Timber frame renovation... with wet wood

mrector · October 30, 2013, 05:38:27 AM

What I am wanting to do is I am opening up a small wall that separates my kitchen from my living & dining rooms. I am going to use 6x6" posts and a header that is 3x6". It is load bearing and that part I have figured out.
My main question is can I use some green white pine that I have for the posts and header. My main concern was mold, not really shrinking. Because I am adding to each post a steel plate on bottom with a 1" bolt to use as a adjustment for height and account for any longitudinal shrinkage. Will my beams and posts mold? When should I wait to finish? I may even leave them natural finish.
Thanks
Mikey

crtreedude · October 30, 2013, 06:54:11 AM

if the wood is green, it is going to be months, if not a year or so, before it will be dry enough to finish. Much of that depends how dry it is going to be inside of the house.

A neat trick would be to take a small piece the same thickness, and seal the ends and leave it in the house. When it stops losing weight, you know the wood is dry for your house.

When you think it is dry enough, cut off a couple of inches and test the center...

It is going to be a while with wood that thick.

mrector · October 30, 2013, 07:03:57 AM

It is actually pretty dry in my house. I have propane heat. I'm not really worried about the dry in time to finish as I may leave it natural. Just concerned about molding.
Mikey

witterbound · October 30, 2013, 08:22:31 PM

Many frames are cut and raised when the wood is very green. Doubt this will be a problem.

Stephen1 · October 30, 2013, 08:27:49 PM

I would not be worried about mold in a dry house. I would worry that my beams will check. The plate and bolt I would not worry about either as your only shrinkage will be from your your 3x6 beam which will loose about 3/8". A log wall will shrink 3/4" per foot of height. Your posts will not shrink, only the beam. Depending on how much of a rush your in, you could bring the beam into the house for a few weeks of dry time with the furnace running.
I am sure some others will offer their advice.

mrector · December 10, 2013, 12:48:42 PM

I ended up cutting some poplar logs I have for this. They were cut 6 months ago.
I brought them in to acclimate to the house and stickered and stacked them.
But.. when I checked on them they were starting to get some mold on them.

I took them back outside under my covered porch for now.
I'm guessing I have moisture in the air in the house. Should I run a dehumidifier
Or an electric heater to reduce the moisture in the house? I kinda wNt this done before Christmas.
Mikey

Stephen1 · December 10, 2013, 01:19:29 PM

I would wash them done with a diluted chlorine wash. That should take care of the mold. I am guessi.g your house has high humidty. Not sure of your location.