Carcassing timber and CLS are graded softwoods and both are commonly used in home building projects across the UK. While the two certainly sit close to one another (and the confusion is totally understandable), these two forms of timber ultimately serve overlapping but different purposes; they are also stocked in different sizes. Therefore, specifying the less optimal one can be expensive and cost money down the line.
Keen to learn how the two contrast? This guide explains the differences between carcassing and CLS, and delves into which option is better in specific applications; in other words, where each one belongs.
Quick Answer: Which Should You Choose?
For stud walls and timber frames, use CLS; the dried, smooth finish and consistent sizing make it the right tool. Working on roofs, floors, or structural joists? Carcassing timber is the standard choice; heavier sections, lower cost, and no finish you don't need.
Have you started pricing up a garden project recently? If so, there’s a good chance you’ve grasped that numbers can move quickly. The cost of timber varies heavily on a few factors, namely species, treatment, and grade; there’s a big contrast between a quote that holds and one that rises once you’ve got started.
Keen to get an accurate and realistic overall cost for products like decking timber, fence panels, posts, and subframe materials in Manchester and the surrounding areas? This helpful guide from the team at Joseph Parr Alco can give you that.
What You’re Paying Per Metre With Decking Timber
Treated softwood decking boards that sit in the 90 to 120mm range typically cost between £2.50 and £4.50 per linear metre. You will find that hardwood is a bit more expensive, at around £6 to £12 per metre.
Consider board thickness; a 28mm board is much more rigid than a 22mm one over the same joist spacing, and it’s definitely worth getting this right straight away.
