Controlling Moisture in Deck Lumber
Many problems associated with deck deterioration can be traced to the original moisture content of the lumber.
Synopsis: A brief discussion of the importance of controlling moisture content in exterior decking lumber by a trio of scientists at the USDA Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin. Includes good basic information before you lay a new deck.
If you’ve ever inspected, repaired or torn off an old wood deck, you know what can go wrong with one. Nail heads stick up. Deck boards decay, cup, or twist, and joints that once were tight open up and loosen. Bad construction, the use of unsuitable lumber, the wrong fasteners or a lack of maintenance are often the sources of the problems. However, there is another important factor that can affect deck performance.
Here at the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, we’ve learned from extensive research into wood behavior that the origin of many of these problems often can be traced to…
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