Cedar lumber is graded on appearance — how many knots it has, how tight or loose they are, and how consistent the grain looks — not on strength the way structural framing lumber (like SPF #2) is graded. Here's what the grade names on our product pages actually mean.
Select Tight Knot (STK)
STK is the most common grade for cedar decking, fencing, siding, and general outdoor framing. It allows knots, but only tight knots — meaning the knot is solid and fused into the surrounding wood, not loose or likely to fall out. STK gives you the natural, rustic character of cedar (visible knots, grain variation) while keeping the board structurally sound and free of the loose knots, splits, or wane that would make a board unusable. This is the grade most homeowners and contractors reach for when the goal is "looks like real cedar" at a reasonable price.
Clear
Clear grade means essentially no knots at all — a smooth, uniform, straight-grained appearance. It's the premium appearance grade, typically used where the wood will be highly visible and a clean, knot-free look matters: feature siding, trim, fine woodworking, or high-end finish work. Clear costs more than STK because far less of each log qualifies.
Select Knotty
Sits between STK and Clear-adjacent grades in some mills' naming — allows more visible knots than STK but still excludes loose or unsound knots. Not all of our products use this grade; check the individual product's spec table for what applies.
#2 & Better (structural grades)
Used for framing lumber where appearance matters less than strength and consistency — dimensional lumber like posts and beams that will often be at least partially hidden in a structure. "#2 & Better" means the board meets at least a #2 structural grade or higher.
Rough-sawn vs. surfaced (S4S)
This is a separate spec from grade. Rough-sawn lumber is cut to its full nominal size (a rough 2x4 really does measure close to 2" x 4") and has a saw-textured surface. Surfaced (S4S — surfaced four sides) lumber is planed smooth on all four faces, which removes roughly 1/4"–3/4" depending on the dimension, so a surfaced 2x4 actually measures 1-1/2" x 3-1/2". Most of our dimensional cedar and lumber stock is surfaced (S4S) — check each product's spec table for its exact actual size.
Kiln-dried (KD) vs. green
Kiln-dried lumber has been dried in a controlled kiln to a lower, consistent moisture content before it leaves the mill. This means less shrinkage, warping, and checking (surface cracking) after installation compared to green (undried) lumber. All of our stock is kiln-dried.
Have a specific project in mind and aren't sure which grade fits? Book a free 15-minute consultation and we'll help you pick the right board for the job.