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FAQ's
Q. What is a board foot?
A. The
lumber industry uses board feet (more typically, thousand board feet -
MBF) as it's unit of measurement for most materials. It is a volume
measurement; thickness (in inches) times width (in feet) times length (in
feet). The volume is based on nominal measurements not actual
measurements. For example a 2X8-18' contains 24 board feet (2 X 8/12 X
18).
Q. What is the difference between nominal and actual
lumber sizes?
A. The nominal size of lumber is the terminology we
use every day (i.e.: 2X4). The actual size and grading of lumber conforms
to a voluntary product standard
(PS20.99) published
under procedures established by the US Dept of Commerce. Today, the actual
size of a 2X4 is 1½" thick and 3½" wide.
Q. Why are there
different grades of lumber?
A. The purpose of grades is to
maintain a standard, so that lumber of a given grade can be used for the
same purpose, regardless of the manufacturer. Dimension lumber (nominal 2"
and thicker) is graded for it's strength, while boards (under 2") are
graded for their appearance. Most of the quality dimension lumber in our
area is from the west coast and graded under the auspices of the
Western Wood
Products Association . There
are different grade names and grade standards for boards depending upon
the species of the wood and the regional association responsible for
setting the standards.
Q. What is the purpose of a grade
stamp?
A. The marking on a piece of lumber is it's grade stamp . It shows: the grade of the
lumber, the species of wood, the mill that manufactured the board, and the
association that set and oversees the grade standards. The grade stamp on
a piece of
pressure treated
lumber includes all of the above information, as well as
information about it's treatment.
Q. What size joist should
I use?
A. The width of the joist depends upon the species of
lumber being used, the span (length of opening) needed, the spacing
between the joists (typically 16" separation), and the floor loads for
that area of the house. Your architect will use span tables to size the
joist. If you are using
iLevel® wood
I-beams, we use iLevel's computer program so that you can be assured that
the joist are properly engineered for your structure.
Q.
Why should I buy from Rochester
Lumber?
A. If you want quality products at a fair price
from knowledgeable people and a company that has supported the Rochester
community for over 90 years, Rochester Lumber is the
place.
Q. I am going to build, how can I get an estimate
for my job?
A. I you have a material list, bring it to our
East Rochester location and we will review it with you and then we can
price it for you. If you do not have a material list, bring your plan to
us and we can schedule a material "take-off", after discussing your
needs.
Q. With modern technology, why are we still using
wood? Are we not depleting all the old trees?
A. Technology has brought about
some products (Trex decking, iLevel floor joists, OSB sheathing) that are
made from wood waste and smaller trees, but wood has so many positive
qualities and
advantages
over plastic and steel that we know it is still the best product for
residential construction.
Q. Why should I use trusses for
my roof?
A. Our trusses are
engineered, designed and manufactured for your specific job and our local
conditions and loads. As trusses are stronger and capable of much larger
spans than dimensional lumber, they can give you a simple solution to a
complex design/condition without inhibiting building design. Trusses also
save the carpenters time, speeding up the construction
process.
Q. Are there any special rules for using
trusses.
A. The most important concept is
to make sure that the trusses are securely
braced during
erection and afterwards for permanent support. Click
here for further information
on erection and bracing.
Q. What products should I use for
my deck?
A. There are several good choices
today. CCA treated
yellow pine is still the standard for most
residential decks. However,
Trex and
Timber-Tech are excellent new products that
are taking a share of the decking market. Also,
Western Red
Cedar continues to be popular
with those individuals who want a product with natural resistance to
insects and decay with natural beauty.
Q. I am going to use
pressure treated lumber, how much preservative should it
have?
A. Each piece of treated lumber is marked with the level
of preservative retention, measured as pounds of water based preservative
per cubic foot of wood. A level of .25 lbs/cu.ft is adequate for above
ground use. Lumber that comes in contact with the ground should be treated
to a level of .40 lbs/cu.ft. A level of .60 lbs/cu.ft is used for material
for a wood foundation that supports a structure. Southern Yellow Pine is
the normal wood used by treaters as it easily permits a deep, uniform
penetration of the preservatives. Except for landscaping timbers, we stock
only .40 lbs/cu.ft treated lumber.
Q. Why should I use
pre-built stairs?
A. Pre-built
stairs save the trimmer time and helps to speed up the construction
process. Our stairs use housed stringers (the treads and risers are set
into grooves in the stringers) which along with glued wedges and blocks
assure a tight sturdy stairway with the correct rise and run for ease of
use.
Q. What dimensions do I need to give so my stairs can
be pre-built?
A. It is vital that stairs be built with the
proper rise and run for safe use. We need the overall height, width and
run. The height is from the top of the lower finished floor to the top of
the upper finished floor. The width is finished width of the opening. The
run is the length of the horizontal distance from the head of the stair to
the outside edge of the last riser (leave at least 3 feet to any wall at
the top or bottom. FHA requires 6'8" minimum headroom from the edge of the
tread to the bottom of the ceiling, but adequate head room is generally
considered to be 7'4" to 7'7".
Q. How do I indicate which
way I want my door to open?
A. When we prehang a door, we use
the terminology of left-hand (LH) or right-hand (RH). When you are inside
the room, so that the door opens toward you, which side of the door is the
door knob on? If it's on the left, your unit is LH; if it's on the right
it's RH.
Q. Where can I acquire more
information?
A. Please feel free to contact any of us at
Rochester Lumber Company or any of the below industry associations.
Western Wood Products
Association
APA:The
Engineered Wood Association (formerly American Plywood
Association)
Western Red
Cedar Lumber Association
Southern
Forest Products Association
Southern Pine Council
American Wood
Preservers Association
Western Wood Preservers Institute
Wood Truss Council of
America
Canadian Wood Council
Canadian National
Lumber Grades Authority
National Hardwood Lumber
Association
Northeastern
Retail Lumber Association (NRLA)
National
Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association
National Home Builders
Association
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