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Available Grades in all Species


Lumber grades, assigned on the basis of visual inspection and/or mechanical testing, are divided into three basic classifications which reflect the intended end uses:
- Structural Lumber: for residential, commercial and industrial uses is graded for its performance in load bearing or load-carrying applications. Physical working characteristics are the primary considerations and appearance is secondary.
- Appearance Grades: are assigned to lumber intended for applications where appearance is the most important factor. These grades cover products ranging from the exquisitely beautiful to the most utilitarian. They may be sold as Select, Finish or Common boards, run-to-pattern for siding and paneling products, or used for a variety of purposes.
- Factory and Shop Grades: are assigned to lumber intended to be recut, to recover the clear portions in the piece fort manufacturing into other wood products such as windows, doors and cabinets and for moulding , trim and specialty products. Below is a list with links to some examples of the grades we carry at Bear Creek Lumber. Not all grades are represented, please contact us for actual wood samples or digital pictures of any particular grade you may be interested in. Note that some species have their own particular grading rules.

List of Available Grades

Appearance Board Stock Grades

Structural Post and Beam Grades


Table describing the grades #2 Clear and Better through #4 Clear and Better for rough green clears 5" and thicker.

Grades #2 Clear and Better #3 Clear and Better #4 Clear and Better
Face Graded All grades and sizes. Grade from best face and corresponding 1/2 of edges.
Irregularities,
# permitted		 3 on face. 4 on back 4 on face, 5 on back never in maximum size or number in any one piece.
Rate of growth Average 6 rings per inch Average 4 rings per inch Plus
Slope of Grain 1 in 8 1 in 6 1 in 4
Split
(one or equiv)		 Width of piece Width of piece Width of piece
Pockets Medium - 6" long Medium - limited to 6" long 5 medium (1/8"x8") or equiv. smaller
Pitch Streaks Equiv. to pockets Equiv. to pockets Scattered
Knots / measured average diameter sound on reverse face only / 2" sound / 2" and less any quality / 4"-2" or equiv. smaller
Sap stain   1/2 face medium 1/2 face medium
Heart stain   slight medium +
Pin holes     Face: 15 per sq ft
Back: 30 per sq ft
Holes     One: 1/4" on face
Two: 1/2" on back
Wane     1/8 width x 1/6 length (or equiv. area)
1/4 thickness (50% more on back)
White specks     10% of face
25% of back
Cut out 1 cut out 8" from end in 18" longer* 1 cut out 8' from end in 18' or longer* 4", 4' from an end in pieces 12' and longer


* Provided that balance of piece is practically free from other irregularities, limited waste is one foot.