Starting a construction project and considering CLS timber for the job? It’s robust, durable and proprtioned for a variety of uses, and as a result CLS timber has become a popular and cost effective choice for a veriety jobs.
To help you decide whether it’s the right material for you we’ve broken down all you need to know about the popular timber including its characteristics, qualities, and its most common uses within the trade or your DIY / self build project.
What is CLS timber?
CLS timber is milled from wood such as kiln-dried fir, pine or spruce. During the manufacturing process, it is planed, treated and regularised (shaped using mill machinery) with four smoothed surfaced sides and distinctive rounded (or radiused) eased edges.
What Does CLS mean?
CLS stands for ‘Canadian Lumber Standard’ as it was originally manufactured in Canada. It was originally used for building strong timber-framed houses or structures before becoming popular throughout the world.
The Main Benefits Of CLS Timber?
There are several key benefits to consider when opting for CLS timber in your project.
The timber's exceptional strength and the fact it has superior durability over other types of wood, and this makes it an ideal choice for construction includings internal structural jobs such as stud walls or partitions.
Due to its rounded or eased edges CLS timber is also particularly easy to transport and safe to handle.
CLS timber also has a lack of large knots on its edges and also has properties tat make it better able to reduce the spread of potential fire outbreaks.
Another benefit to consider is the fact that CLS timber is available in a variety of widths and lengths making it a great option for not only minimising time spent on cutting it to size but for reducing the cost in timber wastage.
What Is CLS Timber Used For?
CLS timber is a versatile timber typically used for a variety of internal structural projects. Alongside the obvious advantages from its strength and durability, the fact that it is shaped with four regularised sides and eased edges it's particularly ideal for jobs such as:
- Timber frame home construction
- Creating internal partitioning walls
- Interior framing
- Stud walls
- Carcassing
You’ll naturally find CLS timber strength-graded as either C16 or C24. Both are similar in appearance, but C24 is the structurally stronger of the two which is often subsequently reflected in the cost.
Can CLS Timber Be Used Outside?
CLS timber should only be used outside if it has been pressure treated with chemicals to fight rot and insenct infrstation in order to ensure it is suitably resistant to external climate conditions that can cause issues such as rot, mould and decay.
A Harlow Timber we would not advocate the use of CLS for external projects as other timber options such as treated carcassing timber are much better suited to standing the test of time in outdoor environments.
Think CLS timber could be right for your project?
Here at Harlow we keep extensive stocks of CLS for purchase in a variety of sizes and lengths both within our online shop and throughout our network of branches. You'll find our CLS is sustainably sourced too, and if you can’t find exactly what you need then just give us a call and one of our experienced sales team will be more than happy to advise and assist for your timber enquiry.
You can visit our online shop and purchase CLS and more for click and collect or delivery by clicking here HERE
Alternatively you can discover our network of branches by clicking HERE
