Mike:
If your building inspector tells you they need to be grade stamped then they do.
If anyone else tells you they do, then your building inspector has the last word. He may tell you then need to he may not. It decision is his and his alone. It depends on what mill you get them from and if he knows the mill, and if he knows that the mill produces sound timbers for timber framing.
Being in NH you fall under the NELMA area of control. They are the lumberman's association for our area.
When you inquire about purchasing your timbers from a mill ask them if they are a member of NELMA if they are then they are/can be allowed to grade stamp your timbers. If they have trained inspectors on staff.
If the mill you choose doesn't belong to NELMA you can hire a traveling grader from NELMA to come to your site or your mill's site and grade the timbers there.
They will stamp each timber as each one will be inspected on all four sides and both ends.
Usually timbers are stamped by mill staff just after they have been milled.
You could approach your building inspector and ask him. But you need to ask him correctly to not get a "conditioned" response.
If you ask him: "Do my timbers need to be grade stamped?" His conditioned response will be "Of course they do!". But if you tell him of the mill you intend to buy your timber from, and ask him if these will be alright to use, he may say that they need to be grade stamped. He may not. It all depends on who this mill is and if he has had any experience with them before.
Who is telling you to have them stamped?
Jim Rogers
