Why did 2x4s get smaller?

Through the drying process, the boards naturally shrink, as moisture leaves the beams. The real shrinkage, however, comes when the “rough-sawn material” is sent to a planer, which rubs the surface of the wood down into the smooth shapes you can purchase at a hardware store.

When did lumber dimensions change from actual to nominal?

Early concepts called for rough lumber to be of full nominal size, often in the dry condition. After World War I, the increasing demand for construction lumber led to the first national size standard in 1924. This was revised in 1926, 1928, 1939, and 1953, while still another revision is proposed for adoption in 1964.

Why are 2x4s not actually 2×4?

The simple reason why 2×4 is not 2 inches by 4 inches is that lumber mills trim off rough or warped surfaces of a 2×4 to give it a more polished and finished look. By planning the lumber on all four sides, the original 2×4 is now reduced to 1 ½ inches by 3 1/2 inches.

When did they start using dimensional lumber?

The term dimensional lumber came into popular use around the beginning of the 20th century to distinguish lumber cut to pre-determined sizes from other types of wood, such as corded wood for fireplaces.

How big is a 2×4 actually?

A piece of surfaced (sanded smooth) 2×4 lumber actually measures 1½ inches thick and 3½ inches wide. In rough-cut condition, a 2×4 is slightly less than 2 inches thick and approximately 4 inches wide.

Why is a 2×4 actually 1.5×3 5?

The 2×4 refers to the rough-cut green wood: it shrinks during drying, then the dried wood is planed smooth, so the finished lumber is supposed to end up at 1.5″x3. 5″. While it doesn’t really shrink that much, the mills get more usable finished 2×4’s from a given tree if they cut them slightly smaller to begin with.

When did 2×4 size change?

1964
Size standards, maximum moisture content, and nomenclature were agreed upon only as recently as 1964. The nominal 2×4 thus became the actual 1½ x 3½, imperceptibly, a fraction of an inch at a time.

Does the size of a 2×4 change?

Now, most timber is milled and planed to give it a little more of a finished look, and a little more of a consistent size and profile. Because of this extra milling, a 2×4 no longer measures a full 2 inches by four inches.

When did 2x4s stop being 2×4?

Size standards, maximum moisture content, and nomenclature were agreed upon only as recently as 1964. The nominal 2×4 thus became the actual 1½ x 3½, imperceptibly, a fraction of an inch at a time.

How thick is a 2×4 actually?

1½ inches
A piece of surfaced (sanded smooth) 2×4 lumber actually measures 1½ inches thick and 3½ inches wide. In rough-cut condition, a 2×4 is slightly less than 2 inches thick and approximately 4 inches wide. When wood is milled from a rough to a smooth surface, it loses about ¼-inch from each of its four sides.

When did 2×4 change size?

How long is a 2×4 stud?

Two-by-six and two-by-four are the most common dimensions of wall studs. Standard walls of 8 feet have wall studs that are 92 inches. The studs are 104 1/2 inches in homes with 9-foot walls.

However, it wasn t until 1969 that the U.S. Department of Commerce once and for all unified lumber sizes across the country. So, the once full-sized 2×4 was reduced to today s 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 through a combination of drying, machining, as well as unifying the wide variety of species used to make the ubiquitous 2×4.

What is the actual size of a 2 x 4?

Lumber manufacturers typically cut a tree into the various standard types of dimensional lumber very shortly after the tree is felled. At this point, the 2 x 4 is actually 2 inches x 4 inches, a 2 x 10 is actually 2 inches x 10 inches, etc.

How thick is a 2×4?

In rough-cut condition, a 2×4 is slightly less than 2 inches thick and approximately 4 inches wide. When wood is milled from a rough to a smooth surface, it loses about ¼- inch from each of its four sides.

How wide is a 2×4 board?

One of the most popular cuts of lumber for home building is the two-by-four, which actually measures 1.5 inches high by 3.5 inches wide.