Common Lumber Abbreviations and Terms
Common Abbreviations:
BF | Board feet (1 BF = 1"x 12"x 12") |
BEV | Beveled |
BN | Bull-nosed |
LF | Lineal feet (per foot) |
Com | Common |
CLR | Clear |
CV | Center V |
DIM | Dimension |
E | Edge |
FJ | Finger Jointed |
FT | Foot (or Feet) |
G1S | Good One Side |
G2S | Good Two Sides |
GR | Green |
IN | Inch |
KD | Kiln Dried |
No. | Number |
NH | No Hole |
PET | Precision End Trimmed |
RGH | Rough |
RDM | Random |
RL | Random lengths |
RW | Random widths |
RLW | Random lengths and widths |
S1S | Surfaced one side |
S2S | Surfaced two sides |
S4S | Surfaced four sides |
S1S2E | Surfaced one side & two edges |
SE | Square Edge |
S-GR | More than 19% water by weight (More likely to warp if not installed quickly) |
S-DR | Less than 19% water by weight (Less likely to warp) |
STD | Standard |
SQ | Square |
SL | Shiplap |
T&G | Tounge & Grooved |
VG | Vertical Grain |
Species:
CDR | Cedar |
DF | Douglas Fir |
DF-L | Douglas Fir, Larch |
GDF | Green Douglas Fir |
HEM | Hemlock, Fir |
LP | Lodgepole Pine |
RW | Redwood |
SPF | Spruce-Pine-Fir |
SYP | Southern Yellow Pine |
WC | Western Cedar |
WRC | Western Red Cedar |
WF | White Fir |
YP | Yellow Pine |
Grades:
BTR | Better |
#1BTR | #1 & Better |
#2BTR | #2 & Better |
#3BTR | #3 & Better |
B&B | B & Better |
CON COM | Construction Common Redwood |
CON HEART | Construction Heart Redwood |
STD BTR | Standard & Better |
Common Terms:
Checks: Gaps or separations along the length of a wood member, crossing the annual rings. Caused by rapid shrinkage or uneven seasoning of the wood.
Shake: Shakes are gaps parallel to the annual rings. Unlike checks, shakes occur before the felling of the timber. Caused by uneven stresses along the trunk.
Pitch: Pockets of tree sap. As the lumber cures, the pitch pockets empty or harden leaving an imperfection in the wood.
Knots: Knots occur at the intersection of trunks and branches. Wood grading limits the presence and location of knots in the lumber.