Materials
In addition to the knowledge of the many tools you may be working with, this lesson will discuss the specific materials a carpenter must know how to utilize for the job. Knowing the way specific materials cut, warp, or break, will drastically improve time management.
Wood & Lumber
The simplest of names, with the widest range of possibilities, wood is the main material carpenters will work with. It is an excellent insulating material, as it resists the flow of heat 6x more than brick, and 14x more than concrete.
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This is not the same for all wood though, as wood can vary in strength, elasticity, colour, grain, texture, and even smell. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when selecting the right wood for the job.
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Wood can be classified as either Open-grained, which leaves larger cells open in the pores that can show on the surface. Or Close-grained, which has much tighter open cells. However, the two most common classifications of wood are called Softwood and Hardwood.
Softwood
This type of wood is cut from coniferous trees, which sprout leaves that are thin (ex. pine needles) with cones. Softwood tends to have better elasticity than hardwood overall and is always open-grained. However, some softwood trees are harder than hardwood. ​For example, Fir is stronger than basswood, regardless of the identification method. Here are some examples of softwood:
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Red Cedar
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Fir
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Ponderosa Pine
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Sugar Pine
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Western White Pine
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Southern Yellow Pine
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Redwood
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Spruce
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Tamarack
Hardwood
Now you may think of hardwood as what a homeowner would want for their flooring, but it is so much more than that. Hardwood is made from deciduous trees, which shed leaves in the winter months and can grow things like acorns. The reason why many people prefer hardwood for their flooring and furniture is that it holds firmer over time, therefore maintaining value. Some examples of hardwood would be:
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Ash
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Basswood
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Beech
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Birch
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Cherry
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Hickory
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Maple
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Mahogany
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Oak
Manufacturing Lumber
Simply put, lumber is created when the logs that are cut from trees are processed through the sawmill. The bark is removed and the log is cut with a huge bandsaw and refined later with other saws for various dimensions. This final product is called lumber.
Plain-Sawn Lumber
This common method of cutting produces a long-grain pattern on the wide surface of the wood. While less expensive to cut, it has more potential to warp.
Quarter-Sawn Lumber
This other method, while slightly more expensive, is less likely to warp over time. This form of lumber is often used for flooring because of its durability. Not only that, the pattern you can obtain from this cut is desired for aesthetic purposes with trees such as oak.
While it is important to know the distinction between both types of sawn lumber, the majority of logs involve Combination Sawing. This is where a single log can be cut using both sawing methods. It requires a smaller amount of time to cut, which is why it is preferred.
Moisture Content (MC),
Shrinking, & Warping
When a tree is first cut, it contains a larger amount of moisture, this is what we call green lumber. As an example, a plank of wood 2 inches thick, 6 inches wide, and 10 feet long, can have as much as 4 gallons of water inside it. This is why the cut is of the utmost importance, as when the lumber shrinks when it drys and can lead to serious warping. If you want to know how to avoid choosing the wrong wood, watch this video:
Lumber Grades
These are determined by Wood Products Associations, and different labelling assures standard quality
Lumber Sizes &
Board Measures
When purchasing lumber, it is important to note how it is priced, which is based on a board foot. This is judged by 1-inch thick x 1-foot wide x 1-foot long of wood. This basically allows for commonality between measurements as they can be adjusted according to the piece of wood. To calculate you must:
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NUMBER OR PIECES x THICKNESS" x WIDTH" x LENGTH ' /12
Structural Panels
These are things such as plywood (cross-laminated wood veneer) and are made up of thin pieces of wood (called ply) that are glued together for density and evenness throughout. When layered, the angles of the wood are glued in opposite directions of their grain, to increase the strength of the board. There are other forms of structured panels such as:
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Particleboards
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Fibreboards
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Hardboards
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Medium-Density Fibreboards
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Softboards
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Laminated Veneer Lumber
Similar to plywood, however, these boards are glued together facing opposite directions, they are facing the same direction. Also unlike plywood, these sheets are densified for stability, with a sheet 1 & 3/4" thick having up to 15-20 layers of veneers.​
Parallel Strand Lumber
Uniquely different from the previous two in its design. Rather than layering veneers on top of each other, it is peeled into strands up to 8-feet long and a 1/10 inch. They are then wet and bound using a special adhesive, and pressed lastly to ensure strength.
Engineered Joists
These are specially manufactured pieces of lumber that take its design from the traditional I-beam. The goal of this is to carry heavier loads over longer periods. an Open Joist is most common, coming in sizes that vary from 3 - 30 feet long. Their typical open design also allows for easier installation in the field, as wires or other piping could run through it while still maintaining its integrity. Some other types of joist include:
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Wood-webbed Joists
Metal-webbed Joists
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There are much more options...
We have gone over the essential understanding of lumber materials that you will likely use during your time as an apprentice. However, you will encounter new materials that you must become familiar with over the course of your career as a carpenter. Shown below are some more materials you will find in the field.
Steel In Carpentry
While wood is one of the most popular materials used by a Carpenter, it’s not the only material that they come into contact with.
Rebar
Is an essential part of providing tensile strength to a concrete pour. Without rebar, concrete would crack and not be able to resist breaking under tension. Which you learn more about in the concrete work module.
Beams
Metal Beams are typically used for(large spans). A carpenter must be able to use the correct material needed for the job at hand. Sometimes lvl's and other supporting members do not provide enough critical support for the design. Either the span is too far or the weight is too high. When this situation arises it is not uncommon for a Steel beam to be used instead.
Steel Walls
Wall Track
Used at the bottom and top of the steel wall to hold the studs in place. Acts as a bottom plate and top plate but for metal studs.
Studs
Vertical member that connects from the bottom track to the top track, allowing wires and plumbing to pass through the wall. As well as hang drywall to finish the wall. It is important when framing using metal to always cut the stud at the top, to not affect the hole height for the reinforcing channel.
Reinforcing U Channel
This is a U-shaped piece of heavy gauge steel that is run throughout the steel wall to provide rigidity along the wall.
Adhesives
Cyanoacrylate (superglue)
These are typically used as a fast way for securing small non-moving parts that need to be set in place fast. They are known to have similar qualities to epoxy but are faster to use, due to no mixing time. Some of the applications that they could be used for are Gluing a small section of laminate edging that has come loose, filling small cracks or gaps in wood, or any other small project.
PVA- Poly vinyl acetate
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(Wood Glue) This type of glue is most commonly used in cabinet making, woodworking and trim work. Wood glue has a longer set time (Around 18 to 24 hours to fully cure), however, it must be clamped, to achieve a proper bond (usually a minimum of 30 mins). When hardened the wood glue is usually a stronger bond than the wood itself.
Polyurethane adhesives
(General Construction Adhesives) Polyurethane adhesives are very common on construction sites. They can and are used for many different applications. They can be used for gluing different types of materials together i.e. wood to concrete, metal to wood, and many other variations. They are used to glue subfloors, brick veneers, tileboard, cabinets, granite, drywall, marble, ceramics and plastics.
Epoxies
Epoxy can be used when installing rebar into existing concrete, it can also be used for floor finishing, and anchoring structural connectors. Laminated wood uses epoxy due to chemical resistance and the ability to adhere to different surfaces including metal, glass and stone. Epoxies are not only used in construction but they are used to make some of the construction materials used daily on the site.
Insulation
There are many different materials used in construction, however, proper insulation is key to having a comfortable, energy-efficient, Fire retardant structure.
Just like any building material when working with insulation proper PPE must be worn. Respirators, safety glasses, gloves, and we recommend long sleeve shirts and pants to avoid contact with insulation. If your skin makes contact with insulation it can lead to irritant contact dermatitis or skin inflammation.
There are many different types of insulation commonly used in the construction of homes and commercial buildings. Insulation can help reduce noise pollution, act as a fire retardant, and can allow a structure to hold cold or warm air inside.
Some of the most common insulation that you will see working at Snyder Construction are fibreglass, blown-in, spray foam and rock wool insulation.
Blow in Insulation
Fiberglass Insulation
Rockwool Insulation
Spray foam Insulation
In Summary
These are just some common materials you will use, however, there are constantly new materials being added to the field
