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

47mm x 200mm C24 Timber (8x2) 3m

38mm x 89mm C16 CLS Timber (3x2) 2.4m

25mm x 38mm Treated Timber Batten - 3.6m

47mm x 100mm C24 Timber (4x2) 4.8m

38mm x 63mm C16 CLS Timber (3x2) 2.4m

47mm x 150mm C24 Timber (6x2) 4.8m

38mm x 63mm C16 CLS Timber (3x2) 3.0m

47mm x 175mm C24 Timber (7x2) 4.8m

47mm x 150mm C24 Timber (6x2) 3.6m

47mm x 50mm Sawn Treated Timber (2" x 2") 3m

47mm x 175mm C24 Timber (7x2) 3.6m

2.4m Sleeper Green Treated 100mm x 200mm

19mm x 38mm Treated Timber Batten - 4.8m

47mm x 50mm Treated Carcassing Timber (2x2) 3.6m

47mm x 175mm C24 Timber (7x2) 6m

47mm x 200mm C24 Timber (8x2) 4.8m

38mm x 89mm C16 CLS Timber (3x2) 3m

47mm x 75mm C24 Timber (3x2) 4.8m

25mm x 50mm Sawn Treated Batten Green 4.8m

47mm x 200mm C24 Timber (8x2) 6m

22mm x 150mm Sawn Treated Carcassing Timber - Brown 3m

47mm x 75mm C24 Timber (3x2) 3.6m

47mm x 225mm C24 Timber (9x2) 4.8m

47mm x 150mm C24 Timber (6x2) 3m

47mm x 225mm C24 Timber (9x2) 3.6m

47mm x 150mm C24 Timber (6x2) 4.2m

47mm x 200mm C24 Timber (8x2) 4.2m

47mm x 175mm C24 Timber (7x2) 4.2m

47mm x 225mm C24 Timber (9x2) 4.2m

47mm x 225mm C24 Timber (9x2) 6m

25mm x 50mm Graded Treated Roofing Batten 4.8m

47mm x 125mm C24 Timber (5x2) 4.8m

38mm x 89mm C16 CLS Timber (3x2) 4.8m

25mm x 50mm Graded Treated Roofing Batten 3.6m

47mm x 50mm Treated Carcassing Timber (2x2) 2.4m

47mm x 125mm C24 Timber (5x2) 4.2m

75mm x 225mm C24 Timber (8x3) 6m

47mm x 200mm C24 Timber (8x2) 7.2m

47mm x 150mm C24 Timber (6x2) 7.2m

47mm x 250mm C24 Sawn Timber (9x2) 4.8m