When purchasing lumber, one of the most important things you can do is to make certain that all of the pieces are straight. You can do this by pulling them off the pallet at your local lumber store and placing them on a flat surface, like the floor, to check for warping; and side-by-side to make sure they are not curved. Your lumber should lay flat against the floor and flush against the next piece of lumber.
The next thing you should consider is the type of lumber you buy. If your project is one that will be exposed to outdoor elements, you will want to purchase treated lumber so that you have less risk of things like warping and rot. Additionally, different types of wood possess different properties; so, depending on your construction project, your choice of wood type may be very important as well.
For instance, oak is one of the most commonly used woods, largely due to its hard, durable nature and resilience to fungus and insects. Walnut, also a durable wood, yet not as heavy as oak, is popular for framing and also used to make wine barrels. Maple, used to craft everything from bowling pins to pool cues, is a heavy wood with beautiful grains, making it highly suitable for building furniture and other decorative items. Birch also offers a nice wood grain patterning, lending itself to flooring. Popular is one of your softer hardwoods, which can be an excellent material for the inside of cabinets and drawers.
If you have questions about the pros and cons of more types of wood, feel free to come and see the lumber specialists at M & M Enterprises, your local lumber yard.