How long does it take to cure fresh cut cedar wood, before you can build with it?
Question:i want to frame in a upper deck on my house with cedar wood i just had cut at a local kentucky sawmill.
Answers:
On a deck, it can cure in place, just be sure to seal the end cuts well to avoid splitting and checking. It will shrink a little as it drys, so spacing between boards should be tighter than with cured wood.
It needs to go to a dryer. By the time the sun drys it, it will have warped from drying unevenly, and cracked.
The dryer faucility dries it out 100% and then reinjects moisture back into the wood to give you the 60% or whatever you desire.
Most kilns will dry wood to around 12% moisture content. If allowed to dry naturally, you will probably get some splits and twisting.
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