Are 2x4 getting smaller?

The simple reason why 2×4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches is that lumber mills
lumber mills
Corneliszoon patented the sawmill on December 15, 1593 and the pitman on December 6, 1597. He built the first sawmill there in 1594. Before to the invention of the sawmill, boards were sawn by two men with a whipsaw, using saddleblocks to hold the log, and a pit for the pitman who worked below.
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trim off rough or warped surfaces of a 2×4 to give it a more polished and finished look. By planning the lumber on all four sides, the original 2×4 is now reduced to 1 ½ inches by 3 1/2 inches.
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When did a 2x4 get smaller?

Size standards, maximum moisture content, and nomenclature were agreed upon only as recently as 1964. The nominal 2x4 thus became the actual 1½ x 3½, imperceptibly, a fraction of an inch at a time. It was a 34 percent reduction in actual volume; as those in the trade would say, it's “selling air.”
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Why did lumber get smaller?

Through the drying process, the boards naturally shrink, as moisture leaves the beams. The real shrinkage, however, comes when the “rough-sawn material” is sent to a planer, which rubs the surface of the wood down into the smooth shapes you can purchase at a hardware store.
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Why is lumber not true to size?

Maybe you've noticed that lumber sizes are often misleading. The "nominal" cross-section dimensions of a piece of lumber, such as 2 X 4 or 1 X 6, are always somewhat larger than the actual, or dressed, dimensions. The reason is that dressed lumber has been surfaced or planed smooth on four sides (called S4S).
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How did a 2x4 become 1.5x3 5?

The 2x4 refers to the rough-cut green wood: it shrinks during drying, then the dried wood is planed smooth, so the finished lumber is supposed to end up at 1.5"x3. 5". While it doesn't really shrink that much, the mills get more usable finished 2x4's from a given tree if they cut them slightly smaller to begin with.
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8 Everyday Things Making "IT" SMALLER (



Why did 2x4 get smaller?

Now, most timber is milled and planed to give it a little more of a finished look, and a little more of a consistent size and profile. Because of this extra milling, a 2x4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches. Instead, a 2x4 is really only 1 1/2" by 3 1/2". The same is true of pine.
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When did dimensional lumber get smaller?

The answer to your question varies from location to location. In general, homes built before World War II were likely to be built with rough-sawn full-dimension 2x4s. During the late 1940s or early 1950s, builders in many areas of North America switched to planed 2x4s that measure 1.5" x 3.5".
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How big is a 2x4 actually?

A piece of surfaced (sanded smooth) 2x4 lumber actually measures 1½ inches thick and 3½ inches wide. In rough-cut condition, a 2x4 is slightly less than 2 inches thick and approximately 4 inches wide.
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Why is lumber so expensive?

After steadily rising through the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, lumber prices skyrocketed up to an all-time high in May, driven by historic levels of demand and mounting supply chain issues. Relief came in the summer as the cost of wood gradually began to return to historically average levels.
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What lengths are 2x4 sold in?

In addition to the standard 8 foot length, you can also find 2x4 boards in 10, 12, 14 or even 16 foot sizes.
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When did wood sizes change?

Early concepts called for rough lumber to be of full nominal size, often in the dry condition. After World War I, the increasing demand for construction lumber led to the first national size standard in 1924. This was revised in 1926, 1928, 1939, and 1953, while still another revision is proposed for adoption in 1964.
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Why are 2x4 edges rounded?

2×4 have rounded edges as it's very beneficial to the wood itself and those working with it. They reduce the number of injuries like unwanted splinters during the handling and manufacturing process and also ensure that the lumber stays looking its best all throughout until the customer sees it.
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Is a 2x6 really 2x6?

2x Board Sizes

2x4 and 2x6 boards lose 1/2 inch in thickness and 1/2 inch in width before leaving the mill. That means a 2 x 4 board is actually 1-1/2 inches by 3-1/2 inches. The larger 2x boards (2x8, 2x10, etc.) lose 3/4 inch in width.
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Will lumber prices go down 2022?

Lumber prices fall to their lowest level in 2022 as the highest mortgage rates in 13 years dent housing demand.
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Is lumber still expensive 2022?

If prices fall in the forest, do they even make a sound? A dip for lumber might sound triumphant to weary homebuilders. The price of lumber dropped to $829 per thousand board feet on Tuesday, the lowest mark for the commodity in 2022, Insider reported.
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Is there a shortage of wood to build homes?

With factors like tariffs and extreme weather reducing supplies, the ongoing housing shortage in the U.S. keeps demand for lumber and other wood products high. To put it simply, there just aren't enough houses for all the people that want to buy one. That means builders are working overtime to increase house inventory.
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What is the actual length of a 2x4 stud?

The most common dimensions of wall studs are 2-by-6 and 2-by-4. Wall studs for standard walls of 8 feet are 92 5/8 inches. In homes with 9-foot walls, the studs are 104 5/8 inches. Homes with a wall height of 10 feet use pre-cut studs at 116 5/8 inches.
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Does Home Depot cut wood for you?

Yes, Home Depot has a wood cutting area where they serve customers by cutting their wood to the size they need. Any of the wood that you purchase in-store will be cut for free in this area, however, they will not allow you to bring in your own wood from somewhere else.
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What are common lumber sizes?

The most commonly used lumber, structural lumber, are the 2-foot x 4-foot and 4-foot x 4-foot boards used in everyday DIY and construction projects. Framing and structural lumber follows standard building dimensions (thickness and width). Standard dimensions allow for faster building as less cutting is needed on site.
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Why is lumber measured in quarters?

Rough sawn lumber comes in "true" thicknesses as reflected by the "quarters" size. Lumber sized according to "Quarters" reflects the number of quarters of an inch thick the lumber is. To figure the thickness of a board referenced in "quarters" sizes, simply divide the second number (4) into the first number.
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What type of wood is used in residential home construction?

The main types of wood used in home construction are hardwood, softwood, or engineered wood. Examples of softwood include spruce, pine, fir, cedar, and hemlock. Hardwood includes oak, teak, maple, mahogany, cherry, and walnut. Engineered wood includes the likes of plywood, MDF board, and composite board.
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What are 2x4 made of?

One of the most commonly used two-by-fours for framing is made from softwood known as Douglas fir, with hemlock a close competitor. The two species share similar qualities of strength, appearance and durability and are often marketed together and sold as Hem-fir.
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