The popularity of wood as a building material is no mystery. It is naturally beautiful, comes in a range of species for most any application, and is easy to work with. Because it has all these qualities and more, it is available in a wide variety of sizes and textures. (For more information on choosing and buying lumber, as well as charts on dimensions and spans, see our section on lumber.

Lumber uses
Thin lumber (less than 3/4 inch thick) is commonly referred to as either lath or batten. The term "boards" generally denotes lumber that is 3/4 or 1 inch thick and more than 2 inches wide. Lumber that is between 2 and 4 inches thick and is at least 2 inches wide is called dimension lumber. Timber is anything larger. Boards, dimension lumber, and timber are the most commonly used materials for posts, beams, rafters, and open-style roofing.

Another popular choice for open-style roofing is lath. Look for high-quality lath that does not have an excessive amount of knots or other defects. Relatively straight grain is also important to minimize the warping and twisting that the thin members can undergo with changing weather conditions.

Batten resembles overgrown lath; smooth-surfaced batten is sometimes called lattice, though the term "lattice" is also used to describe a crosshatch panel of lath material.

Lumber textures
Milling can produce several different textures. Though surfaced lumber that is smooth is the most familiar, rough or resawn textures are available for a more rustic look.

Surfaced lumber, designated "S4S" ("surfaced on four sides"), is the standard for most construction. You can also buy lumber that has been planed on one, two, or three sides.

Rough lumber, which has been milled to size but not planed smooth, has a splintery surface. Though buying rough lumber can save money, pieces with excessive knots, flat grain, or high moisture content can warp and twist. Rough lumber takes stain but is a poor choice for painting.

Resawn lumber is wood that has been run through a coarse-bladed saw, such as a band saw, to create a scored texture. Though it is not stocked at most lumberyards, landscape professionals often special-order resawn lumber because of its rustic, but not too rough, texture and appearance. It can be very stable—though you will pay a premium for the best selection of boards—and it accepts wood stains easily and beautifully.

Sandblasted lumber is not a milled product, but it has a rustic appearance similar to resawn wood. Sandblasting surfaced lumber is generally not cost-effective unless you are having other sandblasting work to be done, on your siding or pool, for example.