Question 1

1. What is sawn timber?

Accepted Answer

Sawn timber is wood that’s been cut into planks or boards, usually with a rough surface. It won’t have had any extra processing, like planing, except for treated timber, where the wood fibres are protected with preservatives.

Question 2

2. What is rough sawn timber?

Accepted Answer

‘Rough sawn timber’ usually means the same as ‘sawn timber’. It's wood that’s been cut to size but left with a coarse surface that’s not sanded or smoothed.

Question 3

3. Can you paint rough sawn timber?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can paint rough sawn timber, but surface preparation such as cleaning and priming is recommended for good adhesion.

Question 4

4. What’s the difference between sawn timber and planed timber?

Accepted Answer

Sawn timber has a rough surface from cutting. Planed timber is smoothed on one or more sides for a neater finish.

Question 5

5. What are the standard sawn timber sizes in the UK?

Accepted Answer

While timber in the UK must be sold in metric sizes (metres, millimetres etc), imperial timber dimensions (inches) are still widely used when talking informally. Here’s a chart that shows some common UK timber sizes in both metric and imperial:

Imperial (Inches) - Width x height	Metric (mm) - Width x height
2 x 1	50 x 25
2 x 2	50 x 47
3 x 1	75 x 22
3 x 2	75 x 47
4 x 2	100 x 47
5 x 2	125 x 47
6 x 2	150 x 47
7 x 2	175 x 47
8 x 2	200 x 47
9 x 2	225 x 47

Sawn timber

4.8m x 47x100mm C24 Carcassing Timber

47x225mm C24 Sawn Treated Timber 6m

47x200mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.8m

47mm x 125mm x 4.2m Treated C24 Regularised Kiln Dried (5 x 2)

47mm x 100mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 5400mm (4'' x 2'')

47mm x 125mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 5400mm (5'' x 2'')

47x150mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.8m

47x225mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.8m

47x175mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 6m

47x175mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.8m

75x225mm C24 Sawn Treated Timber 6m

47mm x 50mm x 4.8m Treated Regularised Kiln Dried Sawn Timber (2 x 2)

47x125mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.8m

47x175mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 3.6m

47mm x 125mm x 3.0m Treated C24 Regularised Kiln Dried Sawn Timber (5 x 2)

47mm x 175mm x 3.0m Treated C24 Regularised Kiln Dried Sawn Timber (7 x 2)

75mm x 200mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 4800mm (8'' x 3'')

47mm x 200mm x 3.0m Regularised Treated Sawn Timber C24

47x50mm Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 2.4m

47x200mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 3.6m

47x150mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 3.6m

47x225mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 3.6m

47x150mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.2m

47x150mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 5.4m

47x175mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 4.2m

47x225mm C24 Carcassing Timber 4.2m

47x200mm C24 Sawn Treated Timber 7.2m

47x150mm C24 Sawn Treated Timber 7.2m

47mm x 200mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 5400mm (8'' x 2'')

47mm x 175mm Structural Graded C24 Treated Carcassing Timber 7200mm (7'' x 2'')

47x250mm C24 Sawn Treated Timber 4.8m

Pointed Timber Peg Sawn and Treated 47mm x 50mm x 600mm

75mm x 100mm Sawn Treated Timber C24 (4" x 3") 4.8m

47x100mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 3.6m

47x125mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 3.6m

47x50mm Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 3.6m

47x50 Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 3m

47x75mm Sawn Treated Timber 2.4m

47x175mm C24 Regularised Treated Timber KD 5.4m

47mm x 225mm x 5.4m Treated C24 Regularised Kiln Dried Sawn Timber (9 x 2)