Lumber

[sventus]

I am going to build my own trusses for the summer cottage, and I was thinking of using structural timber C 14-C24. Now I've talked to several carpenters and "experts," and they say it's not necessary at all to spend a lot of money on stamped timber; regular planed timber works just as well. Span: 5m. 45x120 is sufficient, they say. What do our "experts" say here? I'm quite inexperienced with this.

 

[matbanan]

I believe that if you take the strength, it depends on the number of knots, which means that the graded timber contains fewer knots.

 

[cem77]

I believe that if you take the strength, it depends on the number of knots, which means the graded timber contains fewer knots.

Timber can either be sorted visually, where the size and number of knots matter. Or, the timber is graded through stress testing where it is run between wheels and the bending is measured.

It's perfectly fine to use ungraded timber if you choose the worst pieces and go up a bit in dimension. That's how they did it before

 

[andersmc]

Graded timber is regular wood that has been sorted, it does not come from a particular species of strong-growing trees. You can sort your timber when you purchase it. Choose timber that is free from notches, knots, and cracks. You can also plan the sawing so that if there is a defect on a beam, make sure it is as far from the center as possible. Turn the beams the right way so that if they have a "belly," the bulge is facing upward.

 

[SBH]

The tip is to buy at Beijer or other equivalent. At Byggmax, you have to search for a long time to find nice timber.

 

[andersmc]

The tip is to buy at Beijer or other equivalent. At Byggmax, you have to search for a long time to find good timber

It's not like some companies sell "good" timber and others "bad" timber. At least in the regions where I shop, it's the same supplier to the different companies.

But if you're unlucky and come once when the timber bins are empty and picked over, there's not much to choose from. But that's the same for everyone. I've had poor-quality timber delivered from the "premium timber dealer" and have had to go to Byggmax to supplement, and there found absolutely superb timber. So it's not as simple as "Byggmax=bad," "Expensive store=good." It can vary.

 

[Matti_75]

It's not like some companies sell "nice" timber and others "bad" timber. At least in the areas where I shop, it's the same supplier to the different firms.

But if you're unlucky and come when it's empty and picked over in the timber bins, then there's not much to choose from. But it's the same for everyone. I've had crappy timber delivered from the "nice timber dealer" and been forced to go to Byggmax to supplement, where I've found absolutely superb timber. So it's not as simple as "Byggmax=bad," "Expensive store=good." It can vary.

That's precisely why there is graded timber.

 

[andersmc]

That's exactly why there is graded timber.

One should not be misled into thinking that all the timber they sell at Beijer is graded, and at Byggmax ungraded.

 

[SBH]

The times I've been to Byggmax, I've had to wait a long time to get good timber. At Beijer, you also have to stand and sort. If I'm delivered poor-quality timber by Beijer or an "expensive" company, they have to take back the junk. Low-graded timber isn't always very straight.

 

[Matti_75]

You just shouldn't be misled into thinking that all the timber they sell at Beijer is graded, at Byggmax ungraded.

No, I've never claimed that. Just that graded timber maintains better quality. But it's wood, so it can also warp.