SG (Stress Graded) Timber* - SG6, SG8, SG10, SG12 The SG grade is a consolidation of both MSG and VSG grading. Machine Stress Graded (MSG) timber involves passing each piece of timber to measure its stiffness propoerties. Each piece is given a grade which corresponds to it's stiffness. A visual grading also occurs to ensure excessive knots/defects are not included. Sample pieces are tested by an external audit process to ensure the grade is adhered to. Visual Stress Graded (VSG) timber is graded by a slightly different process. The main difference is that not every piece of timber will be stress graded. This only happens to a pre-determined sample size. Because not every piece is tested the visual grade required is much higher. The process only ollows for a VSG8 grade to be targeted as any lower grade is classified as NLB (non load bearing)

Visually Graded Timber - NO1, NO2
Visually Graded timber is graded solely on the visually appearance of each piece of timber. A variety of defects such as knots, surface cracks, pith, wane and physical stability will detrmine the grade that a piece of timber will be graded as. The visual grading technique is good at determining strength but not stifness.

Industrial / Boxing / NST (Non structural Timber)
This is the lowest grade of timber and classed as a down fall grade. Products can either be downgraded based on the visual characteristics, measured physical properties when passed through a stress grader, or a combination of both. It is important to note that this grade of timber is not suitable for any load bearing application.

COL (Cut of Log)
Cut of log refers to the timber being non graded. The timber is cut from the log and further processed however at no point does any mechanical stress or visual grading takes place. For this reason the grade can vary enormously. This grade is mostly used for non standard sizes such as large beams where the mill requires you to take the whole cut.

It is wise to only order this grade from a trusted source.