As house-framing timbers and boards are sold at the yards in even lengths, as 10 feet, 12 feet, 14 feet, etc., uneven, or odd, measurements must be figured in even lengths from which they can be cut. Thus, if a stick 14 feet 7 inches in length is required, a 16-foot stick must be ordered.
Usually, the price per thousand feet, board measure, increases as longer sticks are used, although the practice varies in different localities. For example, in most localities hemlock timber in 10-, 12-, or 14-foot lengths is all one price per thousand, but a thousand feet, board measure, of 16-foot lengths costs more, and 18-foot lengths is still more expensive. The price of yellow pine, spruce, fir, etc. is usually constant up to 20-foot lengths, but from that length on the prices increase. The price of white-pine boards in most localities increases with their width. The hardwoods can be usually obtained in any reasonable length, the price increasing with the quality of the lumber more than with the length of the stick.
It can thus be seen that in house framing it is usually cheaper to use short sticks than long ones. However, for long members, a long stick is cheaper, because the extra cost that would be incurred in splicing two short sticks would more than offset the cheapness of the material. Of course, when very long sticks are required, say sticks 30 feet or more in length, a splice is cheaper, owing to the difficulty of obtaining them and their very excessive price.
No set rules can be laid down as to what size timber should be ordered, and every architect and builder should be governed by the prices in the locality where the house is to be put up.
Floor Framing,
First Story
Floor Framing,
Second Story
| Quantities | Linear Feet | Feet B. M. |
| Girder, 6" × 12"; 6 ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 1 piece, 8' 9", order 10' | 10 | 60 |
| Joists, 2" × 10"; 1⅔ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| 15 pieces, each 14', order 14' | 210 | |
| 2 pieces, each 15' 6", order 16' | 32 | |
| 5 pieces, each 17', order 18' | 90 | |
| 3 pieces, each 15', order 16' | 48 | |
| 14 pieces, each 16', order 16' | 224 | |
| 2 pieces, each 7', cut out of 14' | 14 | |
| 2 pieces, each 10', order 10' | 20 | |
| 4 pieces, each 11', order 12' | 48 | |
| 7 pieces, each 24', order 24' | 168 | |
| 3 pieces, each 20' 6", order 22' | 66 | |
| 4 pieces, each 12' 6", order 14' | 56 | |
| 2 pieces, each 13' 6", order 14 | 28 | |
| Total | 1,004 | 1,673 |
| Joists, 3" × 10"; 2½ ft. B. M., per lin. ft.: | ||
| (Headers) 2 pieces, each 8' 9", order 10' | 20 | |
| 2 pieces, each 6', cut out of 12' | 12 | |
| 5 pieces, each 9' 9", order 10' | 50 | |
| 11 pieces, each 19' 6", order 20' | 220 | |
| 302 | 755 | |