Wood Shrinkage Prevention

Shrinkage is the reduction in dimensions of timber due to the movement of moisture out of cell walls of the wood.

Wood shrinkage prevention. At woodhaven we eliminate most of the shrinkage problems because we dry down all of our wood paneling siding and other specialty products to a specific moisture content. In the case of the 32 inch wide sugar maple table top for example a change of 6 percent in moisture conte nt results in a change in width w of. Allowing wood shrinkage to occur is the most common easiest and best solution. Making allowances for wood shrinkage.

Moisture content changes of only a few percent are sufficient to cause significant shrinking and swelling of wood. Weve been in this business almost 30 years and take great pride in what we do. It is vulnerable to shrinkage brought about by climate and temperature changes. Radial shrinkage about 4.

Generally wood shrinks the most after the felling process. Sc the appropriate shrinkage coefficient given in appendix iii. A wood shrinkage and expansion calculator the shrinkulator helps you estimate dimensional changes in wood either shrinkage or expansion based on changes in the woods moisture content. The amount a piece of wood will shrink lengthwise called longitudinal shrinkage is so smalltypically about 01 to 02that it is usually inconsequential to the volumetric shrinkagehowever plywood greatly benefits from the low longitudinal shrinkage of woodlayers of wood veneer are glued together with the grain direction of each ply oriented perpendicular to the adjacent ply.

When wood is properly dried it greatly minimizes warping or shrinking. I would much rather have a house made from logs with 30 or even 40 percent moisture content that is designed and built with full recognition of that fact than a house made from logs at 20 percent moisture content designed and constructed in denial that any more shrinkage or. Sawing of lumber from logs combined with careful drying practices can result in dried wood that. Exotic wood is undoubtedly one of the best materials for any type of home or office project.

Preventing wood shrinkage is possible but only rarely is it practical. Though shrinkage values vary widely among woods tangential shrinkage averages about 8. It has a timeless classic beauty coupled with strength and durability that can last for ageshowever like any natural material exotic wood has a weakness too. Allow for shrinkage or prevent shrinkage.

But shrinkage across the grain whether around the growth rings tangential shrinkage or across them radial shrinkage is substantial and has to be accounted for in the design of just about anything made from wood.