How many 2x6's need to cover 64 sq feet? - Answers

A saw mill rough cuts a log into standard sizes of lumber such as 2x4, 2x6, 2x8,etc. The rough cut lumber is cut to the actual measurements of 2" x 4", 2" x 6", 2" x 8", etc. The lumber at this point is very rough so it is run through a planner that smoothes the lumber by removing a small amount of wood on each of its four sides. The actual dimensions of the lumber after being smoothed is 1/2" smaller in both width and thickness so a 2x4 will actually measure 1 1/2" x 3 1/2", a 2x6 is 1 1/2" x 5 1/2", a 2x8 is 1 1/2" x 7 1/2", etc. A 2x6 bought by a consumer at a lumber yard is actually only 1 1/2" or 1.5" thick and 5 1/2" or 5.5" wide. A 1 foot (12") length of 2x6 is (5.5" x 12") 66 square inches. 64 square feet is equivalent to (64 x 12" x 12") 9,216 square inches. So it takes (9,216/66) 139.64 feet of 2 x 6 to cover 64 square feet. Ten 2x6's 14 feet long will cover almost exactly 64 square feet.