Timber Care – How to Minimise Stock Loss & Keep Your Timber Straight

Stack, Strap and Wrap!

Keep your timber stacked neatly, above the ground and away from the weather as much as possible. Please watch our video below.

What Causes Movement in Timber?

Timber is a natural product. This means that exposure to changes in temperature, moisture, sun and wind can alter the product’s moisture content and stability, so it is very important to store the product correctly.

Timberlink’s technical team and industry scientists have worked over many years to find the ideal moisture content for the harsh Australian climate to ensure timber stays as straight as possible during humidity and temperature changes. This is around 10 – 12 %.

The best defence to keep your timber straight is to stack it correctly (like the below) pieces should be lying flat on top of one another, with longer pieces on the bottom so ends don’t overhang.

Try not to leave you stack untidy with lengths of timber on an angle across the whole stack. If left unchecked this can lead to the timber bowing and twisting. The longer you leave the timber twisted and not supported along the full length, the more it will move.

We know you are busy; however your timber will stay much straighter if you can strap it at the end of the day to strap it.

If you do not have room to store your untreated timber undercover, try to keep your timber “wrapped” to avoid letting moisture get in. Just make sure the timber is dry before you wrap as any moisture on the timber can be trapped under the wrap.

Keep it Dry!

Being a natural product, moisture can affect timber in a wide variety of ways. We take a look why you should keep your timber away from water and wrapped if possible.

What can happen to if moisture gets on timber?

Changes in moisture can make timber expand, shrink, bow and twist, and prolonged exposure to moisture can lead to mould.

Mould can form if timber is exposed to moisture for extended periods

Mould refers to a wide range of fungi that are abundant in the natural environment. These small organisms can be black, white, orange, green, or purple and live almost anywhere indoors and outside. Moulds thrive on moisture and reproduce through lightweight spores that travel through the air.

How to prevent Mould from forming on timber?

Keeping your timber dry and your site clean are the best weapons in the fight against mould. Mould lives in the air, in soil, on vegetation and many surfaces. Moulds are naturally occurring and are always present in the environment

Store your timber off the ground – place on bearers, do not allow timber to sit in or above pooled water

Store your timber under cover whenever possible – keep wrapped if storing outside

Keep in a clear area – try not to place timber below trees that are dropping excessive leaves and branches

Protection against excessive moisture is the best option to reduce the likelihood of mould. However, as mould is prevalent in the environment these measures are not guaranteed to prevent mould.

It is important to remember that mould on timber is an aesthetic issue and is not detrimental to the structural integrity of timber. The types of mould typically found on timber are not considered harmful and have been found to have no negative health effects at commonly encountered concentrations.