 Lumber is sold in lineal
feet—the total length of the lumber you are buying—or in board feet. Lumberyards
normally deal in board feet, particularly on large orders, but they work
in lineal feet equally well.
For many homeowner
projects, lineal feet are the easiest way to calculate your needs. For
instance, if building a deck out of 2-by-6 lumber, you would use your
plans to first measure the total length of decking boards you need. Then
you call a lumberyard and ask the price per foot on that size and species
of lumber, such as 2-by-6 construction heart redwood. When the lumberyard
gives you the price, enter it and the lineal feet you want, and there's
your decking price.
If ordering a large
amount by board feet, just enter the total board feet needed and the price
per board foot for the total price. As a quick reminder, a board foot
is 12 inches long by 12 inches wide by 1 inch thick. A 2-by-6 that is 1 foot
long also equals 1 board foot (think of the 1-by-12-by-12 board folded
in half).
Also, if you are
not experienced in buying lumber, remember that all lumber is identified
by its nominal size, which is different than the actual size. As an example,
a 2-by-4 is actually 1 1/2 inches thick by 3 1/2 inches wide. A 2-by-8 is
actually 1 1/2 inches thick by 7 1/4 inches wide.
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