Lumber is used for a variety of construction tasks, including the construction of the load-bearing structure and the finishing of the finished building. But for each of them, the appropriate characteristics of wood are required, which will allow them to withstand the transferred load and have a long lifespan.
Therefore, we use various types of wood to create lumber, which are excellent for many tasks.
The main types of wood for lumber
For the production of sawn timber, two types of wood are used: coniferous and deciduous. They are used to create various blanks, including timber and lining, which depends on the individual qualities of the tree species.
More common is softwood lumber, created on the basis of coniferous wood species. The reason for this is their straight and long trunk, which ensures that the wood is straight. This makes softwoods easier to handle and improves their physical characteristics. And a high proportion of resinous substances ensures the durability of such sawn timber.
Among conifers for sawn timber, the following is used:
- Larch
- Pine
- Fir
Their natural qualities make it possible to produce excellent wood, which is ideal for building houses and decorating them.
Hardwoods are more often used for interior decoration of a house or for creating load-bearing structures. They are more difficult to grow than conifers and take longer to process. Therefore, the cost of hardwood lumber is somewhat more expensive. But their special qualities (appearance, color, texture, strength) are superior to coniferous varieties.
The most valuable timber is oak. It is an extremely strong and durable tree that is considered the best for lumber. But its strength is reflected by the low growth rate of the tree and the difficulties in processing it.
Which material is better?
Each type of wood has its own characteristics and advantages. Softwood lumber is more commonly used for supporting structures and building finishes because of its durability and strength. It is best to use larch for this.
Hardwood lumber is more prone to rotting due to the lack of resins, but their variety of textures is slightly higher. They are more often used for interior decoration of a building, where the choice of material depends on its color and texture.
The choice of wood also depends on financial capabilities. Long-lasting and reliable types of wood, like oak, are expensive, but it is not recommended to save on lumber.
Probably all of us did something out of timber and boards, but few saw how the sawing of logs takes place. I recently visited a woodworking shop in the village of Sandovo, Tver Region. I will not say that the enterprise is very large, there are probably the same in all other regions of our country. The production was based on the basis of the Sandovsky MTS. The company had nothing to do with a cellular operator, and does not have anything, since in Soviet times MTS was deciphered a little differently, namely, Machine-Tractor Station. The company "Sandovskaya MTS" carries out logging with subsequent removal, then a complex of forestry, reforestation and forest protection works is carried out. The main activity is sawing and planing wood. Lumber of different sections and grades are produced. I'll show you this process. 
Forestry is being harvested on a leased forest plot for 49 years with an area of 26,571 hectares. And for processing, timber is delivered to the enterprise in the form of untreated logs on such timber trucks. 
Unloading and storage takes place directly in the workshop, where the wood is processed. 
A log is placed on a large sawmill. From four sides, the so-called croaker is cut off from it. A slab is a side part of a log that has one sawn and the other non-sawn surface. Gorbyli is willingly bought by local residents for firewood for heating, since the Sandovsky district is not supplied with gas. It's a shame, of course, but at least someone's "dreams come true" :). 
After these manipulations, a bar is obtained, which can be cut into boards or a smaller bar. 
As a rule, timber and boards are made from logs, depending on the diameter of the trunk. 
The enterprise is small, the number of workers is about 50 people. 
Log feeding mechanism. 
Devices for fixing the log on the machine. 
And this is, in fact, the main part of the machine - a circular saw. 
Eh, I would not like to fall under the prongs of this monster. 
The work is hard, but the company also employs women. 
Light operations are performed even by veterans of production. 
The territory of the Sadovsky MTS is huge and there is enough space for storing waste. 
During the winter, all these mountains of wood will be used for heating. 
Sandovskaya MTS not only harvests timber, but also carries out reforestation work on a leased forest area. 
I would like to show a few more photos of the territory of the enterprise. It contains interesting artifacts. 
You won't find such a fire engine in Moscow, but here this rarity carries its service. 
I myself do not know what it is. Most likely, it also remained from MTS. 
After inspecting the territory, General Director Igor Karpukhin treated us to buns with meat, which we washed down with fruit juice from local cranberries. I remember these pies from my childhood 
To carry out construction work of varying complexity, lumber is quite often in demand. However, this market is widely developed today and offers a wide range of products that are suitable for even the most difficult types of work. Bars and boards made of different types of wood will come in handy if you want to build a house or a gazebo. In this article, we will tell you about the main types of lumber and their performance characteristics.
Board
Most often this material is about 200 mm long and 100 mm thick. It is used in various fields, including making furniture and containers for goods and drinks out of them. Interestingly, this lumber has many varieties, depending on the scope of its use. So they distinguish floorboards, oak, beech, edged and planed. As the name suggests, floorboards are used to lay the floor in a country house. Interestingly, for better fastening, there are special grooves on the sides, which guarantee a better fastening. Such boards are very durable and strong.
Planed boards are very smooth, so they are often purchased for the production of luxury furniture and windows. The edged board is used for finishing work in the house. They are most often made from larch or coniferous trees. They are also used for making cabinet furniture in the middle price range.
The beech board is made of fine wood. Differs in its beauty and durability, therefore tables and other furniture are often made of them. The same fate befell oak boards. Unlike beech, they are also purchased for finishing and roofing works.
Beams
If you do not use terms that are difficult to understand, then a timber is a log that has been cut off from four sides. Most often, it is purchased by builders for building 
oyki of country houses. It perfectly suits both the main pillars of the building and is used in the process of pouring the foundation. Sometimes boards are made from beams. We add that they are often used guided by the production technology used at the construction site, and its compliance with the glued subtype is also taken into account. For example, glued laminated timber will last much longer than ordinary timber. It is made by gluing against the direction of the fibers. It is not surprising that such a material is more stable and, accordingly, more expensive. Conventional timber does not have such wear resistance.
Croaker
This is the name of the waste that remains after processing one log. However, they are also marketed and can be used to your advantage. Basically they are divided 
there are two types: business and wood. The first option is used in construction work to make a rough version of the floor, which will later be reinforced and covered with more elite and attractive materials. The second type of wood is used as fuel to ignite the stove. It is interesting that these types of wood, for some reason, are often confused with boards. But as you already understood, their differences are striking. There is also such a subspecies of slabs as obapol, it is made from the side parts of the logs and used in roofing works, and also formwork is made from them.
Bar
Bars are made from boards by sawing them lengthwise. Then the bars are processed with a special technique. Everything is divided for the type of given material: these are planed and 
calibrated bars. The latter is widely used in finishing works and construction, while the former is used for the manufacture of various types of furniture. However, the use of bars does not end there. They are widely used in the manufacture of containers, as well as various types of load-bearing structures.
Other types and uses of sawn timber
As we noted earlier, thanks to high-quality equipment, we produce various types of lumber. This article lists the main and most popular ones. However, the entire list of products from this area does not end there. Remember that before ordering any materials, think carefully about the type of your work. Then you can choose the material in accordance with all the parameters.
In addition to the indicated lumber, we produce lining, plywood, block houses, imitation timber and many other lumber that will be appropriate during construction and finishing work in a country house.
Using plywood or clapboard, you can “sew up” the walls of the gazebo, which you will erect in your garden area, or use it in the renovation of an apartment.
It all depends solely on the type of construction work that you started, as well as the level of its complexity. Lumber purchased on our website can be an excellent component of your renovation or even the construction of an entire country house, where you plan to come with your family every weekend. All presented woods are tested and safe for health.
An interesting video about getting lumber:
Today, the use of lumber is in great demand in the construction industry. This is not surprising, since wood is a durable and environmentally friendly material. And thanks to modern technologies and processing tools, the tree will last for more than a dozen years.
Cut types: 1-tangential, 2-radial.
Scope of application of lumber
In general, lumber is a log sawn along the grain and has the following characteristics: moisture resistance, strength, pliability to processing, low thermal conductivity and wood density.
Depending on the characteristics, the scope of application of a particular type is determined. Lumber is widely in demand in the construction of houses. With their help, the construction of the foundation, temporary structures, partitions and ceilings is carried out.
It is clear that the use of a particular type of sawn timber also depends on its aesthetic, physical and mechanical qualities. For example, the use of poorly processed wood for outdoor decoration will end in rotting and subsequently the destruction of the material. Also, lumber is the main element in the production of furniture, without which the life of any person is inconceivable. In any case, the use of lumber primarily depends on the type of wood.
Back to the table of contents
The main types of lumber
There is a huge range of wood materials on the market, and all thanks to the popularity of its use in the construction industry. Lumber can be classified according to several criteria:
- depending on the type of wood;
- by the method of wood processing;
- in size and shape.
Depending on the type, lumber is made from deciduous (beech, aspen, birch, poplar, maple, oak) or coniferous (cedar, pine, fir, spruce, larch) arrays. Conifers are used more often because they are hard, moisture resistant and easy to machine. But conifers have one drawback, due to which they are prone to relatively rapid decay - resinous substances. Among deciduous varieties, the most common is considered to be an unusually durable and hard oak.
They also distinguish between unedged and edged, depending on the method of wood processing. Edged ones are characterized by smooth edges and a planed surface, and their volume is 13-100 mm. In unedged edges, the edge is not processed or partially sawn off, and the width can be varied. They are used less often than edged ones and mainly for sheathing structures and making flooring.
Thanks to specialized equipment, lumber is produced today in various sizes and shapes.
- Plates represent a log cut in half with one straight side. Their size directly depends on the size of the log used. Other lumber is made from the plates: sleepers, boards or bars.
- Boards are made from large logs or beams. The board can be unedged and edged, with a thickness of up to 100 mm and a width of 200 mm. It is perfect for decorating floors, walls and making furniture.
- Quarters (buried) are created from the sides of the logs. One surface is drilled through, and the second remains in its original form. This type of lumber is popular in carpentry.
- Bars. There are 2, 3 and 4-edged beams, depending on the number of processed sides. The thickness and width of the timber is about 100 mm. Due to their strength and ability to withstand significant loads, beams are used in the construction of houses and load-bearing structures.
- The sleepers are characterized by a small long, but significant width and thickness. They are the same beams and are distinguished by large cross-sections. The main field of application is railway construction.
- The croaker is the sidewall of the log. The material is waste generated during the sawing process of a log. It is used in the construction of temporary huts and ancillary structures.
- Bars. This lumber differs from the timber in size. The thickness is 100 mm and the length does not exceed 200 mm. They are great for creating door frames and various crossbars. Also, the bars are used in the manufacture of furniture, carpentry and other areas.
Regardless of the type of lumber, you should pay special attention to the quality characteristics of the wood. If the moisture level exceeds the norm (10-15%), the material may crack, deform or dry out. In this case, there can be no question of a good quality of construction work.
Lumber types and purposes, as well as raw materials for production, varieties of lumber, varieties and derivatives of wood.
Lumber is a material obtained by longitudinal sawing of logs, followed by longitudinal and transverse (if necessary) division of the resulting parts. Ultimately, a product of a certain shape and size is obtained, having at least two (front and back) parallel sides. This type of material is produced in special enterprises equipped with band saws, circular saws and other equipment.
Raw materials for production
As the primary raw material for the manufacture of sawn timber, trunks of almost any tree, previously cleaned from branches and bark, are used. Coniferous wood is usually used for the construction of load-bearing structures. Hardwoods are most often used for all kinds of finishing work. It should be noted that the waste obtained during the production of sawn timber is used both in industry and in everyday life.
Poplar and birch are considered to be the most affordable timber for sawn timber production. Quite often, pine, spruce, linden, larch, ash and maple wood are used for these purposes. The timber of hornbeam, oak, cedar is of great importance for the industry.
The lightness of birch does not make wood less durable, and its beautiful structure and affordable price have made it even more popular. Larch is considered to be very moisture resistant, resistant to mold and mildew. Ash wood boasts good elasticity and impact resistance.
Beech is indispensable for the manufacture of floors, stairs and furniture. Incredibly strong and unusually beautiful oak wood, despite the rather high price, is in great demand. Pine contains a large amount of resins, so it is most prone to rapid combustion. Although spruce wood is less durable, it is quite flexible and soft, so it can be easily processed.
Varieties of lumber
The characteristics of the finished sawn timber depends on the type of wood, the equipment used, the observance of the production and drying technology, as well as the cutting method. It is the latter factor that affects the texture of the board.
Sawing of wood is carried out in several ways, differing in the direction of sawing:
- transverse (across the fibers);
- rustic (at an acute angle to the fibers);
- radial (along the radius to the center of the log);
- tangential (tangential).
Cross-sawing is used for the production of decorative parquet, the rustic method is used for the manufacture of flooring. Radial sawn timber has a very attractive appearance, is durable, resistant to deformation and external influences. The tangential cut creates a beautiful pattern on the surface of the board in the form of interesting arches and rings.
However, on the surface of some boards, delamination may form over time. The most popular and expensive are radial sawn timber, since their surface has a uniform texture, constant dimensions, good mechanical characteristics, and the degree of shrinkage.
Drying of lumber is carried out both in the open air and with the help of special chambers, which are tightly closed rooms. The first type of product contains up to 20% moisture, the second lends itself to additional processing with protective agents, and the moisture content is up to 14%. Lumber cuts can be trimmed (cut along the entire length) and unbeamed.
Depending on the degree of processing, lumber is:
- unedged (although there are no knots, there are unprocessed sections of logs);
- edged (the profile of the materials has a rectangular shape due to cutting off the defective side parts of the log);
- planed (there is no roughness of one or more edges).
Classification
The shape, size and mechanical characteristics determine the division of sawn timber into several types.
Beams- this is a log, hewn from all sides, used in the construction of houses, as well as for the manufacture of individual large elements of windows, stairs and others. The thickness of the timber is 100 mm.
Bars- this is a "miniature timber", less than 100 mm thick, they are raw, planed (at least one side is processed) and calibrated (adjusted to a certain size). Scope of application - the manufacture of furniture, the manufacture of lathing, flooring, frames, gazebos and other objects.
Planks made from logs or beams. They are unedged, trimmed (having a smooth edge) and trimmed only on one side. In addition, the boards are calibrated, that is, they have given dimensions.
Sleepers- material with increased strength and minimum sensitivity to temperature fluctuations.
Croaker- These are boards obtained by sawing logs with a flat and semicircular surface.
Lagging- lumber produced from the side of a log that has only one flat side.
Advantages and disadvantages
Man at all times has been surrounded by objects and wood products. This material was used for the construction of houses and churches, baths and all kinds of outbuildings. The man was surrounded by wooden windows, doors, tables, chairs and other furniture. Wood has not lost its popularity in our days. On the contrary, thanks to the positive qualities of wood, construction and finishing materials made of wood are becoming even more in demand.
Pros of lumber:
- have a high bearing capacity with a relatively low weight;
- despite sufficient strength, the material is simple and easy to process (pliable to drilling, easy to saw, allows you to produce figures of various shapes and complexity);
- ease and speed of installation;
- due to its natural origin and environmental friendliness, the material is considered completely safe for human health and the environment, does not cause allergies;
- processing does not require expensive and time-consuming work;
- external attractiveness;
- pleasant smell of wood creates a favorable microclimate in the room;
- variety of shapes and sizes of products;
- affordable price.
Minuses:
- the ability to quickly ignite, maintain combustion;
- destroyed under the influence of fungus, mold, various insects;
- prolonged exposure to water and a humid environment often causes the process of wood decay.
In order to secure lumber, to make them more wear-resistant and durable, they are treated with special protective substances that can significantly reduce the above disadvantages.
Lumber grades
The division into grades is carried out by assessing the state of the worst side of the face, edge, and section.
Selected sawn timber should not have rot, mold, cancer and fungal stains, overgrowth and other foreign inclusions on the surface, as well as cracks from shrinkage. The admissibility of intergrown healthy knots is two per one meter of length, shallow edge and formation cracks - 16%, deep - no more than 10%. The sphere of application of the products is mainly shipbuilding and automobile construction.
The field of application of the first grade sawn timber is the timber industry. This type of material should not have dry loose knots, healthy knots over 1 cm in size, through and cracks larger than 1 cm, wounds overgrown with bark on wood, young active layers of wood, mold, mechanical damage, various foreign inclusions, rottenness.
The scope of the fourth grade materials is the construction of change houses, utility structures, gazebos, the manufacture of boxes, loess, pallets and construction formwork.
Wood derivatives
A wonderful material for building a house is rounded log... Thanks to a well-thought-out system of locks, a completely flat rounded shape of the material, fairly strong and reliable structures are obtained. This material is considered the most expensive today, and buildings made of rounded logs do not require additional finishing.
No less popular material is profiled timber... There are two ways to produce it: milling and planing. During the construction of houses, the elements are connected very firmly, ensuring a high degree of reliability of the building. In addition, such structures do not require strong foundations. Structures made of this lumber do not need additional finishing work.
Glued laminated timber made from solid boards or individual pieces. The material consists of lamellas that are firmly attached to each other. It is strong, durable and resistant to external influences.
Plywood Is a material consisting of several thinnest layers of wood, tightly glued together. Due to its strength and good flexibility, this material is in demand in the production of furniture, decorative elements and many other products.
Fiberboard obtained by pressing wood waste at very high temperatures with the addition of a special binder. Quite hard fibreboards are called hardboard. The sides of such sheets can be either smooth, or one of them is corrugated, the other is smooth.
Chipboard Is a combination of fine wood particles and synthetic resins. MDF is produced from woodworking industry waste purified from all kinds of impurities. In the manufacture of this type of board, adhesives are not used. In this case, the binding element is lignin, which is released from wood under the influence of high temperatures. The area of application of such sawn timber is the construction and furniture industry.
Block house is a material obtained from a rounded log by sawing according to the "square in a circle" principle. Due to its good noise and heat insulation, strength and attractiveness, this lumber is highly valued in the exterior decoration of houses.
Lining- lumber used for all kinds of finishing work. Although the material has a small thickness, it is very strong, resistant to deformation, cracks and cracks. The external attractiveness of the lining, the simplicity and ease of installation made it even more popular.
Lumber is a unique product of wood processing, which is indispensable in construction, furniture and other industries.