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

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

47mm x 200mm x 4.8m Treated C16 Timber Carcassing

Kiln Dried C16 Regularised Treated Timber 47 x 200mm

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

47mm x 150mm x 3.0m Regularised Treated Sawn Timber C24

Bsw Home Grown C16 Cls 50 x 100mm x 3.0m

Bsw Home Grown C16 Cls 50 x 75mm x 3.0m

25mm x 50mm BS5534 Graded Sawn Treated Roofing Batten (2" x 1") 4.8m

47mm x 250mm Sawn Treated Timber C24 (10" x 2") 6m

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

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

47x175mm Imported Treated Timber 5.4m

47x75mm Sawn Treated Timber 2.4m

47x100mm Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 2.4m

47x75 Homegrown Untreated Carcassing Timber 2.4m

47x75mm Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 3m

100x200mm UC4 Sleeper Incised Brown 2.4m

Marley PEFC Treated JB Red Sawn Roofing Batten 25 X 50mm Red

Sawn Treated Easi Edge 175 x 47mm (7" x 2") 6m Kiln Dried C24

CLS Timber FSC 38 x 63 x 2400mm

CLS Timber PEFC 38 x 89 x 2400mm

50mm x 100mm x 2.4m CLS C16 Home Grown

50mm x 75mm x 2.4m CLS C16 BSW Home Grown

38mm x 89mm CLS Studwork Timber C16 (4" x 2") 2.4m

47x75mm Sawn Treated Timber 3.6m

38mm x 89mm CLS Studwork Timber C16 (4" x 2") 4.8m

25mm x 50mm Sawn Treated Timber Batten (2" x 1") 3.6m

75mm x 150mm Sawn Treated Timber C24 (6" x 3") 6m

25mm x 38mm BS5534 Graded Sawn Treated Roofing Batten (1.5" x 1") 4.8m

25mm x 38mm BS5534 Graded Sawn Treated Roofing Batten (1.5" x 1") 4.2m

75mm x 175mm Sawn Treated Timber C24 (7" x 3") 4.8m

47x50 Homegrown Treated Ungraded Carcassing Timber 4.8m

47x100 Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 3m

47x100 Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 3.6m

47x150 Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 4.2m

47x75 Homegrown Treated Carcassing Timber 4.8m

Treated Rough Sawn Treated Stick timber (L)1.8m (W)50mm (T)22mm

Metsä Wood Treated Rough Sawn Treated Stick timber (L)1.8m (W)38mm (T)22mm

Treated Rough Sawn Treated Stick timber (L)1.8m (W)150mm (T)22mm

Wickes Treated Sawn Timber - 22 x 100 x 3000mm