Kretz Lumber Co., Inc.’s Post

Product Size It’s all around us – product downsizing, additional fees and lower service levels. Lumber is one of the few remaining categories used commonly where the product has not been “down-sized”. For example, a 2x4 has measured 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” for many decades. And it still needs to be 8’ or other length as specified. Any changes to down-sizing would mean changing building codes, building practices, the hardware used in conjunction, and so on. Recently, we noticed even premium toilet paper is being downsized. Sure…. it’s still extra absorbent, two ply and so on. However, the width of the roll is now over ½” narrower. Think of the billions of rolls sold over a year and how much that ½” saves a manufacturer. Remember this when evaluating the price of wood products. Stop in / Give us a call / Visit our website: LAKEWOOD: 1741 S. Wadsworth Blvd.📞 303-988-5980 FORT LUPTON: 805 14th Street 📞 720-683-7162 🌐 https://buff.ly/3DiQILH

Lumber mills typically saw logs into certain actual dimensions but, as the timber is processed, the width and thickness of the end product is consistently less. So why is a 2”x4”, for example, not actually sized 2”x4”? #southernpine #pine #lumber #dimensionallumber #wood #woodmanufacturing #lumbermanufacturing #buildwithwood

Have you ever wondered why a 2×4 doesn’t actually measure exactly 2 inches by 4 inches? U.S. lumber sizes come in four categories: boards (1-inch thick) dimension lumber (2-4 inches thick) timbers (greater than 5-inches thick), and radius edge decking (5/4 inches-thick with curved edges) The table above shows the difference between actual dimensions and what’s called nominal dimensions. But why is a 2″x4″, for example, not actually sized 2″x4″? Lumber mills typically saw logs into the above-mentioned actual dimensions but, as the timber is processed, the width and thickness of the end product is consistently less. Newly-sawn lumber, such as a 2×4, is soaking wet before kiln drying. It then shrinks as it’s dried and is further reduced in size after being planed from “rough” to “surfaced” lumber. As to lengths, an 8″, 10″, 12″ etc. foot length always measures as stated. Importantly, regardless of the moniker, the end product is consistently the same dimensions as required by U.S. grading rules. Fun fact: There were no standards on uniform lumber sizes in the U.S. in the 19th Century. Mills produced dimensions at their will, greatly confusing buyers and builders. Congress and the lumber industry settled on standardized sizes beginning in the 1920s, which we now see today.

Are you familiar with the nearly 95 grades and their corresponding characteristics and typical uses? What about the three grading methods for sorting Southern Pine dimension lumber and assigning design values? Do you know how to read grade and quality marks on a piece of lumber? #lumbergrading #southernpine #lumber #wood #southernyellowpine #construction #forestproducts #buildwithwood #quality

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Precision-Made Downpipes! Downpipes are a critical factor in any gutter system that are often overlooked. A key role for a downpipe is to drain the gutter as quickly as possible. Having the correct number and size of downpipes is important for the longevity of your gutter. Keep these factors in mind when choosing the correct downpipe for your gutter application: • How much water is the gutter collecting. • Number of drop points and positions where downpipes are needed along the gutter length. • Best suited material for your application. Materials are manufactured in various steel finishes, thickness, and lengths. [Choosing the correct material saves you in the long run] • What are the additional downpipe accessories needed i.e. outlets, offsets, and shoes to ensure a complete solution for your roofing setup.      Looking for durable and reliable downpipes for your next residential, commercial or industrial project? We manufacture roofing accessories including down pipes. Contact us today or visit flashsteel.co.za to learn more! Email: info@flashsteel.co.za #Construction #SteelFabrication #Warehouse #Roofing #FlashSteel

Baker's Crating Services, LLC Sales@bakerscrating.com, 281-987-1800 Why Choose Screw Shank Nails for Wooden Shipping Crates? When building wooden shipping crates, durability and reliability are non-negotiable. Screw shank nails are a game-changer, offering enhanced holding power and resistance to pull-out forces, ensuring your crates stay secure even during rough handling and long-distance shipping. Their spiral design minimizes wood splitting, making them ideal for both hardwood and softwood applications. While slightly more costly than smooth nails, their long-term benefits—fewer repairs, greater safety, and improved crate integrity—make them a smart investment. Build crates that last. Protect what matters.

Sheathing has quickly evolved from solid-wood lumber to commodity plywood to commodity OSB to today’s assembly-specific, branded products. And when it comes to subflooring, these products have taken off, with OSB as the name of the game. Choosing a commodity-grade subfloor over a high-performance, premium-price branded product depends on your project and construction values. If you are not worried about harmless oxidation on the face of your subfloor and will not leave the panels exposed to extreme weather for extended periods, a lower-priced commodity subfloor can certainly deliver all the performance you need. The main concern with OSB is edge swelling. After heavy rains, exposed OSB panels can take on water along the edges. The solution has long been to sand the swollen panel joints before installing flooring, but some new OSB products are designed to prevent swelling in the first place. We've put together a list of some problem-solving subflooring products: https://lnkd.in/euq4kH6S Remember, prices are regional and change often. We’ve included them simply to give you an idea of the general price point the manufacturers are shooting for. #subflooring #subfloorsheathing #sheathing #residentialconstruction #highperformancehomes #greenhomes #healthyhomes #buildingscience

Why FAS standards in the wood industry challenge suppliers. 1. FAS standards require no rotten, bark pockets <10%, knots <10%, cracks but not exceeding 10% of length. This is a standard that is not easy to achieve for amateur wood workshops. 2. With a long production time, you understand that in order to filter a complete tree and cut it into pieces with few defects in the wood, you need to be knowledgeable about wood characteristics. Sometimes, even after sawing, you can know the tree. Does the wood meet standards? So for serious wood manufacturers, this is a concern. If it's just simple cutting, it can take 5-7 days to complete a 40ft container, but with FAS it takes 20-25 days. 3. Depreciation is large and no wood supplier wants to do it because it is too expensive, the depreciation rate can be over 50%, the beneficiaries are the customers. So not many wood suppliers are confident with FAS. 4. Invest in machinery and technical labor. Even cutting a slab, if done incorrectly, will break across the body and the slab will almost be thrown away. 5. The lack of understanding from customers and failure to guard against risks from manufacturers causes the two sides to misunderstand and not be able to find common ground. Therefore, manufacturers need to prepare a qualified amount of wooden logs to prevent production problems. 6. The price of raw wood is increasing but the FAS wood standard remains the same, so manufacturers themselves are still hesitant to set this standard. But this is a general trend and an extremely good segment that helps buyers optimize costs and save on production wear and tear. This is the direction of K-timber (HATC) in this period. #FAS #hardwood #woodangola #woodafrica #ktimber #buywood #importwood #highqualitywood #highend