Disclaimer

1. No guarantees

Wood Identifier uses artificial intelligence to identify wood species and describe timber, lumber, and finished wood objects from photographs. We make no guarantees, representations, or warranties — express or implied — about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any identification, scientific name, hardness or durability rating, workability note, age estimate, sustainability status, or value estimate produced by the service.

2. AI limitations

AI models can make mistakes, misread visual features, or produce inaccurate results (commonly referred to as “hallucinations”). The AI may name the wrong species or genus, cite an incorrect scientific name, misjudge hardness, density, or durability, or describe origin, age, and uses incorrectly.

Identifications are made from photographs of grain, colour, and texture alone. Many species are visually similar and can only be told apart by weight, smell, end-grain anatomy under magnification, or laboratory testing — none of which is available from a photo. Stains, finishes, weathering, lighting, and camera settings can further change how wood appears. The AI can confuse look-alike species (for example, related hardwoods or softwoods, dyed or stained timber, veneers, and engineered or imitation wood products).

3. User responsibility

You are solely responsible for how you use identification results. Always verify important details independently — through a qualified wood scientist, timber inspector, certified arborist, experienced woodworker or lumber dealer, or an accredited testing laboratory — before relying on an identification for any decision.

4. Not safety advice

Identifications do not address whether a piece of wood is safe to handle, work, burn, or use. Never rely on an identification to decide whether wood is safe to cut, sand, burn, use for food-contact items such as cutting boards, bowls, or utensils, or use structurally. Wood and wood products can present hazards that a photograph cannot reveal, including:

• Toxic, irritant, or allergenic wood dust, sap, oils, and bark, which can cause respiratory, skin, and eye reactions or sensitisation.
• Treated, painted, or reclaimed lumber that may contain lead paint, arsenic (CCA / chromated copper arsenate), creosote, pentachlorophenol, borates, or other preservatives, adhesives, and coatings.
• Structural suitability, including species strength, grade, defects, decay, insect damage, and moisture content.
• Fire ratings, flame-spread characteristics, and suitability for burning in stoves, fireplaces, or open fires.
• Load-bearing use, span tables, and compliance with building codes or engineering requirements.

5. Not professional advice — values are not appraisals

Nothing produced by Wood Identifier constitutes professional consulting, engineering, forestry, timber inspection, or investment advice. Any estimated market value shown is a rough, AI-generated figure for general guidance only — it is not an appraisal, lumber grading, timber cruise, or timber valuation, and it should not be used for buying, selling, insurance, tax, estate, legal, or lending purposes. Actual value depends heavily on grade, dimensions, figure, condition, drying, quantity, and current local market demand.

6. Sustainability and legality

Sustainability and conservation notes — including references to CITES, IUCN Red List categories, FSC or other certification schemes, and trade restrictions — are informational only and may be out of date or incorrect for the specific material you photographed. Trade in many protected, endangered, or imported species is regulated and may require permits or documentation. Verify the legality of harvesting, buying, selling, importing, or exporting any protected or imported species with the relevant national or regional authority before acting.

7. User-provided information

Identifications may rely on photographs, notes, and descriptions submitted by users. We do not verify user-provided information, and results that depend on it may be affected by its accuracy.

8. Community content

Public identifications shared to the community gallery are AI-generated content submitted by other users. They carry the same limitations described here and have not been reviewed by wood scientists or other experts.

9. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Wood Identifier and its affiliates will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on AI-generated identifications, descriptions, ratings, or estimates, including personal injury, illness, financial loss, loss of a transaction, regulatory penalties, or damage to property.

10. Changes to this disclaimer

We may update this disclaimer from time to time. Continued use of the service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated disclaimer. By using Wood Identifier, you acknowledge and accept these limitations.