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Larger-diameter trees (a) produce more knot-free wood than smaller-diameter trees (b).
Lumber serves as the primary framing material for residential and light-commercial construction. Has lumber changed over the years? What is the future outlook for the lumber supply?
Answers to these questions require a discussion of tree growth, lumber production, lumber grading and purchasing, and forest management. The discussion will be on the softwoods, from which framing lumber is commonly produced.