Storing wood properly and away from rain, snow, and other moisture is essential to prevent mold, warping, and dry rot from developing in the structure of your building.
While wood is one of the most cost-effective and easiest materials to work with, compared to steel or concrete, it is prone to moisture absorption if not properly stored, which can lead to structural damage later on.
Summer is typically the driest season for any wood framing contractor to work in areas where the winters can be harsh. But being able to build every month out of the year is achievable if moisture is kept from compromising your lumber during transit and on-site by storing it properly.
Hardcore Constructors are expert wood framing contractors, no matter the climate. We have years of experience building and protecting wood framing in rain, snow, and ice in Utah and Colorado to ensure the quality of your structure for decades to come.
Common Conditions that Can Damage Wood
There are a number of conditions, typically related to weather, that can compromise your lumber before and during construction, with moisture topping the list.
- Moisture
High moisture levels and water absorption can cause wood to swell, warp, or even split if not protected or allowed to dry out. Excessive moisture can also cause wet rot, dry rot, decay, and mold.
- Insect Infestation
Wood that has been left unprotected is more prone to insect infestations, especially if there’s wood rot and decay. Termites, carpenter ants, and beetles, which burrow into the wood, cause more damage that can lead to structural issues in framing.
- Temperature Fluctuations
Temperature fluctuations can also impact the integrity of lumber, causing the wood to expand and contract, which can lead to surface cracks. Those cracks can impact the integrity of the wood and lead to structural damage if used in framing.
Storing Wood Properly before Construction
Lumber for a project is typically delivered days or even weeks before construction begins. That means it’s important to figure out the best place to store your lumber away from any moisture so it stays dry and is ready when the crew starts construction.
- Tarping or Wrapping Wood. Tarping or wrapping your lumber will protect it from the elements if storing indoors is not an option. Be sure to store all wood away from where water collects, while ensuring proper drainage. Wrapping the wood with a waterproof, non-absorbent tarp will keep the lumber dry.
- Keep Wood Off the Ground. To keep your lumber dry, make sure it is stored off the ground on proper dunnage or wood supports to ensure good ventilation. That way, the wood can dry in the event it gets wet. The supports will keep any lumber on the bottom clean by preventing contact with the ground and any moisture.
- Ensure Proper Ventilation. Proper ventilation for stored wood is vital, not only if the wood gets wet and needs to dry out, but also to prevent any condensation from forming near the lumber underneath the tarp. Creating spaces within the stack of wood also prevents moisture in tight spaces.
- Using Pressure-Treated Wood and Other Treatments. Pressure-treated wood is often used to mitigate moisture in critical areas, especially where wood will have contact with moisture or the ground after construction.
Kiln-dried lumber is also a popular choice for wood framing contractors as it has a lower moisture content, which makes it less prone to warping. Factory-treated wood is coated with a preservative to prevent mold, dry rot, and pest infestations.
Protecting Wood during Construction
While it is important to store lumber properly before construction, it’s also vital to keep wood dry and protected during framing.
As the wood framing is constructed, it still needs to be protected from the elements until the time the structure is dried-in or closed up. Wood framing and wood sheathing are typically tarped overnight during construction to protect them from rain or snow.
While wood can get wet, it is important that it does not stay wet for long periods of time and that it is allowed to dry out as much as possible. Wood framing contractors sometimes bring in fans to keep the area ventilated and to facilitate quick drying.
Many projects are tarped during framing and construction during the rainy season to keep a project moving with the goal of getting the structure dried in, roofed, and wrapped as quickly as possible.
Expert Wood Framing Contractors Protect Their Lumber
Hardcore Constructors are expert wood framing contractors in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. We know how to frame commercial and residential structures in any kind of weather, while ensuring all materials are protected before and during installation.
At Hardcore, we know how important protecting our wood framing is to the quality of your building. Our crews tarp and protect our lumber while ventilating spaces to ensure our wood never warps, molds, or rots.
If your next project calls for wood framing, contact Hardcore Constructors to find out how we can build your quality project on time and on budget, no matter the weather.
