Understanding Lumber Terminology: A Glossary for Beginners

If you are just beginning your DIY journey, here are a few lumber terms that may help you along your way…

Burl – a twist which does not contain a knot

Close grain – wood with narrow growth rings

Cross-cut – wood cut across the grain

Grade stamp – a mark on wood indicating product quality

Grain – the direction of fibers running along a piece of wood

Green lumber – is wood that is not dry

Lumber – wood that has been processed

Package – a stack of lumber

Planer – machinery used to create a smooth surface on wood

Porosity – the intensity of pores within wood

Rip-cut – a cut made in the same direction as the wood grain

Shake – the fibers along the grain and between the rings

Saw line – the spot where wood was cut

Shorts – high quality lumber which is just shorter than standard grade

Tongue and groove – edging which ensures that one board fits into the next 

Treated wood – wood which is chemically preserved

Veneer – thin sheets of wood often used for plywood

Wane – the lack of wood or presence of bark on the edge or corner of lumber

Warp – a twist or distortion

Of course, if you need any help with terminology or answers on anything related to lumber, feel free to direct them toward the lumber experts at M & M Enterprises of Daytona, your local lumber yard!