Before I load you with info, just know that there really isn’t an exacting answer to this question and that while choosing the best products for your projects is a great starting point, it is almost never the make or break of those projects. A great many things determine the longevity of your project, but I can promise you that if you have children, how they use and abuse your projects will weigh far greater on how long that something lasts than anything else. I know the process of choosing lumber and wood for building can feel very overwhelming when you are presented with meellions of options. But truly, there isn’t one absolute and correct answer to this, so have no fear of making some sort of fatal mistake here, it’s nearly impossible to do so.
DEFINITIONS // How I will refer to the various wood products below
- – Sheet Goods // Plywood, MDF, Melamine, Particle Board
- – Lumber // 2x’s + 4x’s – 2×2’s, 2×3’s, 2×4’s, 4×4’s – often stud grade dimensional lumber
- – Boards // 1x’s – 1×2’s, 1×3’s, 1×4’s all the way up to 1×12’s – also technically dimensional lumber, but it’s helpful to separate them in this way
WOOD SPECIES // I will get into the complexity of these next time, but this generalized guide will help for now
Soft Wood // Generally any cone producing tree – Pine, Fir, Spruce, Redwood, Cedar
- – Typically less expensive
- – Easier to build with
- – Often of lesser quality in your big box stores
- – Generally what you will find for stud grade lumber (all 2x’s and 4x’s) at big box stores
- – Requires more work to finish – difficult to stain with
Hard Wood // Generally any leaf producing tree – Poplar, Oak, Maple, Birch, Walnut, Mahogany
- – Typically more expensive
- – More durable
- – Slightly harder to build with
- – Often of greater quality in your big box stores
- – Easier to finish – requiring less work – better for stained finishes
- – Generally found as boards (1x’s) and plywood in your big box stores
Now that we have those things out of the way, let’s dive right in for the remaining decision making ingredients – there are three.
The first of these is the project type and while all three factors are important, this one will dictate your options and limitations for the remaining two.
PROJECT TYPE // There are 3 different project types you will find plans for, here on The Design Confidential and these will directly affect your available choices for finish and cost.
Sheet Goods Only // Projects built entirely of sheet goods
- – Interior and hidden pieces can be lesser quality – purchase partial sheets for these pieces when possible
- – Quality of visible and exterior pieces should be determined by your desired finish.
- – Stain – Avoid pine but otherwise simply choose a grain pattern you like that is of a slightly higher grade
- – Paint – For smoothest finish choose MDF or a light grain species like birch. For rustic painted finish choose moderate quality, grain pattern of preference
- – Washable – Melamine which is typically white is often used for cabinet interiors and children’s furniture
Dimensional Lumber // Projects built entirely of lumber and / or boards
- – Lumber + Board Combo – Projects that require 2x’s and 1x’s, maybe even 4x’s.
- – If choosing the best boards for your budget and not all are pine, paint or go with a natural or wax finish to avoid mismatched stain absorption.
- – Lumber Only – likely limited to soft wood studs if you are shopping a big box store
- – beginners should avoid the pine and stain combo. Despite what DIY blogger pictures might make you think, pine can be a nightmare to stain evenly or even well.
- – Boards Only – Choose according to budget and / or desired finish.
- – Buying the best boards for your budget will save you time on the back end for sanding and finishing.
- – Hard wood boards will be easier to stain
Mixed Bag // Projects built with sheet goods and lumber or boards (or both)
– It is possible to match wood type all the way through if desired, but likely limited to pine or fir if lumber is required.
