Lumber Optimization Schedule

Just about every quality framing plan I’ve seen tags the lengths of the headers, ceiling joists and rafters to the nearest 1′ increment. This is a great guide for both the estimator and the framer. If however, the estimator is quantifying all the 4′ members to be cut from a 2x6x12, and the framer is actually cutting these from a 2x6x8 or 2x6x16, then this will obviously result in a substantial takeoff error.

This schedule is based on the lowest common denominator for typical lumber lengths: 5’ members are estimated and cut from 10’ boards; 7’ members are estimated and cut from 14’ boards; and, 1’, 2’, 3’, 4’, 6’ members are estimated and cut from 12’ boards. All other tagged member lengths, such as 8’, 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, 18’ etc. are estimated as their nominal length.

I believe that any communication tool that aligns the estimator with the tradesmen will result in a cleaner, more profitable project.