Lumber is produced from logs in the timber industry through a process called sawmilling. Logs are first debarked and then cut into various sizes and shapes using saws. The cut pieces are then dried and treated to improve their strength and durability. Finally, the lumber is sorted and graded based on quality before being shipped to customers for use in construction and other applications.
In my world timber is still standing in the woods and is cut down into logs. Then the logs are taken to a sawmill and cut into lumber. Some places refer to timber as wood that has been cut from trees into a usable form, so a place where logs are cut into timber is a sawmill. (The word lumber has this meaning in North America.)
This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in sawing rough lumber and timber from logs and bolts, and separately operated planning mills.
Lumbering means the cutting down of different trees of any forest for the extraction of wood and timber from the trees. The industry where the logs of the trees are transformed into furnitures and other wood products is called lumbering industry.
The lumber industry encompasses a variety of careers, including: Forester - responsible for managing forest resources and ensuring sustainable practices. Logger - involved in cutting down trees and transporting logs to mills. Sawmill Operator - oversees the processing of logs into lumber products. Wood Scientist - studies wood properties and develops new wood-based materials. Timberland Manager - manages forest land for timber production and conservation. Lumber Sales Representative - sells lumber products to businesses and contractors. Quality Control Inspector - ensures lumber meets industry standards and specifications. Woodworking Craftsman - creates furniture and other products using lumber. Environmental Consultant - advises on sustainable practices within the lumber industry. Supply Chain Manager - oversees the logistics of lumber production and distribution.
I actually asked this same question when I first started a DIY project and bought supplies from a timber yard in Burwood. The process is pretty straightforward but kind of interesting. From what I learned, timber usually starts at the sawmill, where logs are cut down into usable sizes like planks, beams, or sheets. Once it’s processed, the timber is stacked and loaded onto trucks—big flatbeds or container trucks, depending on the quantity. For longer distances or large exports, it sometimes goes by train or even ship before reaching local yards. When I visited the timber yard, they explained that the wood is carefully strapped and covered to keep it safe from weather damage during transport. Once it arrives at the yard, it’s unloaded, sorted by type and size, and then stored properly so it stays in good condition until customers like me buy it. So in short, it goes from forest → sawmill → transport → timber yard Burwood → into the hands of builders or DIY folks. Pretty cool to know the journey of the wood before it becomes furniture, flooring, or decks.
This term can refer to converting raw timber into dimensional lumber or to a set of formula used to convert the weight of various types of lumber to a volume.
Lumber is made when logs are sawn into boards at a sawmill.
A sawmill
The three methods of sawing logs into lumber are through circular sawing, band sawing, and frame sawing.
a sawmill
A timber mill.
Limber Timber