Definition of "Green lumber"

Chris Hill  real estate agent

Written by

Chris Hill elite badge icon

Century 21 New Millennium

Green lumber is not necessarily a lumber that’s green; though it might, sometimes, be a little greenish. And it’s also not a definition of an environmentally conscious type of wood.

Ok, what’s the best green lumber definition, then?

Let’s say that green lumber is wood that had not had the adequate time to dry and be seasoned. That kind of wood is not good for Real Estate, so you might hear a contractor say “That’s green lumber; we can’t use it”. And the reason why it’s no good is because green lumber can warp with time – not to mention that is much more difficult to work with. Cutting and nailing a green lumber is basically a waste of time and energy.

Some people call it wet lumber, but the term is not 100% correct because a wet/moist lumber is not necessarily a green lumber and it can be used in construction.

However, because the environment changes materials, green lumber is sometimes used in arid regions of the United States like Arizona and California. The thinking behind it is that (i) green lumber is cheaper and (ii) because the lumber dries and comes of age faster over there, once they get transported they will quickly reach a fine point for construction.

Because of floods, wood can revert to flood, so home inspectors and flood insurance companies typically look for green lumber on houses to assess risks.

Real Estate Tips:

Don’t get a “green real estate agent”; search through our Real Estate Agent Directory and find an experienced one that won’t warp or break!

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Broadly speaking, a commission is a remuneration a person receives after acting on someone else’s behalf.In the real estate world, you’ll usually hear the term “sales ...

Legal claim with enough basis in fact to have a lawsuit. ...

Local governmental ordinance breaking down the country into districts that are restricted on how private property is to be constructed and used. It applies to the land and buildings. The ...

Lender has an equity interest in the property that is the subject of the loan. The lender shares in the increase in market price of the property as well as any net income generated. ...

Right to use property in the absence of forcible eviction by another. Some state laws allow squatter's rights to convert to bona-fide title over time. For example, if it cannot be ...

Claim by a real estate broker that his or her actions were the principal cause of the completion of a property sale between two parties. A successful procuring cause claim would entitle a ...

Founded in 1908 and located in Washington, DC, BOMA has 7,500 members and 10 regional groups and 6 state groups. It consists of managers, owners, investors, and developers of commercial ...

Vendee refers to a person to whom something is sold. The meaning of vendee is a buyer of goods and services. A more common term for vendee is a purchaser. While a vendor is a seller, the ...

A sash window having two vertically moving sashes respectively offset by sash weights. Each sash closes a different part of the window. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions