Lumber

Looking for Lumber?

What is lumber?

Sawn timber is a wood product created by sawing round wood in a sawmill. In this process, wood is cut into appropriate sizes and shapes, most often in the form of boards, beams, battens or squares. It is a raw material with a wide range of applications, primarily in construction, carpentry and furniture production.

The division of lumber depends mainly on the type of wood from which it is made (softwood or hardwood) and on the method of sawing. It can also be classified by thickness, length and quality. Raw lumber is unsanded material, while planed lumber is smoothed and can be used directly for construction or production.

The properties of lumber, such as strength and flexibility, depend on the type of wood and how it is processed. Lumber prices can vary depending on the type of wood, quality, and region of sale.

Timber can be divided into:

Softwood lumber:

  • Pine Lumber is wood obtained from pine trees, characterized by lightness and great ease of processing. It is one of the most commonly used materials in construction and carpentry. Pine lumber has a light, yellowish-white color, which may darken over time when exposed to light. This wood is soft, which makes it easy to cut, plan and sand. Pine has a distinct grain, which gives it a natural, rustic look.
 

Pine sawn timber is used in the production of building structures such as roof trusses, floors, paneling and furniture. It is also popular in the production of window and door joinery. Due to its properties, pine sawn timber is valued for its low weight and good thermal insulation. Compared to species such as oak sawn timber or larch sawn timber, pine is less resistant to moisture and mechanical damage, which is why it is more often used indoors.

Pine lumber is attractively priced, making it a popular choice for construction and carpentry projects. The price of pine lumber per m3 depends on the quality of the wood, the degree of drying, and the region in which it is sold.

  • Spruce Lumber is a wood obtained from spruce trees, characterized by a light, creamy-white color and straight grain. It is light, which makes it easy to work with, although it is slightly harder than pine sawn timber. Spruce wood has good dimensional stability, which makes it popular in construction and the production of window and door joinery.
 

Spruce lumber is widely used in building structures, such as roof trusses, frame elements, floorboards and wainscoting. It is valued for its good insulating properties, which makes it perfect for use in interior and exterior structures. Compared to oak lumber, spruce has less resistance to external factors, so it requires impregnation if used outdoors.

The price of spruce lumber per m3 is affordable, which makes it a popular choice in construction. The cost depends on the thickness, quality and degree of drying of the lumber.

  • Larch Lumber is wood obtained from larch trees, valued for its exceptional durability and resistance to weather conditions. It is characterized by hardness and high resistance to moisture, making it perfect for outdoor applications. Larch lumber has a warm, golden-brown color and expressive grain, which gives it an elegant and natural look.
 

Larch timber is often used for the construction of terraces, facades, fences and external structures such as bridges or benches. Due to its durability, it is also used in the production of floors and interior joinery, especially in projects with high aesthetic requirements. Compared to pine or spruce timber, larch wood is much more resistant to weather conditions, but also more expensive.

The price of larch sawn timber per m3 depends on the quality, dimensions and degree of drying, but is higher than the price of coniferous sawn timber due to its excellent technical properties and longevity.

Hardwood lumber:

  • Oak lumber is wood obtained from oak trees, which is valued for its exceptional strength, hardness and durability. It is characterized by a dark, brownish color and distinct grain, which gives the wood an elegant, noble appearance. Oak lumber is very resistant to abrasion, mechanical damage and external factors such as moisture or pests, making it one of the most durable materials.
    Oak lumber is widely used in furniture, flooring, stairs, doors and decorative elements. Due to its durability, it is also often used in structures that require high stability and longevity. Compared to pine or spruce lumber, oak is much harder and more resistant to damage, which is why it is used in places with high traffic.
    The price of oak lumber per m3 is higher than other types of wood, such as pine or spruce, due to its unique properties, durability and aesthetics. The price depends on the quality, thickness, length and degree of drying of the wood.
 
  • Beech Timber is a wood obtained from beech, which is characterized by high hardness and density. It is one of the most durable types of wood, which makes it an ideal material for the production of furniture and construction elements. Beech lumber has a light brown color with a clear grain, which gives it an elegant appearance. With age, the wood takes on deeper shades.
 

Due to its hardness, beech lumber is often used in carpentry for the production of furniture, floors, stairs and decorative elements. It is also used in artistic crafts and for the production of musical instruments. Beech wood is easy to process, which allows for the creation of precise details. The price of beech lumber per m3 is usually higher than in the case of other species, such as pine lumber or spruce lumber, which reflects its high quality and properties.

  • Ash lumber is wood obtained from ash, which is characterized by high hardness, durability and elasticity. It is one of the most solid types of wood available on the market, and thanks to these properties it is often compared to oak sawn timber. Ash sawn timber has a clear, beautiful grain and a light color, which gives it an attractive appearance. Over time, ash wood takes on more golden and warm tones.
 

Thanks to its durability and flexibility, ash lumber is used in the production of floors, stairs, furniture, as well as sports elements such as bows or skis. It is also popular in carpentry and door production. Ash responds well to processing and is easy to stain, making it a universal material for both modern and classic interiors. The price of ash lumber per m3 depends on the quality of the wood and thickness, but is usually higher than other species, such as pine or spruce lumber, due to its exceptional strength properties.

  • Birch Lumber is wood obtained from birch, which is characterized by a light color and delicate, uniform grain. Birch is a relatively hard wood, but easy to process, which makes birch lumber often used in carpentry and furniture. Birch wood has good dimensional stability, making it suitable for the production of furniture, finishing elements and floors.

Birch lumber is popular in the production of plywood, veneers and decorative elements. Compared to other species, such as pine lumber or oak lumber, birch has lower resistance to moisture and weathering, so it is mainly used for interiors. Due to its aesthetic properties and versatility, birch wood is also used for the production of wooden accessories and musical instruments. The price of birch lumber per m3 is moderate, which makes it an attractive material for interior design projects.

  • Alder Lumber is wood obtained from alder trees, valued for its properties and wide application in the carpentry and furniture industry. It is characterized by medium hardness and dimensional stability, which makes it easy to process, plan and sand. Alder wood has a warm, light red color, which takes on more intense shades over time. It is also uniform in terms of structure, which gives it an elegant appearance.
 

Alder lumber is often used for the production of furniture, doors, wall panels and decorative elements. Due to its properties, it is often chosen for products that require easy processing and attractive aesthetics. Compared to harder species, such as oak or beech lumber, alder is less resistant to external factors, which is why it is rarely used outdoors. The price of alder lumber per m3 depends on the quality of the wood, but is usually lower than that of more durable species.

Exotic lumber:

Exotic lumber is wood that comes from trees growing in tropical regions, such as Africa, South America or Asia. It is characterized by exceptional durability, hardness and resistance to moisture and pests, which makes it an ideal material for outdoor applications, such as terraces, facades or garden furniture. The most popular species include walnut, teak, iroko, merbau or wenge.

Due to its natural resistance to weathering, exotic lumber is often chosen for projects requiring exceptional strength, such as structures in humid climates. In addition to its high durability, exotic wood has unique aesthetic values - rich grain, a variety of colors and intense shades.

The price of exotic lumber per m3 is higher compared to native woods such as pine or oak lumber, but its unique properties make it a popular choice for luxurious and durable architectural designs.

Division of sawn timber:

  • Planed lumber is wood that has been additionally smoothed after being sawn, which gives it an even, smooth surface. The planing process removes all irregularities and roughness, thanks to which the wood gains an aesthetic appearance and is ready for use without additional processing. Planed lumber can be made from different types of wood, such as pine lumber, spruce lumber Whether larch lumber.
    This type of timber is widely used in interior and exterior finishing of buildings, such as terraces, facades or decorative elements. Thanks to its smooth surface, it is ideal for painting, varnishing or impregnating. Planed timber price per m3 depends on the type of wood, its dimensions and quality. Compared to raw lumber, planed is more expensive, but its readiness for assembly and high aesthetics compensate for these costs.
 
  • Unedged lumber is wood that retains its natural, unprocessed edges after being cut into a log. Unlike edged timber, its edges remain irregular, which gives it a raw, natural look. Unedged lumber can come from different types of wood, such as pine lumber, spruce lumber, oak lumber Whether larch lumber.
    It is often used in construction and carpentry, especially for projects where raw aesthetics are key, such as tables or countertops with a natural shape. This type of timber is also used for the production of construction elements and fences. Because it does not require additional edge processing, its price per m3 is lower than edged timber. The use unedged timber is also popular in rustic and traditional designs.
 
  • Structural lumber is a type of wood that is specially prepared for use in construction. It is made from various species of trees, such as pine lumber, spruce lumber and larch lumber, which are characterized by good strength. This wood is mainly used for the construction of load-bearing structures, such as roof trusses, frame walls or ceiling beams.
    During production structural lumber is cut and then dried to achieve appropriate stability and moisture resistance. Edged lumber used in construction has smooth, even edges, which makes assembly easier. Compared to other types of wood, structural lumber must meet high quality standards, such as adequate load-bearing capacity and resistance to loads. Price of structural timber per m3 depends on the type of wood and the degree of its processing, as well as on the technical specifications it must meet.
 
  • Carpentry lumber is a high-quality wood that is mainly used for furniture and finishing. It is produced in a sawmill, where logs are cut into boards of precise dimensions. Different types of wood are used, such as pine lumber, oak lumber Whether beech timber, depending on project requirements.
    After cutting carpentry lumber undergoes a drying process to achieve the appropriate moisture content. This makes it dimensionally stable and less susceptible to deformation. It is most often edged, which means that its edges are even and smooth. Carpentry wood is characterized by ease of processing, which is why it is a popular material in furniture making. Price of carpentry timber per m3 depends on the type of wood and the quality of processing.

Lumber Manufacturing Process – How is it Made?

Manufacturing process lumber begins with the harvesting of wood in the forest, where the cut logs are transported to the sawmill. In the sawmill, the wood is pre-processed, removing the bark and other impurities. Then the logs are cut into boards using circular or band saws. This creates different types, such as pine lumber, oak lumber Whether spruce lumber.

After cutting, the lumber can be edged, which means that its edges are even and smooth. The next step is drying, which is to reduce the moisture content of the wood to prevent deformation and cracking. Dry pine lumber and dry oak timber are more stable and durable.

Drying can be natural or in industrial dryers. After drying, the lumber is put through a further processing process, such as grinding or planing. The finished lumber is sorted according to species, dimensions and quality, and then prepared for sale. Timber price per m3 depends on the type of wood, its quality and the processing process.

Important information about lumber:

Types of lumber: Lumber comes in various types, such as pine, oak, beech, exotic, and larch. Each has unique properties and applications.

Edged lumber vs. unedged: Edged lumber has its edges cut off, giving it a smooth surface, while unedged lumber retains the natural shape of the log. The choice depends on the intended use and aesthetics of the project.

Properties of lumber:

  • Strength and hardness: Depends on the type of wood. Oak, beech or ash lumber is hard and resistant to abrasion, while pine or spruce lumber is lighter and easier to work with.
  • Dimensional stability: Proper drying of sawn timber reduces its susceptibility to deformation and cracking, which is crucial in the production of furniture and structural elements.
  • Resistance to external factors: Some types of lumber (e.g. oak, larch) have a natural resistance to moisture, mold and pests, which allows them to be used outdoors.
 

Ecological aspects: Choosing lumber from renewable sources is important for environmental protection. It is worth paying attention to FSC or PEFC certificates, which confirm sustainable forest management.

Price: The price of sawn timber depends on the type of wood, quality, thickness, length, classification and degree of processing and drying. On the market, hardwood (e.g. oak) is more expensive than softwood (e.g. pine). Exotic timber is usually more expensive than domestic timber.

Lumber and moisture: Lumber moisture content is a key factor that affects its stability and durability. Lumber should have an appropriate moisture content, usually in the range of 8-12% for interior applications.

Treatment: Timber is easy to work with and can be cut, planed, sanded and painted to suit a variety of projects.

Aesthetics: The natural grain and colour of the wood make sawn timber an attractive material in interior design, giving the space a warm and cosy character.

Timber quality classes: Timber is graded based on quality and number of defects (e.g. knots, cracks). High quality grade means wood with few defects, which translates into higher price and better use in the production of high-end products.

Certification: Timber may have certificates such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), which guarantee that the wood was harvested in a sustainable manner and in accordance with environmental standards.

Storage and maintenance:Sawn timber should be stored in conditions that provide adequate air humidity. Dry storage, under a roof, allows its properties to be maintained and prevents warping or mold.

Knowing this information allows you to make an informed choice of lumber suitable for a specific application, ensuring the durability and aesthetics of your projects.

Tags:

Share:

Product: Lumber

Province: Silesia
Region: Katowice
County: Pszczyna
Location: Studzionka