rockies
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# Posted: 26 Jun 2017 07:20pm
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Here's something for the techies. This report tells you the monthly averages for exterior moisture content affecting structural wood members for cities all over the world.
Why would you want to know that?
If you're installing wood outdoors (siding, posts, beams, etc) or even indoors you should get a moisture meter and check the moisture content of the wood. Green lumber can be up to 50% moisture and depending on where you live it can take a long time for the excess moisture to evaporate out of the wood. The drying of the timber can cause it to shrink a lot and might affect the levelness of your structure.
Another thing to consider is that even kiln dried lumber (though rated at 19% moisture content or less when stamped) can still keep on drying out until it reaches the average outdoor or indoor moisture level in your area (sometimes leaving lumber with as low as a 6% moisture content).
When your lumber shrinks after installation it can cause settling, nail pops, doors and windows to jam, etc. If you know the moisture content of your lumber when you install it you can account for any sizing changes from the drying process when you install.
http://www.logbuilding.org/EquilibriumMoistureContent.pdf
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