My understanding of the "No. 1" and "No. 1 and Better" grades is simply that
it's easier/more efficient to sort lumber by grade when there are fewer
grades; e.g., sorting lumber into piles of No. 1 *and* Select Structural
takes more skill (and then more yard space for separate stacks of lumber
grades) than just putting all the lumber into one pile if it's at least No.
1 grade.
The reward for engineers is getting slightly higher allowable stresses,
since there are supposedly some pieces that will be better than No. 1.
However, for specifying new lumber I wouldn't trust No. 1 and Better to
actually be provided. I once called a lumber yard to ask what grade lumber
they had available--the answer was "We carry 'number one construction
grade'." Okay.... is it 'number 1', or is it 'construction'?? I've also
specified select structural and had people complain that it cost more than
No. 1 and the 'guy at the lumber yard' said the two grades are exactly the
same.
Have fun!
Thor Matteson, SE
www.shearwalls.com
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