How to Dry Treated Lumber
Pressure-treated lumber is used for outdoor projects. It is treated with chemicals to help make the wood last longer outside. As it dries, the wood turns green as it reacts to the preservative components and the sun. Treated lumber is a little heavier than non-treated lumber, and it is best to wait until it dries completely before building anything with it. Drying treated lumber is an easy job that just takes a little patience. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Purchase the treated lumber as far in advance of your building project as possible. This will allow optimal time for the lumber to dry. If it is not dried properly before installation, the treated lumber can be compromised, leading to warped wood and much quicker decay.
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Put on your work gloves. Choose a drying area that gets a lot of sun. Avoid shaded areas, as the lumber will not dry as quickly. Stack the lumber beginning with the bottom row. The size of the storage area will determine how many rows you'll need.
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Lay short pieces of scrap lumber, called stickers, parallel to each other on the ground. Place two or more pieces of treated lumber side by side on the stickers. Lay more stickers across the first row of treated lumber, then place two or more pieces of treated lumber across the stickers. If you have long pieces of lumber, place a third sticker between the end stickers to prevent warping. The space between the rows will allow the heat to penetrate the rows evenly. It will also allow air between the rows to help speed up the drying process. Repeat the stacking process for all the succeeding rows.
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Stack the final row and check to see that the stickers are aligned properly. This will ensure that the weight is distributed evenly to allow for optimal drying. Place cement blocks at each end on the top row of lumber to prevent the top boards from warping. Have a tarp ready in case of rain. Allow the lumber to dry for at least two weeks to reach the proper 20-percent moisture level or less.
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References
- Photo Credit lumber 1 image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
