Stumbled on a stat about lumber moisture content that blew my mind yesterday

I was reading a forestry report and found out that a single 2x4 can lose up to 5% of its weight just from drying in a kiln, and I had no idea that much water was hiding in wood I use every day.

3 comments

3 Comments

josephl672mo ago

My buddy tried to build a shed with wood he cut himself without drying it first. Warped so bad the door wouldn't close after a month.

jakeb252mo ago

Nah, that 5% is rookie numbers. Green lumber can be 30% moisture or more.

bens811mo ago

Did your buddy try to plane that green wood after it dried? Mine did on a deck project and ended up with boards that looked like potato chips.