Dimensional lumber

cjolson

Has anyone else been experiencing problems with lumber orders. I'm in the middle of an addition and had all the lumber delivered to the site and as we start framing the walls I've noticed the dimensions are all over the board.

2x6's ranging from 5 7/16 to 5 9/16
3x6s with the same problem
the 2x12s are the worse ranging from 11 1/8 to 11 9/16

Tscarborough

Lumber is dimensiond when cut, i.e. wet. After drying, there is variation, and that variation is in direct porportion to the quality of the wood.

Mike Swearingen

If you go to the lumber yard and select all of a certain size lumber from the same banded stack, it is more likely to be near the same size, since it came from the same mill, same dry kiln, etc., etc.
Otherwise, you can easily get the variations that you're getting. Moisture has a great deal to do with lumber dimensions, even after kiln drying. If you can let it sit dry inside your jobsite for a few days before using it, it might help.
Good Luck!
Mike

kevin hassell

is +/- 1/16" really that big of an issue?