Sawn timber

Sawn timber is a wooden material that has been sawn from two or more sides. As wood is a natural material, its appearance and physical characteristics often differ from each other (they depend on the speice of the tree and the growth contitions). In general, spruce and pine (or conifer) sawn material are used in building works and especially in constructions, beause conifers remain well in moist environment. Hardwood sawn material and surfaced lumber are used in inner decoration.
Sawn materials are usually produced in height of 3,0m to 6,0m with 30cm interval. Heights 1,8-2,7m are used rarely.

Green lumber is a regular sawn timber that has not been dried after sawing. Its relative humidity can range to a great extent (14-250%). Woods humidity depends on how long and in wich conditions it has been kept. In our climate wood dries naturally to the percentage of 14-18. Green lumber is used for making platforms, panels, temporary buildings etc.

Dry lumber, AB or C quality – Wood is (depending on where it is used) usually dried to the humidity of 18 + – 2% a.k.a transport-dry or 8 + – 2% a.k.a carpenter-dry. The humidity of wood is measured with a special humidity measurer.

Wood shrinks when it dries. This leads to emerging of cleavages, differences in measurements and inner tensions. Drying the wood up to the percentage of 18 is enough for using in outdoor conditions and also for storing and planing the material. The advantages of dry wood in comparison with green lumber are extended storage, better durability, better isolation, better handling, more possibilities for procesing the surface etc.

Comparing to green lumber, later shrinking and change of shape are minimal. AS Puumarket recommends using dry lumber in building works.