The Honest Carpenter
Published 21 Mar 2021Much of the lumber you see in stores will be stamped with the letters S-P-F. But what do these letters mean? For that matter, what is SYP and D-FIR? This short video from The Honest Carpenter will explain a few of the most common lumber markings in North America!
S-P-F stands for SPRUCE-PINE-FIR.
These are the three most common softwood lumber varieties in North America. Each wood technically represents a GENUS with several prominent SPECIES below it (like genus Spruce/species White Spruce).
These three lumbers are grouped together in an acronym because they all have very similar qualities, and they are all very good lumber to build homes with!
Also, because spruce, pine and fir are sourced so ubiquitously, and shipped to so many various areas, it’s easier for lumber mills to group them together like this, rather than constantly differentiate them.
S-P-F woods are also commonly called WHITEWOODS, because of their pale color. They tend to have small, regular knot holes, and feel relatively light and airy.
A strong competitor to S-P-F woods is SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE. This yellowish lumber tends to be heavier, and can carry loads across wider spans.
Southern Yellow Pine (or SYP) is also a great wood for making pressure-treated lumber.
Most of our S-P-F lumber comes from Canada (80%).
Douglas Fir (D FIR) is also very popular, and comes out of the Pacific Northwest. It is very strong, resistant to warping, and has a pleasant, almost cedar-like appearance. It is used a lot for timber-framing projects.
Thanks for watching the video! Be sure to visit us at The Honest Carpenter Website:
www.thehonestcarpenter.com
