▪ A 2x4 ("two by four" or "stud") is a piece of wood that is 1.5 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide. 2x4's come in different lengths, such as 8, 9 or 10 feet long. A 9 foot 2x4 is not really 9 feet long, but is instead approximately 104 5/8 inches. Why are 2x4's not really 2 inches by 4 inches? I am not sure, but my guess is that it has to do with lumber company cost cutting and the fact that a smaller 2x4 still has enough strength to do the job.

You will find that in older houses, the 2x4's really are 2" by 4". I renovated a 1935 Cape Cod style house down to its studs, and I overheard carpenters commenting on what good quality wood was used in the old days. I am not sure when the change occurred, but wood these days seems to have more knots and imperfections than the wood you find in the frames of old houses.

▪ Other common wood sizes are 2x6's, 2x8's, and 2x10's. Today, there are engineered pieces of lumber that are extra strong for their size: LVL's and I-Joists, for example. How do you know which size to use where? Your carpenter should be able to tell you, or your architect, or your material supplier. The particular size that you choose has a lot to do with how much weight the wood needs to bear. Obviously, bigger pieces of lumber are used for areas that require more support.

▪ When a carpenter or carpentry crew is putting the wood together for your house, this process is called "framing". When your house is being framed, you should definitely be on the site with your tape measure handy to make sure that the rooms are being constructed to your specifications.

Carpentry in Home Remodeling - Part 2

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University