How do I calculate how much wood I need for a project? Find out how to calculate lumber requirements and calculating wood for a project.
How to Calculate Lumber requirements?
There are essentially two different ways that you can approach this issue—the way that many would consider being lazy and then another method that is much more accurate. The lazy way of calculating lumber requirements is to take the board foot number and then simply add around fifteen to twenty percent to it.
Once you have this number, you can then go to your local lumber supplier and purchase that amount of board feet. As you can probably imagine, the major drawback to this technique is that you may end up with the completely wrong set of boards.
For example, if your project is calling for a selection of long pieces, then you may have the correct total number of board feet, but the actual boards themselves may not be long enough. This means that you might have to take another trip to the lumber supplier to purchase the correct boards, spending a lot more money in the process.
The more accurate method for calculating lumber requirements is to plan everything out meticulously on paper before any purchases are made. In this scenario, let's assume that you have access to rough boards with a size of 8' long and between 6 and 7 inches wide. Firstly you should draw a selection of blanks on a piece of paper and then attempt to plan out all of the cuts that will be needed for your project parts. It is important that you consider processes such as milling and kerf widths because the goal of this plan is that it is as realistic as possible.
During the planning process, you may have to erase some boards and then completely reorganise the plan for the sake of saving on the amount of wood used. Eventually, after some time, you should have in front of you a really nice cut diagram. The best part of this method for calculating is that you do not need to be concerned with the board feet.
Instead, your priority is focused on making sure you are getting the required number of boards. This is important so you can make cuts according to what is shown in your diagram.
This process takes a lot of time, but we would recommend it as the "lazy" method is often frustrating and expensive. Another benefit of the method is that it makes the process of selecting the perfect wood grain while you at attending the lumber yard.
A great tip is to take some chalk with you to the yard so you can mark up any boards you find as you place them in your vehicle. Sometimes, the best technique is to use a mix of both methods.
If you are using a collection of smaller boards, then you can lump them all together into one board foot number and then just use that number plus fifteen percent.
When working with larger pieces, you need to make sure that you have the correct number of boards. On particular projects, you can take it one step further by buying very specific boards—for example, a tabletop. In any case, you do not want to let fate decide which boards are the ones that make your project bold and interesting.
This is why ultimately, a combination of the two methods is what works best. When you are calculating board feet in the style of thickness x width x length, then you need to be using the rough thickness of the boards. So this means that if your project requires 3/4″ thick stock, then you need to buy rough 4/4.
You will need to base all your calculations on one-inch thickness, as this is how the lumber yard will charge you for the boards. Even if the wood is just below one inch, and it usually will be, if the wood is marked as 4/4, then you will be charged for one inch.
Calculating wood for a project Board Feet vs. Linear Feet
The majority of lumberyards will deal with wood in board feet, especially when working with very large orders. However, they will also work in linear feet as well if it is required. Below is a breakdown of all the different types of lumber management.
How to Use Board Feet:
A single board foot is one square foot of timber that is one single inch thick. It is possible to measure the board feet by multiplying the length x width x thickness in inches.
Once you have this number, then you need to divide it by 144. If you are planning on ordering a large amount in the measurement of board feet, then all you need to do is multiply the total board feet required by the price per board feet. This will give you the total cost of your materials.
How to Use Linear Feet:
A linear foot is described as a twelve-inch piece of lumber. For the majority of homeowner projects, linear feet are considered to be the easier way to calculate all the needs for the job. For example, if you are building a deck from lumber that is two by six, you would need first to use your plans to measure the total length of the decking boards that are required.
Next, you need to contact a lumber yard and ask them about the price per foot with that size and species of lumber. Let's say in this example it is two by six construction heart redwood. Once the lumberyard has given you a price, you can then multiply it by the linear feet that are needed, and you will find the total price for your decking material.
Nominal vs. Actual Size
If you are not an individual who is experienced with the process of lumber, then it is important for you to remember that all lumber can be identified by its nominal size. This nominal size is different to the actual size of the lumber.
For example, what is known as a two-by-four is actually around 1 1/2 inches thick by 3 1/2 inches wide. A piece of wood named a two-by-eight is actually 2 inches thick by 7 1/4 inches wide. Keep this in mind when doing calculations and purchasing lumber.
Kinds of Wood
There are many different varieties of wood available for a selection of different home projects. Below is a list of some of the most popular kinds of wood that you will find at lumberyards.
Oak: This is a lot less expensive than the majority of wood options. The wood's graining allows for it to hide scratches and dents easily
Maple: This type of wood is slightly tougher than oak, but the overall colour is much lighter
Pine: The main issue with pine wood is that it dents very easily. The wood is very soft, which means you need to be careful when considering what you are going to construct with the material.
Hickory: A variety of wood that is much harder than oak. Due to this, as well as other factors, hickory has become one of the most pricey options for purchasing lumber.
Ash: This is another variety of hardwood. It is light in colour.
Brazilian Walnut: The cost for purchasing this material is quite high, much more expensive than oak. The hardness of the material is also much higher.
Bamboo: This material is considered to be eco-friendly. In many cases, it will cost less than hardwood but is still quite a strong material.
Synthetic vs. Regular Wood
Laminate: This is cheaper than hardwood and resistant to scratches. If you are looking for material that is easy to install, then this is a good pick. The downside is that it cannot be refinished.
Vinyl: Unlike laminate, this material is fully waterproof. It is especially prone to fading.
Natural Wood: More expensive than the other options, as well as trickier to have installed. However, it can be refinished if any damages are taken.
Are you looking for timber delivery in Manchester and the surrounding areas? We offer a range of timber cut to size for Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Oldham, Stockport, Warrington and the surrounding areas.