But don't worry, framing material is made to withstand exposure to moisture. In fact, the glues used to manufacture OSB (Oriented Strand Board) are water-resistant. Even loose lumber not treated in any way will be fine; provided it has an opportunity to dry out before covering with drywall.
Wood is a porous material. This means that, over time, exposure to water will permeate the wood's membranes, causing it to rot, soften, and fall apart. Additionally, water compromises the structure of wood, leading to mold growth and expensive restoration efforts.
Water makes wood swell. And the problem with using damp, swollen lumber for the frame of your house is that the lumber will eventually shrink back towards it normal size after the house is complete and the heating and cooling systems have run for a few months.
Untreated Wood
Left in their natural, unfinished state, most woods deteriorate quickly when exposed to outdoor environments. However, there are several species that have naturally occurring chemicals that help them shrug off harsh weather and insects.
Untreated wood is the most susceptible to rot, fungi, and general weathering. It's extremely important that you use a wood preservative first. You can either use a wax enriched preservative for an all-round coating or alternatively use a wax-free preserver if you want to then use a stain or a paint on top.
Some say that untreated 2×4's can last up to two years before showing signs of rot and others say it can last even longer. When deciding if you should you use an untreated 2×4 it depends greatly on the application, how much weather and sun it's exposed to and if it's making ground contact.
Storing dry lumber outdoors should be avoided at all costs. The outside elements include water and drastic changes in temperature.
Why does it matter if wood gains or loses moisture? The answer is dimensional stability and it is one of the main reasons wood must be dried. Wood begins to shrink in width, and thickness when the moisture content starts to get below 30%. The amount of shrinkage varies by species.
If you use untreated wood outdoors, it will become damaged and lose it's strength over time. That's why treating wood is so important whether you're building wood furniture, installing a new deck, or working on other outdoor projects.
Redwood and Cedar. While pine is the best exterior softwood for the money, Redwood and Cedar are better exterior softwoods for stability. Redwood and Cedar are pinkish, with heart redwood being a darker pink than Western Red Cedar.
Cut your firewood in spring or early summer so it gets at least 6-9 months to dry out; if you cut it in autumn or winter, it won't be dry enough to use until the following year. Some types of wood like oak or larger cuts of wood can take a year or more to dry.
In fact, expect most types of wood to take about one year per inch of thickness to dry out. If it's a two-inch log, that means you'll need to let it sit outdoors for two whole years before it's dry enough to efficiently burn.
Once wood has properly seasoned, does it matter whether rain gets on seasoned firewood? Seasoned firewood should be stored out of the rain to help prolong how well it keeps for. If seasoned firewood gets rained on it can dry out within a few days, but constant contact with moisture will lead to the wood going bad.
Wood can Start to Rot in 1-6 months If:
Water and/or air space is hot & humid. The area is at or near the ground. Wood is exposed to dirt.
Lab experiments have recorded that dry rot spores can germinate approximately seven to ten days after the wood has become damp enough. Older spores can take longer to germinate. As mentioned earlier, though, it can take a long while for signs of dry rot to appear after germination.
But as you're about to find out, water doesn't always cause damage immediately after a leak develops. For instance, it takes up to 10 days for wood to start rotting due to water exposure. The timing is different for other forms of damage, which is what we'll cover in this article.
Dry the Affected Areas
The heat will help evaporate the moisture faster. If the water-damaged wood is in an enclosed space, consider using a dehumidifier. For example, if your wooden cabinet has sustained water damage, set the dehumidifier up in front of the open cabinet door and allow it to run.
Sealing or sizing a piece of wood greatly reduces the chance of stains, warping and rotting wood from your paint. Yes, this can happen!
Kiln drying doesn't make wood rot resistant. Untreated wood, kiln dried or not, will start to rot within a few days if it gets wet and can't dry out promptly. It typically takes a few years for the rot to become a serious problem but it will happen eventually.
Place a cover tarp loosely over the lumber stack so that air can circulate freely – don't wrap the stack tightly in plastic, since this will trap moisture from the wood under the tarp.
With concrete holding the moisture against the wood, wood has no chance and will eventually lose the battle. Now you don't have to lose all hope because it's for certain that the concrete around the post will crack, therefore making it easy to pull out when it starts to rot.
But building code dictates where you can use treated wood in applications — usually where there is risk of excessive moisture. Generally speaking, any wood used in outdoor projects should be pressure-treated. Wood details in your interior design (like cabinetry or furniture) do not need the same level of treatment.
Cedar wood projects typically last more than 20 years without splitting, rotting, or warping. White oak and teak are also long lasting woods that are resistant to decay, twisting, cracking, or warping.