2x4 from 84lumber with checks/shake?

1341 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Aggie67, Jan 19, 2016

carinlynchin

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2016

I just realized that 4 of my 5 studs I bought have cracks in them. I caught most of them before cutting so I can return them, but one I already trimmed and was installing it when I saw it...i don't know if its a check or a shake (been reading up on it) but its not all the way through. This wall is just framing for a bathtub, so no load on it. Is it ok to use this? I decided it wasn't going to be the middle stud since I have to attach the plumbing in teh middle for the shower head and faucet, but still I want to be sure...getting a little OCD right now

any suggestions or advice?

thanks in advance

Save

1 - 6 of 6 Posts

griz

· #2 · Jan 19, 2016

Welcome to what Contractors deal with daily.

Order a higher grade of lumber.

You tend to get what you pay for.

Try a commercial yard for higher grade lumber.

Save

carpdad

· #3 · Jan 19, 2016

You must have bought kiln dried lumber. Cracks are common for those, as well as warping. I don't usually use dried lumber. If I really need a stable wood, I try to pick one from the regular lumber stack. If you are willing to plan ahead or go through the pile, you can find 4-5 fairly dry/lightest 2x.
As long as the lumber isn't split apart, some cracks don't matter.

Save

carinlynchin

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 19, 2016

carpdad said:
You must have bought kiln dried lumber. Cracks are common for those, as well as warping. I don't usually use dried lumber. If I really need a stable wood, I try to pick one from the regular lumber stack. If you are willing to plan ahead or go through the pile, you can find 4-5 fairly dry/lightest 2x.
As long as the lumber isn't split apart, some cracks don't matter.

when you saw split apart...what do you mean? like all the way through....but surface ones that only go in a little are ok? I mean I wouldn't even consider it if it was a load bearing wall or something like that but literally, the space for my bathtub is too long so I'm framing it in to fit the tub and of course hang cement board and tile, fauces etc....

Save

hand drive

· #5 · Jan 19, 2016

carinlynchin said:
I just realized that 4 of my 5 studs I bought have cracks in them. I caught most of them before cutting so I can return them, but one I already trimmed and was installing it when I saw it...i don't know if its a check or a shake (been reading up on it) but its not all the way through. This wall is just framing for a bathtub, so no load on it. Is it ok to use this? I decided it wasn't going to be the middle stud since I have to attach the plumbing in teh middle for the shower head and faucet, but still I want to be sure...getting a little OCD right now

any suggestions or advice?

thanks in advance

there are hundreds of thousands of studs with cracks inside walls all over the world. it is normal as wood splits,cracks,checks,warps,twists,and bows. all in a days work.
P.s. don't forget to center your studs @ 12" for your plumbing fixture

Save

Aggie67

· #6 · Jan 19, 2016

Lumber industry standards allow for a certain degree of checking in each grade. I have have the standards somewhere on my hard drive. What grade did you purchase.

Save

1 - 6 of 6 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month