The modern assortment of wood materials has a wide selection, which often causes difficulties in determining quality. Despite the fact that the accompanying documentation displays the basic information and characteristics, do not forget about the recommendations of professionals involved in the sale of wood. Before buying, you need to familiarize yourself with possible defects that have a direct impact on the cost and properties of the material, as well as with the processing methods and structural features that wood has. Varieties, breeds, as well as growing conditions are key aspects of choosing a quality material and the best option for its use.
Features
Lumber, like any other building material, is classified by grade. This parameter depends on the quality of wood processing and its characteristics. To determine the type requires a special tool, so this is most often done by professionals. In any case, it is necessary to pay special attention to the appearance of the purchased goods to determine the quality and purpose.
Wood: grade 1
Varieties are indicated by numbers from one to five. The exception is selected wood grade, GOST which has a more rigid framework regarding the quality of this material. It is used in shipbuilding and does not have the slightest defect.
First-class billets may contain traces of small cracks, knots and splits. In this case, there should be no dark spots, traces of parasites, rot, fungus and mold. As an example, you can use a trimmed board - it should be dry, without dead particles, longitudinal through cracks and noticeable damage. There should not be a core, roll, and the total slope of the fibers can be within 5%. Such products are distinguished by the absence of disadvantages and attractive appearance. They are used in finishing, exterior, interior work and in the construction of load-bearing elements.
Wood: grade 2
This material, unlike the first, may have a large number of flaws. Cracks with a length of not more than a third of the entire product may be present on it. At the same time, the parameters of their width and depth remain at the same level. Perhaps the presence of one large trace of parasites or several small ones. The first and second types of wood have minimal differences, so the latter option has become most widespread in outdoor works.
Grades 3, 4, 5
The third grade of lumber is designed for flooring, cladding and tolerates small loads. Almost all types of defects can be present on it, including traces of wormholes, rot, dark spots and mold. Perhaps the presence of deep cracks with a length of not more than the entire length of the product.
The fourth grade is used when cutting into small workpieces, erecting elements under minimal load, as well as for the manufacture of containers and packaging. The main requirement of GOST is the integrity of the elements, while any defects of the surface and the entire structure may be present.
The fifth grade has the lowest quality. It is not intended for upholstery, furniture manufacturing and other works. It is used most often for igniting fireplaces and stoves.
All types have different cost and are used in certain fields of activity. Knowing the types of wood, you can not only choose the right material with the necessary characteristics, but also save the budget, as in some cases they can replace each other.
Needles
Wood has a tarry, tart smell and a clearer structure. The most common are cedar, fir and pine, they are used both in the production of various objects, and in the construction of houses and other objects. Pine takes the leading place, it can have a different shade, which does not depend on the quality of processing.
Among the advantages it is worth noting the lightness, strength, resistance to negative atmospheric influences and decay processes due to the high resin content. It has a loose structure that provides high adhesion to paints and varnishes.
Spruce is in second place in popularity. It does not have such an extensive list of advantages as pine, it is more difficult to process due to its denser structure and many knots. Due to the minimum resin content, products made of spruce have an average degree of resistance to precipitation and decay.
Coniferous wood grades are classified in the same way as hardwood, their quality standards are determined by GOST 24454-80. It is worth noting that in addition to the numerical designation, you can often find markings in the form of letters from A to E. This must be taken into account when buying material, so as not to make a mistake with the choice.
Hardwood
Products obtained from deciduous trees are most widespread and have a minimal, almost imperceptible smell, which becomes noticeable only during processing and sawing. Hard woods (such as oak, ash and birch) are indispensable in furniture and flooring. Each of them has its own characteristics. For example, oak has high strength characteristics and resistance to decay. The solid structure allows you to create the finest patterns on the surface, use to create fasteners and curved elements.
Aspen, linden and alder are soft woods. This variety is common in construction and is available in the form of profiles, lining, logs and timber. Softwood has a lower degree of density than a wooden counterpart and must be treated with special protective compounds to prevent rot.
Defects
Defects are traces of mechanical damage that occurred during processing and transportation. The inclination of the fibers often appears after separation from the longitudinal axis. There is often a curvature near the knots, which can be end-to-end, which worsens the quality of the material.
The quality of wood is affected not only by the breed, but also by the growing conditions (temperature, humidity). Material of the same grade, cut in different regions, may have slight differences in hardness. This parameter is measured on a special scale, for which the oak hardness is taken as the starting point.
The strength of the products reflects resistance to mechanical damage and varies depending on the presence of defects, moisture and rock. By tensile strength is meant stress leading to a violation of the integrity of the material.
How to choose
It is recommended to inspect the materials yourself before buying. Remote ordering is possible only with reputable suppliers. Before you go to the warehouse, you should take a planer with you, with which you can quickly clean the contaminated areas to check the quality of the layers and color.
Of particular importance is the inspection for the presence of fibers, uneven layers, knots and cracks. The quality and possibilities of further use are affected by wood drying. Illiterate execution may cause cracking, geometry disruption and resizing.
What you need to pay attention to
Most suppliers have soft coniferous varieties available - pine, fir, spruce and others. As a rule, this material is sold in the form of elements with standard dimensions. In this treatment, one or more surfaces may be exposed. This must be taken into account, since after planing, the dimensions of the parts are reduced by several millimeters, and the actual parameters will be different from the data specified by the sellers.
Softwood is sorted by the presence of minimal defects (small cracks, knots) and uniformity of layers. This classification is suitable for the choice of lining and other finishing materials. For the manufacture of furniture and carpentry, quality options with an impeccable appearance are required. High strength is required when forming structures; materials suitable for this purpose are usually not found in the construction markets, as they are made to order.
Before buying, you need to make sure that you have certificates and product documentation. It is worth noting that not all types of wood should pass through mandatory certification, but most manufacturers try to arrange all sold products in proper form.