Wood has long been known to mankind as one of the best building materials. Its characteristics allow it to be used in many areas of the national economy. This material is reliable, durable, endowed with aesthetic qualities. Also, wood is famous for its environmental friendliness. Therefore, its scope is very wide. Various products are made from wood. What is lumber, what is their purpose, should be considered in more detail. A variety of types of such products makes it possible to use them on a variety of objects.
General characteristics
Today, there are a huge number of different types of lumber. They are obtained by cutting along the fibers. Proper processing requires all lumber. GOST 8486-86 and 2695-83 are the main ones in the production of such products. However, this industry is regulated by many other standards. Their fulfillment is a necessary condition in the process of creating quality products.
In addition to its positive qualities, wood is also known for its shortcomings. It is subject to various destruction, decay, processesactivity of insects and microorganisms. Also, this material can be deformed under the influence of environmental conditions. To avoid all these troubles, proper handling is required. To understand what lumber is, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions for their preparation for processing.
Applicable breeds
Each lumber has special properties. The type of wood is of great importance. Both coniferous and deciduous varieties are used. Their cost depends on the inherent characteristics of the material.
Pine is considered one of the inexpensive varieties of wood. This material contains a large amount of resins. Therefore, it is not used at elevated ambient temperatures. Also, the strength characteristics of pine are quite low.
Larch has good resistance to fungus, microorganisms and insects. She is not afraid of moisture. It is actively used in almost all areas of construction.
Oak is famous for its beautiful texture. It is very durable, which makes it popular in construction and decoration. Ash is resistant to mechanical stress due to its elasticity. This type of wood, like birch, is easy to process. Therefore, various elements are made from it, even at home.
The properties of each type of material must be taken into account during processing.
Degree of processing
Before sawing wood is subjected to additional preparation. It is dried to a certain level. Fromit depends on the scope of its application. If the moisture content of the wood after processing does not exceed 10%, it is dry lumber. Parquet, boards, etc. are made from it.
Versatile material is dried up to 11-15% wood. Floor boards, platbands, skirting boards, etc. are made from it. If the material is characterized by a moisture level of 18%, it is used for exterior decoration, arranging the truss system, etc.
The drying process is carried out in natural conditions or in a chamber at elevated temperatures. Each of these processes requires the correct execution of each operation.
Processing method
There are two main ways to cut a log. It can be radial or tangential. In the first case, the incision runs towards the center of the growth rings. In this case, the bars are obtained in different sizes. Their width is limited by the diameter of the tree itself.
Tangential cut directed tangentially relative to growth rings. This allows you to get many fragments of identical section shape and size at the output.
All hardwood and softwood lumber is divided into unedged, planed or edged. In the first case, there are untreated zones on the product, which are only freed from bark and knots.
Edged materials have a saw cut parallel to each other. This is a rectangular product. Planed products from at least one surface do not have roughness. They are planed.
Cut type
According to the shape that the product acquires after processing, several types of lumber are distinguished. The area of application depends on their dimensions. Both sawn softwood and hardwood have shape features.
The first in the presented classification is the bar. Its thickness exceeds 100 mm. This is one of the most sought after lumber. Boards, on the contrary, are limited in thickness. This characteristic does not exceed 100 mm.
The bar has a thickness of not more than 100 mm. But for this product, another parameter is important. Its width must be less than twice the thickness.
Obapol has a saw cut on one side only. The width may vary. Also recently, for decorative purposes, such a type of lumber as slab has begun to be used. This is an intermediate option between the obapole and the board. It has only one flat plane. On the other hand, its surface is untreated and has a regular semicircular shape. Also, various types of sawing include clapboard, block house, planken and logs.
Varieties of cutting lumber
Studying what lumber is, one cannot but pay attention to the purpose of each variety. The beam can be glued, ordinary, window or imitated. There are wane products related to this type. Their cross section is at least 120 x 120 mm. They have a cut at the thin end. It is no less than 1/3 of the side of the beam.
The board can be floor, deck, terraced. For each application, it is processedaccordingly.
The bar can be plain or planed. The rest of the lumber differ in size, shape. The scope of their application may be different. They are used both indoors and outdoors.
It should also be noted that the length of sawn wood should not exceed 5 m for hardwoods, and 6.5 m for conifers. The area of application in the construction business depends on their dimensions and features.
Use of softwood lumber
Softwood is generally soft and light. But there are also quite strong, heavy representatives of this group (for example, yew). This material has resin passages and a fairly large number of knots. This is a cheaper type of wood.
Softwood lumber is used in carpentry and construction. But most often these materials are suitable for finishing dry rooms with normal temperature conditions. For outdoor use, such wood is treated with special impregnations.
Hardwood applications
Most often, hardwood lumber has a high hardness. They are denser, heavier than coniferous varieties. Such materials are less susceptible to adverse environmental influences. Therefore, their cost is quite high.
Hardwood lumber is used to create rafters, flights of stairs inside a private house, sheathing of walls and partitions in rooms, as well as for ceilings.
Linden, poplar or birch is not used for makingload-bearing structures or finishing floors. They are soft and light.
Having become familiar with the concept of what lumber is, what types of them are, you can navigate the purpose of the products. Today there are a huge number of them.
