, splits, twists, checks, shakes and wanes.

For more tips on how to find wood in Kansas City, be sure to contact us at Schutte Lumber today.