Sheridan Road  

      Lumber Company                                                                                  When Quality Counts

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   Home > Lumber Grades

Sheridan Road Lumber Company's

understanding lumber grades

Why does Sheridan Road Lumber stock such a high quality of product?

    We supply the wood infrastructure that is the basis of your home or building.

    It along with a carpenter's skill, dictates the integrity of that structure and how it will endure time.

    The difference in cost  to have the best lumber is the least expensive upgrade you can make in a home

    and yet gives the best return on investment, that is why. 

 

Moisture content

There are three moisture levels, printed on stamps as:

    "S-Dry," which means the board has less than 19 percent water weight

    "S-Grn" (for green), which means the board has more than 19 percent water weight

    "MC-15" certifies the board has a 15 percent moisture maximum and is rarely used in home projects

 

If you buy green lumber or dry lumber that has been left out in the weather, try to buy and store it ahead of time so the wood can lose moisture.

If you use wet wood in a project, the lumber will shrink causing unsightly gaps or squeaky floors.

 

Species

Lumber associations have grouped many different softwood species into stamp categories that can contain one species or many.

The most common in the northeastern United States are:

    Southern Pine

    Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF)

    Douglas Fir

    Hem-Fir

 

Lumber Grade

There are many different types of lumber grades, most aimed at the construction industry.

Most homeowners will see just four grades:

    Select Structural (SEL STR)

    No. 1

    No. 2

    No. 3

 

Select structural is nearly knot-free and as a result is rare, and very expensive.

Grades 1 through 3 are graded on how many knots and defects appear in the board and how that affects the strength of the lumber.

6600 North Sheridan Road   Peoria, IL   61614

site created by Thomas Dale Co.   ©2006