why is lumber 1/4 shorter then listed

[jaysmith]

im a cad student and building houses is my forte. but what i don’t understand for the life of me. why the heck is (ie) 2×4 = to be 1,3/4″ and 3,3/4″? then when it comes to 2×8 it becomes 1/2 less on the depth side leaving 1,3/4″ by 7,1/2″? so why once it reaches past 2×6 you loose half inch depth diameter?

jay smith

[Jasper]

http://barelybad.com/fp_selectstuds.htm

Jasper Castillo

[Anonymous]

Hey Jason –

Jaspars post is pretty funny. To answer your question directly, it is the nominal size (2×4) vs the actual size (1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″).

When the board is cut from the log, it nominal size is 2×4. After it is driedd and planed it is 1-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.

Hope that helps.

Dan N

[Author]

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