A grade and species primer

IUMBER salesmen may not need L an intimate knowledge of western lumber grades, but it does help to know the basics.

Knowledge of western grades not only promotes better customer service and the potential on increased sales, it simplifies ordering lumber from the supplier. In addition, knowing why similar species are grouped togethereither because of similar properties or because of timber stand composition - helps in recommending alternative species when stock runs low in the first species choice.

Essentially, the purpose of grades is to maintain a standard among mills that manufacture the same or similar species. This is done by harmonizing the natural difference in stocks of lumber, regardless of the character of the logs from which the lumber is produced.

In turn, this permits lumber of a given grade to be used for the same purpose, regardless of the mill of origin. Uniform grades also provide buyers and sellers of lumber with a measure by which each can be confident the other understands the grade or grades under consideration.

Framing lumber grades used by approved grading agencies in the U.S. and Canada (for stock exported to the U.S.) fall under a voluntary product standard published by the Department of Commerce. This standard is supervised by a National Grading Rules Committee.

Characteristics for these grades are listed in the National Grading Rules for Dimension Lumber,which is carried in the grade rulesbooks of the various grading agencies approved by the American Lumber StandardsCommittee (ALSC). These characteristics, which include knots, shake, and slope ofgrain, are judged from all four faces of the piece. Strength is the primary requisite. Appearance is secondary.

In finish, select, and common grades, strength-reducing characteristics do not normally govern the final grade. Here, appearance is the main consideration and the practice is to use the best face to determine the grade. Characteristics on the back are less restrictive and do not affect serviceability.

Rules for timber grades, though not included in the National GradingRules;are covered by the various AlSC-approved grading agencies.

Western lumber is unique in that a number of western timber species are grown, harvested, manufactured and marketed together. They have similar performance properties that make them interchangeable in use.

For identification and standardization of design values, and because some species cannot be visually separated in lumber form, certain species are given a common designation on grade stamps. Design values for combinations are always for the weakest species in the grouping.

Some principal western species combinations include: Douglas fir & larch (Douglas fir and western larch); hem-fir (western hemlock, California red fitr, grand fir, noble fir, Pacific silver fir. or white fir); western cedar (incense and western red cedar); ES-LP-AF (Engelmann spruce, lodgepole pine, Alpine fir); white woods (Engelmann spruce, any true frrs, any hemlocks, any pines); and western woods (any combination of western softwood species except redwood).

Because of timber stand composition and mill manufacturing and marketing practices, you will find some other species combinations shipped. (Refer to certihed agency rule books for particular combinations).

Story at a Glance

Lumber basics to help in selling and ordering... grades, characteristics, design values. . referenoe sources for additional information.

Engslmann

Whib uJoods (Engelmann

PPTP Ponders Prne, Lodgepole Pine

WESTERT lumber species that have similar performance properties are marketed with a common species designation. This is indicated by a common designation on grade stamDs.

Is Af

Engelmann Spruce and

IlllBEff stand composition makes it necessary lor some mills to market additional species combinations. Although the grade stamp indicates the species possible, the lumber may be one only or a mixture-

Lumber marked with a combination grade stamp may be all one species or a mixture of any of the species in the combination. This is because the composition of species in timber stands varies and there is no practical way to determine the species percentage that might be included in a particular shipment.

Much of the above information is contained in agency-approved western grade rulesbooks. However, when in doubt about a grade, design values or species combination, it is always best to consult with a representative from an approved grading agency.

Nl ]E\qys }B,lfi{ 1 lEl_F s

.tcotty s openecl a sttlre in Savannah, (ia., with tentativc plans for a second unit there; a replacement store is being built in Orange Park, l;1.; a ,S'rp/r.r'is Hardw,are openecl in Port (lharlotte, lrll a Jacksonville, l;1., unit and Scoll.v's .Surplus Oullt'ls in Winter IIaven and St. Petersburg, Fl., have clclsed

Htnnc Depot purchasecl land near Rivergate Mall in Nashville, Tn.: 24 new Hlm( Depots are scheduled lor l9tt9. . I-owe'.s conrpleted expansion of'a Murfreesboro, Tn., store lfarlingen. Tx. . Godv,in lluildinx .Suppl.v, l)unn. N.('., has been renrodelecl and renanrcd L(st(r llome ('(nt(r o./' l)unn by its new owncrs the l,(sle'r Group lnt'., Martinsville,Va....

Iluikler Marts ol ,4mcrku spun offits l4 unit Buildcrwuy subsidiary, setting up separate offices in Greenvilfe, S.C. ... Monarch Btt i ld i n g .\uppl.v, Charleston lleights, S.C.. has been acquirecl by Carolinq Ruilders Corp., Raleigh, N.Cl. ..

Boland-Malone,y Lumber ('o., Louisville, Ky., has added a rnillwork house to its Collins Lane unit . . . Higgirtbotham-Rartlett Lumber (b., Colorado City, Tx., acquired the shuttered Colorado City Lunber facilities across the street lbr expansion . .

National Home Center, Springdale, Ar., acquired some inventory and equipment from Planters Lumbet'which has closed its retail unit in North Little Rock . Lambert Building .Supply, Lexington, Va., has new quarters and a new name, .Si;r,ncer Hame Center. .

I)ianutnd Ilill is expanding its distribution warehouse in (ireenville. S.(1. Moore's is closing f<rur Piednront, S.(1., area slorcs this nronth

Pl.r,wrxxl ('ost, ('o., (larrollton, (ja., is cclebrating its 60th anniversary . Wit'kes Lumbcr held an open house anniversary sale and sweepstakes in nll its stores with a top prize ol'a trip to Paris, lrrance, for two .

Pinc Ridgt, I)ry Kiln, /nr'., Natchez, Ms., added a dry kiln and predryer with a 9,000 sq. ft. dry storage shed and office...

We_verhaeusr:r' closed its Miami, [;1., warehouse and l-ittle Rock, Ar.. custonrer service center per shifl, according to Barry Ogletree, mgr. ..

Riverside f-orest Produt'ts nroved its Ilq frorn New Augusta to Augusta, (ia. McCoy Lumber Co. openecl a new trading office in Ashland, Va. .Southeast Wood Treatirg openecl a sales offlce in Jasper. Al.

(al-Tcx Lumber Co.. a revolutionary new Nacogdoches, Tx., sawnrill, uses a secret process that includes 3 Cerman sash gang saws following feed tables that line up the logs to cut the curve out of the logs; making l" rund 2" inch lumber in a variety of sizes and grades, production is aimed for 250,000 to 300,000 b.f.

Davidson Louisiana is closing its Kenner, [,a.. branch Aiaycm Lumbcr Corp. of Tampa closed its Tanrpa, lil., warehouse ancl (lharlotte, N.C,, operation . . I"rank Paxlon Co. now has a dintension mfg. operation in Louisville, Ky. ,

,lonres Rivcr Corp., Richmond, Va., is buying 2301, of Dianond O<'t'idental fitrest Int'., a Maine rrnit of Gcnerale Oct'identale 5.A., Paris, l:rance Trus .loist Corp. plans to build a $32 million laminated veneer lumber plant at its l.owncles (]ounty, Cia., facility

Rig Pine' Lurrtbcr ('o., Waldron. Ar., lost a planer nrill and more than 3 semitruck loads of patterned lunrber in a recent fire of undeterminecl origin

Dentaat ('orp.. Sarasota, F'1., has lost its clispute over the right to nranufacture. sell or copy patentecl [Jni-[)ecor irrterlocking concrete paving stone The Wlrceling and Lake Erit, Railway ('ompan.y has nrerged with l/or/blk and Wettun Ruilwa.y Co.. Norfolk,Va....

.\turlllork, lnc'., plans a 127,000 sq. ft. nrfg. plant in l-ynchburg, Val. The Hyde Group. Southbridge, Ma., has acquired Beatrt-ease Producls, Inc.. Chicago, 11.... Cooper Industries' motion to transfer venue of a CooperTools trademark infringement suit against .\tanler- Iool.s from ll. to Raleigh, N.C., has been granted

Hou.sing.slans lbr Sept. (latest figs.) rose 1.,5%r to an annual rate of 1,453,000 units. ..single farnily units at a 1,050,000 annual rale were down 2.3%. rnultifamily housing was up 13.20h to an annual, ,,iatg, 'qf 403.000. building permits were down 4.40/o