Wood Is Good

I've owned and lived in multiple old houses over the years and engaged in countless repairs and remodeling projects.

You?

If so, have you ever noticed how much the 2 x 4 studs have evolved?

Mid-19th Century balloon framing utilized long 2 x 4s that were actually a full 2 x 4 inches running continuously from foundation to roof.

Dimensional lumber was standardized  in the early 20th Century  and the 2 x 4 shrank  to 1 3/4 x 3 3/4 after milling.  

Mid 20th Century replaced balloon framing with platform framing utilizing shorter 2 x 4 studs for each story.  The lumber was further standardized resulting in the modern 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 size.  

Older growth rings on older lumber

My current home was constructed within the last couple of decades and makes considerable use of solid wood.  It also utilizes engineered wood products - namely manufactured materials made by binding wood strands, fibers, or veneers with adhesives to create strong, durable and consistent building materials designed to maximize the use of wood while improving performance relative to solid wood.

Modern commercial construction makes regular use of steel studs for building-out office space within a larger big box.