Choosing wood

[ban-all-sheds]

Is there a particular pattern/orientation of the grain on the end of PAR timber (softwood) I should look for (to pick or to avoid) in order to avoid/minimise the chances of the wood warping?

 

[xerxes]

There is a guide, of sorts, to end grain patterns here.

Just ask the timber merchant to take all the wood off the rack so that you can go through it and inspect it closely. He won't mind at all, really.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I should hope he wouldn't.

At what point should I expect him to doff his cap and say "thankee kind sir"? Before he loads it onto my roofrack and ties it down, or after?

 

[WoodYouLike]

Or have a look here - with more picture of ways how to cut a tree and how the plank looks after cutting, the risk per cutting-method and stability.