What does SPF mean on lumber?

Spruce-Pine-Fir
The SPF we’re talking about is an acronym for “Spruce-Pine-Fir,” the species of trees that make up SPF lumber. SPF lumber can be roughly categorized into two different species in North America – East and West.

What is SPF 2×4?

What is SPF Lumber? SPF is an acronym for spruce, pine, and fir. SPF lumber typically refers to dimensional lumber or engineered wood derived from coniferous trees in North America.

Is SPF good for framing?

SPF Framing. SPF is the gold standard for framing lumber. It is lightweight, strong and easy to cut and nail. It is a favorite among carpenters and homebuilders.

What is a SPF stud?

These Appearance Grade Studs are made of Spruce, Pine & Fir (SPF). With its light weight and easy workability combined with high fiber strength, SPF is useful for residential construction and general framing applications.

Can SPF lumber be used outside?

While there is no harm in using it for indoor furniture, SPF gives the best results in outdoor framing. This is because, in addition to being sturdy, it is hardly affected by the changes in the environment.

Is SPF wood strong?

All three woods qualify as softwoods, but they are still strong and can support large amounts of weight. SPF is dimensional lumber, meaning that it is typically described and sold by nominal sizes that differ from the actual size of the board (for example, a 2×4 is actually 1.5×3.

Is SPF wood good for outdoors?

When used externally, SPF is often pressure treated to protect it, but cedar has naturally occurring preservatives called tannins that help to maintain the quality of the wood. SPF is commonly used because of the lower price and the fact that it’s more readily available than cedar.

Is SPF real wood?

SPF grown in Nova Scotia is made predominantly from Red Spruce, White Spruce, Black Spruce and Balsam Fir. Lumber produced from these spruce-pine-fir species is sold together as SPF. These trees grow straight and tall in Nova Scotia, making high quality lumber with tight wood grain and small knots.

Where can I buy SPF framing lumber?

At a lumber yard or home center, the inventory of SPF framing lumber can include any one of these three types of trees, and it may contain one or more species within the type (for example, several species of spruce might be found in the store’s stock of 2 x 4s sold under the same grade).

What kind of studs do you use for walls?

For stronger, solid, straighter walls, go big with the consistent strength and performance of engineered wall studs. Versa-Stud ® laminated veneer lumber (LVL) framing is engineered to deliver strong, stiff, straight walls, resulting in a solid feel, smooth surface, and high-quality finish.

What types of studs do forest products offer?

At Forest Products, we offer a wide range of studs to fit any job, including premiums, finger jointed, #2 grade, and 10′ pre-cuts. Wane allowed up 1/3rd the height, 1/8th the width for the full length of the board.

Can you use SPF in woodworking projects?

While SPF is typically used in construction, it can also be used in some fine woodworking projects—with certain caveats.