If you’re taking up a woodworking project, it will help knowing how to distinguish between high and low-quality lumber. To help you make the selection, the professionals at Butler County Lumber Company. will guide you on the ways to differentiate between the two. Since 1912, they have furnished clients across Hamilton, OH, and the surrounding areas with top-tier building supplies.

Facilitating your choice, Butler County Lumber Company. offers these easy ways to pick premium-quality lumber:

• Grading: Whether you’re opting for hardwood or softwood lumber, their quality is determined by the grading they’ve been assigned by the National Hardwood Lumber Association. A higher grade means the piece of wood contains a lower number of defects and is of superior quality. However, Butler County Lumber Company. clarifies that a lower grade option is not completely unfit for use and can be utilized for non-structural requirements.
• Grain: As a general rule of thumb, tight-grained lumber is considered a stronger option than one with a loose grain pattern. Similarly, straight grain is typically higher in strength than loosely patterned grain. When it comes to practical usage, a piece with tight, straight grain is ideal for structural use. For ornamental application, woodworkers usually select pieces with varying grain designs.
• Defects: The naturally occurring flaws in wood lend to its appeal and are found in all grades. However, the cracks and knots in high-quality wood are significantly lesser in number than they are in low-quality pieces. Even with their more significant faults, the low-quality boards can serve minor purposes, but they should never be used for supporting structures. For a reinforced structure, you need wood that has the lowest number of defects, which places it at a higher grade level.

Knowing the distinction between low and high-quality lumber will save you from buying the wrong kind for your intended project. For the best wood and other building supplies in Hamilton, place your orders with Butler County Lumber Company. at (513) 896-6660. To learn more about the woodworking business and their products, visit their website and follow them on Facebook.