storage of kiln dried lumber

[oakiemac]

My first load of Maple, Hickory, Red Oak is ready to come out of the kiln (talk about a mixed load, huh). I plan on stacking it on 4X4 oak beams laid on the cement floor of a pole barn until it is sold. The barn is completely enclosed but not climate controlled.
Will the wood pick up moisture? What is the best way to store KD lumber?

[beenthere]

I'm thinking your lumber will pick up moisture if the relative humidity is much above 55% (depending on what the kiln dry moisture content is, but that is for 9-10% moisture content).  

The best way to store KD wood is to hold it in a humidity controlled environment, probably by controlling the temp.

[Frank_Pender]

I would also recommend that you place some sort of vapor barrior between the lumber and the cement.   The lumber will wick the water through the cement. :-[

[redpowerd]

thats a good point frank and im sure its something most folks dont add into. i allmost put cement into my little solar cooker.
white plastic on the floor offers the least condensation

[oakiemac]

How do most of you store your KD wood? Do you keep it in a temp controlled and rh controlled area? Or for practical purposes just store it as I mentioned? I realize that a controlled enviroment is the best, but in real world situation is just storing it out of the weather for a few weeks to a few months good enough?

Frank, thanks for the tip on vapor barrier. That is a good idea.

[Brian_Bailey]

I store all my dried lumber in a controlled building and with all this rain we've been having lately the dehumidifier has been working over-time.

I'd do like Frank suggests and go one step further an wrap each bundle with plastic and seal the ends. Also keep the lumber dead piled, no stickers!

I've been in your situation and it's no fun having a customer pull out a moisture meter and finding that your lumber is no longer as dry as it should be  .

[oakiemac]

Thanks for the advice Brain. Maybe I should put a dehumidifier in the barn. It is uninsulated and 32'X24" with 10" side walls.
Would just putting in a home type dh unit be good enough or should I insulate it as well?

[Buzz-sawyer]

Hi oakie , as you know the average home is far higher relative humidity than your lumber sooo, it will become whatever humidity , the environment is.....
so, I suggest you build a tent of plastic around your wood and put your dehumid. in there....
don

[Brian_Bailey]

I second Buzz-sawyer's method of using a tent rather than try to DH the whole building.

My building is roughly 36'x60' with a 14' ceiling and is real tight.
I've been using a 65 pint/day home dehumidifier.
I have to dump the water collector twice a day.
The dehumidifier has been keeping the RH in the building around 45% which means an EMC of approx. 8.5% @ 70 degrees F.

[Don_Lewis]

If you keep the space about 20 degrees (F) above the morning low temp, it wall stay at 6%. A heater is a better way to go than a dh unit unless you need to work steadily in the same area where the wood is stored. If it is in a pole barn and on the south side and the wall painted a dark color, it will stay dry for indefinitely

[Brian_Bailey]

Don,  

I'll have to pass on the heat method during this time of the year.  
I store my lumber in the other half of my shop, it was 70* F.in there this morning. I have a hard time working when it gets much higher than 70*, can't imagine getting anything done @ 90*  :D :D.

In my area, come about the middle of September then the heat will rule.