Find out what species and grade of lumber is most commonly used in a region 1

[MILRAD]

I am doing residential wood design for a project in another state and am trying to find out what species and grade of wood is typically stocked and sold to contractors.

Is there a survey or something that lists this? (I think AISC does a survey to find out what grades and shapes of steel are available.)

I have tried to call some of the larger lumber yards that I think contractors would go to and I get answers like "All our lumber is premium pine." (There is no "premium pine" in the NDS Supplement.)

Similar questions for LVL's (Boise-Cascade, Trus-Joist, Roseburg, etc) and I-Joists.

Do people just specify a lower grade assuming anything that is bought will be stronger and stiffer?

Thanks

 

[phamENG]

This should help:

Link

 

[MILRAD]

Thanks. That helps some.

 

[phamENG]

You're welcome. Are you an ASCE member? If so, you could try contacting the local branch and asking the question. They'll likely be able to help.

This is the general dividing line as I've come to understand it: Anything South and East of the Mississippi River and about Delaware/Pennsylvania is going to be southern pine (#2 is typically the most common.) North of that line is going to be Spruce/Pine/Fir. West of that line is going to be Doug Fir. Those are your primary structural grades, at least. 2x4's in the south are now mostly SPF, unless they're treated, because nobody really uses 2x4s for exterior walls anymore.

 

[wannabeSE]

Have you tried contacting The American Wood Council or WoodWorks?

https://www.awc.org/

https://www.woodworks.org/

 

[Guest090822]

I've always googled Home Depot or Lowes in the area and called the store. It takes a few minutes, but if you walk them through the process that there is stamp on the lumber, they will usually read it back to you.

I think phamENG is pretty good. I'm in the Northeast, the only thing I ever see is SPF or Doug-Fir.