KD, T&G, S4S … Cedar Shorthand, Decoded

LOL. BRB. IYKYK. We've all learned to speak in shorthand. Then you get a cedar quote and it says KD STK WRC, S1S2E, RL, and suddenly it's IDK territory.

NBD. Lumber lingo is a lot easier to learn than your teenager's group chat. Whether you're a weekend DIY-er or a seasoned pro, here's your cheat sheet to the cedar shorthand you'll actually see on tags, quotes, and bundles. Clear, knotty, bevel, or shake, we've got you.

How It's Dried

KD	Kiln Dried	Dried in a kiln to a controlled moisture level. The result is straight, stable lumber that's less likely to shrink, twist, or check after it's installed.
S-DRY	Surfaced Dry	Moisture content of 19% or less at the time of surfacing.
GR / S-GRN	Green	Higher moisture content, above 19%. Green wood is more likely to move as it dries, so timing and installation matter more.

How It's Finished

RGH	Rough	Left with a saw-textured face. It's often chosen for a rustic look, and it takes stain beautifully.
S4S	Surfaced Four Sides	Smooth on every face and edge, ready for clean, finished work.
S1S2E	Surfaced One Side, Two Edges	One smooth face and two smooth edges, with the back left rough. It's common on siding and trim where the back won't be seen.

How It Fits Together

T&G	Tongue & Groove	One edge has a tongue that slots into the groove of the next board. This makes a tight, seamless surface for ceilings, walls, and soffits.
SL	Shiplap	Boards with overlapping rabbeted edges. They create a clean shadow line and shed water well.
BEV	Bevel	Siding that's thicker at one edge than the other, so each course overlaps the one below. It's a timeless exterior look.
CV	Centre V	A small V-groove milled along the board. It adds definition between boards on a T&G or shiplap surface.
SE	Square Edge	A plain, flat edge with no profile.

How It Looks

CLR	Clear	Free, or nearly free, of knots. It gives a refined, uniform look.
STK	Select Tight Knot	A knotty grade with small, sound, tight knots. It has warm character without the worry of loose knots.
VG	Vertical Grain	The growth rings run tight and straight along the face. It's more stable and highly prized. BC's cooler climate grows cedar slowly, and that's where tight, consistent grain comes from.

How It's Measured

LF	Lineal Feet	Length only, regardless of width or thickness.
BF	Board Feet	A measure of volume. One board foot is 1" thick × 12" wide × 12" long.
RL	Random Lengths	A mix of lengths in one order, which is common with siding and decking.
	Nominal vs. actual	A "2x4" isn't actually 2" × 4". Once it's dried and surfaced, it's closer to 1-1/2" × 3-1/2". The name comes from the rough size before finishing.

On the Roof

SQ	Square	Enough shingles or shakes to cover 100 square feet of roof. That's typically four bundles.
	#1 Perfections (Blue Label)	The top grade of Western Red Cedar shingle: clear, vertical-grain heartwood, 18" long.
	#2 Perfections (Red Label)	A good-quality grade that allows some flat grain and limited knots above the exposure line. It's a practical choice for many projects.
	Tapersawn	Shakes sawn on both faces for a tapered, tailored profile, with more texture and depth than a shingle.

By Species

WRC	Western Red Cedar	Naturally durable, beautifully aromatic, and the heart of what we carry.
AYC	Alaskan Yellow Cedar	A dense, pale cedar with a fine grain. It's available by special order.
EWC	Eastern White Cedar	A lighter-toned cedar, most often seen in shingles.
DF	Douglas Fir	A strong structural softwood, available by special order.

So next time you're scanning a cedar quote or reading the tag on a bundle, you'll know exactly what you're looking at. You'll be speaking fluent lumber. (And IMO? Respect.)

FWIW, every board we carry is kiln dried and hand-graded on-site, so what's on the tag matches what's in your hands. Western Red Cedar has been the GOAT of outdoor wood for generations, and it's easy to see why.