Editing Lumber (section)

{{Short description|Wood that has been processed into beams and planks}}
{{Other uses|Lumber (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Timber|other uses|Timber (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
[[File:Wood from victoria mountain ash.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Wood cut from Victorian ''[[Eucalyptus regnans]]'']]
[[File:Bellingham, Washington, harbor, filled with logs, 1972.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|The harbor of Bellingham, Washington, filled with logs, 1972]]

'''Lumber''' is [[wood]] that has been [[carpentry|processed]] into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including [[beam (structure)|beams]] and [[plank (wood)|planks or boards]]. Lumber is mainly used for [[framing (construction)|construction framing]], as well as finishing (floors, [[wall panel]]s, [[window frame]]s). Lumber has many uses beyond home building. Lumber is referred to as '''timber''' in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, while in other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada, the term ''timber'' refers specifically to unprocessed [[wood fiber]], such as cut logs or standing trees that have yet to be cut.

Lumber may be supplied either rough-[[sawmill|sawn]], or surfaced on one or more of its faces. ''Rough lumber'' is the raw material for furniture-making, and manufacture of other items requiring cutting and shaping. It is available in many species, including [[hardwood]]s and [[softwood]]s, such as [[Pinus classification|white pine]] and [[red pine]], because of their low cost.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southern Pine Cost Estimates|url=http://patscolor.com/materials/timber/the-southern-yellow-pine-flooring-decking-guide/|website=patscolor.com}}</ref>

''Finished lumber'' is supplied in standard sizes, mostly for the construction industry – primarily [[softwood]], from [[conifer]]ous species, including [[pine]], [[fir]] and [[spruce]] (collectively [[spruce-pine-fir]]), [[Cedrus|cedar]], and [[Tsuga|hemlock]], but also some hardwood, for high-grade flooring. It is more commonly made from softwood than hardwoods, and 80% of lumber comes from softwood.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diffen.com/difference/Hardwood_vs_Softwood|title=Hardwood vs Softwood – Difference and Comparison |publisher=Diffen}}</ref>