Using Your Own Lumber For Building Projects

During the COVID pandemic, you may have seen or heard about the high price of lumber.  The lumber referenced in those reports was construction lumber, not hardwood (oak, cherry, maple, etc.) lumber.  Construction lumber typically consists of softwoods such as spruce, pine, and fir species while hardwood lumber is typically used for flooring, cabinetry, fine furniture, etc.  The price of construction lumber reached record levels in 2021. The price increased so much that the National Association of Home Builders estimated that it added about $35,000 to the cost of constructing the average single-family home in April 2021.  

The increase in construction lumber prices has some folks considering sawing their own lumber to build their own structures, with the savings they achieve being enough to pay for the sawmill. However, using your own lumber to build structures is not as straightforward as it may seem.

In April 2004, Pennsylvania began enforcement of the Uniform Construction Code (UCC). The UCC is used to regulate the codes and standards of building projects in Pennsylvania, which includes the lumber used to build them. The intent of this article is not to provide a thorough review of the UCC but to point out a few things you will need to know if you plan to use your own lumber or purchased lumber that has not been properly graded for construction use, for a building project.  Any questions should be directed to your local municipality enforcement official for clarification, as regulations may vary by municipality.

Generally, the UCC applies to the construction, alteration, repair, and occupancy of all buildings in Pennsylvania.  Regarding the lumber used for construction, the code states that "sawn lumber used for load-supporting purposes, including end-jointed or edge-glued lumber, machine stress-rated or machine-evaluated lumber, shall be identified by the grade mark of a lumber grading or inspection agency that has been approved by an accreditation body that complies with DOC PC 20 or equivalent."  DOC PC 20 is referring to a document entitled, "The American Softwood Lumber Standard." This means that any lumber used must be graded by an accredited agency using the rules for softwood lumber before it can be used in a load-supporting manner within a structure.  This applies to both hardwood and softwood lumber. There are exceptions for agricultural buildings and recreational cabins. The specifics about those exemptions can be obtained from your local enforcement official. If a project meets the requirements for an exemption, the lumber does not need to be graded by an accredited agency.

If you do not meet the criteria for an exemption, you may still be able to use your own lumber; however, the lumber will need to be graded by an accredited agency. Pennsylvania isn’t a major softwood producer, but the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (NELMA) has indicated that some hardwood species are approved to be graded for structural use. These include red and white oak, maple, beech, birch, hickory, and yellow poplar.

If you have your lumber graded by an accredited agency, each piece used must be inspected. The lumber must be recently sawn and cannot be reclaimed lumber.  In addition, the lumber cannot already be in a structure, it must be graded before it is used in the building project. The NELMA indicated that they typically do not mark each board with a grade stamp but will provide a certificate of inspection for the lumber that was graded.

How does one go about getting lumber graded for structural use?  The American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) is the committee that administers the accreditation program for grade marking lumber produced under the American Softwood Lumber Standard system. On their website is a downloadable list of accredited, independent, third-party agencies that operate under one of the several sets of approved grading rules that are certified by the ALSC.

You will need to contact an agency to inquire about having your lumber graded. Not every agency works in Pennsylvania, so several agencies may need to be contacted to find one that will work in the area where the lumber is located.  Each agency should be able to provide more information about the requirements, process for getting the lumber graded, and fees involved.

Using your own lumber for construction purposes can be done, but substantial planning is required to be certain you are not caught off guard by a regulation that could halt the project. I strongly encourage anyone considering this type of project to reach out to their local municipality enforcement official when the planning process is first started to find out the requirements that need to be met to have a successful building project.