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.

Why is a 2x6 not 2x6?

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).

Why is a 2x4 not a 2x4?

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".

What does it mean when someone calls you a 2 by 4?

1. that measures two inches by four inches, two feet by four feet, etc. Informal. small, narrow, cramped, etc. noun.

Why have 2x4 gotten smaller?

The simple reason why 2×4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches is that lumber mills 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.

DIY Boards from 2x6's

Why do they call deck boards 5 4?

It simply refers to how many 1/4-inches thick the rough stock is. For example, 4/4 (read out loud as four-quarters) is 1-in. thick in the rough. 5/4 is 1-1/4-in.

Why is lumber smaller than size?

Typically, that rough cut is smaller than the nominal dimensions because modern technology makes it possible to use the logs more efficiently. For example, a "2×4" board historically started out as a green, rough board actually 2 by 4 inches (51 mm × 102 mm).

Is a 4x8 sheet of plywood really 4x8?

Sheathing Plywood (Common: 3/8 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.; Actual: 0.344 in. x 48 in.

When did lumber dimensions change from actual to nominal?

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.

Is nominal size actual size?

Nominal size is the size you see printed on the side of your air filter. It stems from the actual size, which is rounded up to the nearest whole inch.

Why is wood measured in quarters?

The "Quarters" Sizing Method: In the case of rough sawn lumber, the "Quarters" sizing method is usually used by mills that sell rough lumber for woodworking purposes. The "Quarters" method refers only to the thickness of the wood as widths and lengths vary depending on the log the wood is cut from.

How is a 2x6 measured?

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.

What is the difference between nominal and actual sizes in lumber?

Lumber sizes are usually given in "nominal" measurements. The nominal measurements are a board's size before it has been planed smooth (surfaced) on all 4 sides. The actual measurements are the final size.

How do you read a wood size?

The first number (2) refers to the thickness of the board in inches. The second number (4) refers to the width of the board in inches. The third number (8) refers to the length of the board in feet.

When did 2x4 stop being 2x4?

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.

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.

Can I use 2x6 for deck boards?

Wood decking is commonly available in 2x6, 2x4, 5/4 x 6, and 5/4 x 4 profiles. 5/4 x 4 and 5/4 x 6 is produced specifically for decking and can be found milled with a radius or bullnose edge. 2x4 and 2x6 are thicker and stronger, but they also tend to be more expensive than a 5/4 board of the same width.

Should I use 2x6 or 2x8 for deck?

Using 2x8s for the flush beam and the trimmer joist does give the deck a beefer look will reducing the joist cost by using 2×6 for the field joists. This also helps to raise the joist off the ground reducing joist rot under the deck.

Can I use 2x4 for deck boards?

For the deck surface, you can use 2x4s, 2x6s, or 5/4x6s. The 5/4 decking (pronounced "five-quarter"), available in cedar and pressure-treated fir, is 1 inch thick and 5-1/2 inches wide with rounded edges that make for a splinter-free surface.

Why is a 2x4 only 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.

What type of trees does most construction lumber come from?