Höylätty

Höylätty is a Finnish term used to describe wood that has been smoothed and dimensioned by planing. It refers to a surface treatment in which thin layers of wood are removed to create a flat, even and smooth surface. The word is the past participle of höylätä, the act of planing.

The process involves using a hand plane or a powered planer to shave off small amounts of material from the wood. Planing can be performed on one or more sides of a board, resulting in surfaces that are uniform in thickness and texture. After planing, the wood may be dried and stored to stabilize its dimensions, and it can be finished further with sanding or coating, depending on the desired final appearance.

Höylätty wood is commonly used where a smooth, straight surface is required, such as in furnituremaking, cabinetry, flooring, and interior finishing. It provides a clean base for glueing, staining, paint, or varnish and tends to be more dimensionally stable than rough-sawn timber when properly dried. The degree of smoothness and the number of planed sides influence the final quality and appearance of the product.

In practical terms, höylätty timber is typically described in trade and carpentry as planed wood, highlighting that the surface has been prepared for finishing and use, as opposed to rough-sawn or untreated lumber.