• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Marketinia

Marketing Solutions for Moving Forward

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Business
    • Construction
    • Family
    • Fitness
    • Furniture
    • Health
    • Swimming Pool
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us

Learning About Wood Movement, Part 2

Last updated on November 10, 2022 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

logging truck grabbing logs to add to back of truck

You’ll be in a better position to use this fantastic natural resource as you get more insight into wood movement (see Part 1). While we can’t stop wood from naturally expanding and contracting, we can prepare for that movement and take measures to lessen any issues that may arise as a result.

log being cut into wooden boards

Minimizing Warping

The size of the gap you leave between decking boards will vary depending on the temperature, location, and time of year in which you install the boards, because lumber constantly expands and contracts in response to the surrounding moisture levels. The boards won’t expand or shrink in every direction, though.

Think of a bundle of straws that has been frozen after being filled with water. What areas of the straws will the water come off of as they start to thaw? Even though the straws can “sweat” or condense, the water will primarily escape through the ends of the straws. The moisture will also escape through the ends of lumber. Because of this, even while the middle retains a larger volume of moisture, the ends of the board will get dry. Warping, as well as bending and cupping, can result from the variations in moisture levels between the ends and the middle of a particular board.

air drying lumber
Stacks of lumber air drying

Correct Drying Techniques

When moving lumber from one location to another during times of acclimatization, you can take preventative measures to lessen the likelihood of such undesirable effects of uneven drying. One approach to doing this is by not leaving lumber out in direct sunlight, where moisture loss may happen more quickly. Applying end sealer to cut boards is a second method to lessen uneven drying. A third option is to stack the timber in a well-ventilated area and “sticker” it, inserting pieces between the boards to allow air to pass through the stack. Allowing enough time for timber to adapt to new surroundings prior to installation is the fourth and, arguably, most crucial approach to encouraging even drying.

forklift loading kiln at mcilvain
Forklift loading a kiln at J Gibson McIlvain

Leveraging a Kiln for Drying

The majority of the time, the lumber you receive on your construction site will already have undergone kiln drying, so the lumber supplier has already done the bulk of the work for you. The highest level of stability can be seen in lumber after kiln drying because of its homogeneous (i.e. equal throughout) moisture content. Case hardening won’t happen as a result of proper kiln drying; instead, the lumber will still be able to move as it takes in and releases moisture, just not as quickly or as much. Kiln drying may not always be the ideal option for decking lumber, though.

You must account for wood movement when constructing indoor flooring, an outdoor deck, or even trim around windows or doors since wood movement is almost guaranteed to happen in some measure. Movement is a component of what makes wood what it is because it is an organic substance.

j gibson mcilvain lumber delivery truck
J Gibson McIlvain lumber delivery truck

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.

As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.

Contact a sales representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling toll free (800) 638-9100.

Filed Under: Construction, Lumber

Additional Articles

disney boardwalk ipe
Ipe Lumber – An Introduction to This Amazing Wood
completed ipe back deck and stairs
Ipe Wood: An Unusual Lumber Species, Part 3
fresh ipe wood deck
Ipe Wood: An Unusual Lumber Species, Part 2
ipe decking boards
Ipe Wood: An Unusual Lumber Species, Part 1
busy logging operation in forest
Learning About Wood Movement, Part 1
df timber truss roof
Why Large Timbers Tend to Crack & How to Prevent It

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 × 2 =



Primary Sidebar

Lyon Financial

Featured Articles

  • Marine Grade Plywood Uses and Facts
  • Should I Use Genuine Mahogany or African Mahogany?
  • Product Review of NuCedar Materials
  • Cracks in Large Timbers: What Can You Do To Prevent Them?
  • Genuine Mahogany vs. African Mahogany
  • How to find an Alternative to Ipe as Prices Rise
  • What Is the Ideal Gap Between Decking Boards?
  • Wood Decking Species Choices: Red Balau
  • Pros & Cons of Tropical Decking Fastening Systems
  • Wood Decking Species Choices: Jatoba
X10 Home Automation

Popular Articles

  • How to Keep Track of Your Flash Drive
  • Stretching: Can There Be Too Much of a Good Thing?
  • Benefits of Ambidexterity
  • Should I Use Genuine Mahogany or African Mahogany?
  • Marine Grade Plywood Uses and Facts
  • One-of-a-Kind Kids Furniture Store in Long Island
  • What’s All the Excitement over X10 Home Automation?
  • Maxtrix Bed Options for Kids Rooms
  • Heated Driveway Installation by D'Amico Electric of Westchester, NY
  • The Truth About Recovering from Shoulder Labral Repair Surgery
  • Encourage Healthy Choices by Adding a Pool to Your Backyard

Reader Feedback

  • Afton Jackson on Preparing for Your Pool Design Consultation: Additional Steps
  • Zachary Tomlinson on Benefits of a Swimming Pool for a Healthy Lifestyle
  • Alice Carroll on Gymnastics Tips: Back to the Basics with 6 Beginner Moves
  • Alice Carroll on The Vinyl Liner Pool Owner’s Guide to Swimming Pool Repairs
  • Alice Carroll on Concrete Sealer: What You Need to Know, Part 2
  • Alice Carroll on Vinyl Liner Options for Your New Swimming Pool
  • Afton Jackson on Pros & Cons of Fiberglass Swimming Pool Liners

Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap