Grading of Lumber Even though each type of wood has its own grading system, the purpose of grading lumber is the same; a method to communicate between buyer and seller of what is and isn't acceptable. The lumber that comes into our facility is graded at each of the lumber mills we buy from. Below is a list of the species and grading rules used by Synergy for our initial inspection of incoming lumber. Governing Grading Standards Used by Synergy Cypress National Hardwood Lumber Associations Rules, 2007 Ponderosa Pine Western Lumber Grading Rules, 2011 Southern Yellow Pine Southern Pine Inspection Bureau Grading Rules, 2014 During our production process, Synergy inspects and re-grades each piece of lumber. Even with this extra grading, is the Synergy product going to be perfect? The answer is, no it isn't. Wood is a natural product and therefore, each piece is going to be different. For the pieces that make it through our facility and to the jobsite that might have some undesirable issue, please see the section labeled "How To Use What is Delivered". Everything that is delivered to a jobsite is useable. The following pages have photos and descriptions of what we typically accept for each type of wood we process. Some of the definitions of the grading terminology for each will be found at the end of this article.
#2 Cypress Grading #2 Cypress Synergy's #2 cypress is graded as follows: Medium manufacturing defects allowed (from machining operations such as the molder, end matcher or sander): chipped grain, loosened grain, medium torn grain, heavy skip, machine burn or machine gouge. Knots allowed: unlimited diameter sound or unsound knots, pith knots, slight peck, shake and checks. Wane allowed: See section "What Synergy Allows". Splits allowed: equal to the length of the piece in inches. Pith allowed: all
Select Cypress Grading Select Cypress Synergy's select cypress is graded as follows: Knots allowed: 1 medium knot (defined as a knot over 3/4", but not more than 1.1/2" in diameter) in a 6" wide board Defects which can be substituted for 1 medium knot: 3 pin knots or 2 small knots or 3 medium surface checks or 1 slight manufacturing defect or fine shake.
E-Peck Cypress Grading We developed Synergy's E-Peck cypress to simulate old growth peck. This proprietary process was designed to have just the right amount of peck in each board. Our process creates a random pattern in each board. Raw E-Peck Cypress When E-Peck cypress is finished with a stain and our topcoat system, the stain color deeply penetrates the peck creating a dark, rustic appearance. Colonial on E-Peck Cypress Synergy's E-Peck cypress is graded as follows: Graded same as #2 cypress except admits up to 2 knot holes per board and unlimited surface checks.
#2 Southern Yellow Pine Grading #2 Southern Yellow Pine Synergy's #2 Southern Yellow Pine is graded as follows: Decay - in streaks of heart-center decay not to exceed 1/2" wide by 1/4 length of piece, or equivalent in unsound red heart. Holes - up to 1/4" not limited; one through hole over 1/4" but not over 1"; surface pits and cavities limited to 2" diameter in 6" wide board. Knots - sound, firm, encased, and pith, limited to 3" diameter in 6" wide board; all knots fixed or tight, except loose knots limited as through holes. Manufacture - admits very heavy torn grain; raised grain; very heavy loosened grain; up to 1/16" deep machine bite; up to 1/16" deep machine gouge; up 1/16" deep chip marks; knife marks. Items not limited: Pitch, pith, shake, checks & splits
C-Grade Southern Yellow Pine Grading C-Grade Southern Yellow Pine Synergy's C-Grade Southern Yellow Pine is graded as follows: Checks - medium surface checks (not over 1/32" wide but over 4" long and not over 10" long); through checks not over 1/32" wide are allowed if not longer than width of piece. Holes - average of not over 6 pin holes (1/16" or less) per surface foot. Knots - sound or firm and tight, limited to small size (not over 3/4"), except on medium (over 3/4" and not over 1.1/2") allowed in 5" and 6" widths. Manufacture - medium torn grain; light raised grain (not over 1/32"); light loosened grain (not over 1/32" separation); very light machine bite (not over 1/64" deep); very light machine gouge (not over 1/64" deep); light chip marks (not over 1/32" deep); very slight knife marks. Pitch - light Pith - small (3/4 square inch or less)
#2 Ponderosa Pine Grading #2 Ponderosa Pine Please note: With our #2 Ponderosa Pine, heartwood is present and is visible through our Clear finish. Over time, the heartwood will "age" or darken when exposed to any light. This is a natural occurrence and is not considered a defect. Synergy's #2 Ponderosa Pine is graded as follows: Knots allowed: Sound and tight, up to 2.1/2" diameter for red knots, up to 1" diameter for black knots. Pitch allowed: Streaks and patches of light to medium pitch covering 1/2 of face or two very small streaks of heavy pitch. Pith allowed: Firm heart pith, not more than 1/2" wide, 1/2 the length of the board. Shake allowed: Light shake, not over 1/6 the length. Split allowed: Short splits, limited to one on each end.