3 Common Traits Of Appearance Boards

When you're planning a project around your home that requires wood, you'll want to visit a lumber supplier in your area to assess your options. You can expect to see all sorts of different lumber, from low-grade materials that are suitable for framing to higher-end wood that you can use for decorative purposes. When you shop, it's common to see the wording "appearance boards." This term generally describes lumber that has a stylish look, making it good for various applications. You might use appearance boards to build an accent wall, create open shelving, and so on. Here are three common traits of appearance boards.

Wide

While appearance boards can vary in width, you'll generally find that they're wider than many other types of lumber. The width of appearance boards makes this type of lumber suitable for many jobs. Often, they're about as wide as a stair tread, although there are other widths available, too. For example, if you're thinking about buying appearance boards to create a wooden accent wall in one room of your home, you won't have to buy nearly as many as if you were shopping for a different type of lumber, given the width of the appearance boards.

Thin

It's common for appearance boards to be thin, too. This makes this type of wood good for refined projects, rather than for structural ones. For example, while you'd use thicker pieces of lumber for anything structural in your home because of the strength that they provide, you don't need much thickness if you're creating styling projects such as an accent wall. The thin nature of appearance boards means that you can mount this wood against a wall without the wood sticking out into the room too much.

Live Edge

While lots of appearance boards have a straight edge that is similar to most other lumber types, you'll also see appearance boards that have a live edge. Live edge lumber, which typically features bark and has a natural, wavy appearance, can add style to your project. For example, if you want to use appearance boards to make some shelving, you may find that the live edge adds character. It's fairly common for appearance boards to have one live edge and one straight edge. This means that you can easily position the board's straight edge flush with the wall for a project such as shelving while having the live edge face the room. Visit a local lumber supplier to learn more about appearance boards.