All about unedged boards

Knowing what unedged boards are, how they look and what their features are, is very useful for any developer or owner of a private house when renovating buildings. Roofs and floors are made of unedged boards very often. The article also talks about dry wide and other unedged boards.

It is important to understand the value of unedged sawn timber already because they are much cheaper than their “edged” counterparts. The main specificity of obtaining unedged boards is longitudinal sawing of logs. In this case, the side edges of the resulting products are not cut off. As a result, the board has treated surfaces from the bottom and top, and the sidewalls are left almost in their original form. To bring to the ideal - "edged" - state, you have to make some efforts: cut the sidewalls yourself, keeping the same width along the entire length of the workpiece.

The same applies to typical lengths. But as for the cost, expectations are not always justified - high-quality boards of valuable wood species are naturally more expensive. Unedged board in large quantities is usually taken by those who can modify it. And for home craftsmen who do not have suitable premises for processing wood, it is still not very suitable, even if the price is reasonable.

For the production of this lumber, the second and third cuts of the trunk are used. They are usually considered low grade, but they are quite suitable for such a task. Typical dimensions for most boards are within the following ranges:

• from 20 to 50 mm in thickness;
• from 100 to 200 mm in width.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, pine and spruce are used to obtain them. Despite the secondary level of the product, strict requirements are imposed on it with continuous monitoring of the production process.

The initial sawing of the logs can be carried out using a tangential or radial technique. In the first version, the cutting plane coincides with the tangent core, and in the second, they are sawn at an angle of 90 degrees to the annual layer. The first option is cheaper, but the second provides greater strength and resistance to drying out.

This kind of unedged board looks pretty unsightly. Nobody knowingly subjects it to scrupulous processing. Signs of warpage and a large number of knots are common. In general, the structure of the fence board is not reliable, often even fragile. As soon as such a tree is dry, it is not uncommon to find a changed geometry of the cross-section, which complicates the construction use of lumber. Therefore, the fence board is allowed on the crate and secondary fences (hence the name).

This type of unedged boards is harvested from logs of especially high-quality wood. Usually these are trees with a large trunk diameter, for example, Siberian larch or Angara pine. The width of the lumber starts from 150 mm. Such boards are characterized by either a complete absence of defects, or their minimum number (within the varietal group).But the price of carpentry class products is much higher.

A dry planed group is even more expensive, while it is valued for a number of positive qualities, and is taken for important matters. As for the species, it is customary to use coniferous trees for construction. Pine has even become a de facto general construction material that is easy to process and, in addition, widespread. Pine wood is comparatively resistant to decay. And the special cellular structure makes it permeable to air.

Dried spruce can split and is not very suitable for flooring. And it rots stronger than pine. Larch is much more suitable for solid orders, since it is strong, dense, contains a lot of oils, and is protected from biological damage and harmful insects. However, larch is a very heavy tree.

Cedar is prized for its softness, ease of processing and beauty of texture. This plant practically does not rot, so it can be used even outdoors. Of hardwoods, oak deservedly has a very good reputation. It is very durable and mechanically hard, rotting little and pickling well. And also oak wood is distinguished by its toughness, it can be cut without problems, it bends, it has a pronounced texture.

Ash wood is generally close to oak. They have similar fibers, but the texture of ash is much lighter. It is also worth noting that when damp, ash can rot. Only antiseptic treatment provides sufficient protection. Steamed ash is easy to bend in the right way.

Beech is roughly the same strength as oak. It is easy to saw and bend when steamed. There are also no problems with drilling and cutting. However, the tendency to rot can be difficult. Therefore, there is no place for a beech in wet rooms.

The mass of the unedged board in terms of 1 m3 is as follows:

• for dry beech - from 600 to 700 kg;
• for impregnated beech - 700 kg;
• for dry birch - 640 kg;
• for dried oak - 700 kg;
• for spruce after thorough drying - 450 kg;
• for cedar with a moisture content of 12% - 580 kg;
• for pine with a moisture content of 12% - from 460 to 620 kg;
• for ash with a moisture content of 12% - 700 kg.

Despite the seeming "second-rate" unedged board, you should choose it very carefully. Particular attention should be paid to the smoothness of the surface. Any chip will greatly complicate handling and use. You also need to make sure that there are no cracks, the presence of which may indicate shrinkage or a violation of the temperature regime during storage. Good lumber does not contain even the smallest cracks.

Be sure to make sure that there is no warping of the boards. This defect appears either due to excessive dryness or, conversely, overmoistening of the material.

The high quality board has a perfectly flat surface. For her, wingedness is unacceptable, which significantly complicates any types of processing. Alas, it is almost impossible to avoid winging if stored improperly or to eliminate it later. When choosing a material for the front finishing of even minor buildings, it is advisable to take into account the color of the wood.

Of course, the supplier's reputation also influences the choice of lumber.

The use of unedged boards in the construction industry and other areas varies greatly depending on its grade. So, with the selected "zero" category (also referred to as "A"), which does not have any deformations, joiners and furniture manufacturers are very fond of working. Variety group 1 (aka "B"), which does not have rot, bugs and cracks, is mainly used for general construction work. With its help, you can confidently finish the pediment or vertical facade.

This means that such a board can be used only where it will not be visible or in places whose appearance no one cares about. The main purpose of such materials is the manufacture of lathing and rafters under the roof, various sheds and fences.

Besides, often an unedged board is used to make a massive sub-floor. In this case, a dry flat coniferous timber is preferable.

Lovers of environmental friendliness should take into account that unedged boards can also be attached to the roof. This solution looks unusual and is perceived as original as possible. The constituent elements of the structure are overlapped. Sometimes lumber is laid at an angle of 90 degrees in relation to the rafters. But you can make a roof from longitudinally laid boards. This method is no longer considered an eccentricity, as it is suitable for almost any structure.

Unedged board ceilings are also gaining in popularity. They will look most logical and appropriate in simple wooden houses. But with a skillful approach, these boards can be used in buildings made of other materials. Even from cinder blocks, red brick or wood concrete - the main thing is that everything is securely fixed.

With any construction, a lot of wood surplus remains, including unedged boards. Often they arrange window frames for windows. Before installation, the casing is impregnated with a stain to increase resistance to adverse environmental factors.

The assembly of all flights of stairs, if possible, is carried out in the same style solution. Important: only a pre-planed board is allowed to make a ladder bowstring.

The landing is mounted on a support post. This post, in turn, is attached to a wall support bar.

It is also worth noting that internal and external decoration in the bathhouse can be made from unedged boards. Of course, you don't have to count on special beauty, but you can guarantee the cheapness of the entire project. This design will ideally fit not only into the Russian style, but also many other conservative styles.

In any case, the tree must be barked and sanded before use. The ideal way to do this is with a household power tool. A small amount of work can be done with a manual scraper. A more modern option is the use of a grinder with a coroder disc. Impregnation with fire retardants must be carried out.

Building a dacha entirely from unedged boards is not a good idea. But you can decorate the walls on the veranda with it from the inside, or build a fence and a barn, or do both together. With the right approach, outbuildings made of unedged boards last for decades. You can even leave the barked material, which is pretty pretty too.

How to dissolve an uncut board, see below.