Wood is a versatile material that sees applications in most aspects of our modern human existence, regardless of geography. All countries and cultures across the globe rely on the strength and desirable characteristics of timber to erect buildings, make furniture, and fashion weapons and tools. As children, we are taught that wood comes from trees. Whilst this is absolutely the case, the process of producing this usable wood from trees is a technical and laborious process. Alongside the use of the word “wood”, the terms “timber” and “lumber” are also common descriptors used within the construction and wood related industries. Despite these 3 terms being similar in context, their exact meaning can differ depending on the geography and spoken language. Globally, the term “wood” describes the material that comes from trees. The term “timber” is primarily used within the context of UK construction to refer to wood that has been prepared for use in building applications. Machined boards and other prepared wood products can be purchased from “timber merchants”. Moving forwards, this descriptor will be the most used when referring to wood intended for construction purposes. 

Lumber is a term that does not see much use in modern UK construction and is typically associated with North American construction. In the historical context, lumber refers to sawn planks of wood that are roughly shaped and is often associated with the milling and machining processes. Within the scope of North American construction, the word “lumber” is often used in the same context as “timber” in the UK. All of these terms are subject to change depending on the geography and colloquial language of an area.