Can you build with green lumber?

Click “Show More” to see timber frame book recommendations

ENJOY THIS VIDEO? SUPPORT US WITHOUT PAYING A DIME!

GET SOCIAL
Follow us as we build our off grid homestead 100% from scratch! We post a lot of stuff to both our blog and our other social media channels that don't make it to YouTube, so be sure to follow us there for the full scoop of what we're working on!

EQUIPMENT USED TO PRODUCE OUR VIDEOS

OTHER WORDS TO FIND THIS VIDEO
green lumber vs kiln dried
green lumber construction
green lumber drying time

[mikearmstrong]

Fellow was building a new house in South central Missouri. He explained that he wanted hardwood floors. Head carpenter said there's a top quality hardwood mill nearby. Owner said he had found a place in California with top quality flooring. He said the cost is significantly higher but determined that he wanted the best. The construction schedule was messed up for a month or so but the flooring finally got there. The head carpenter cut the first strap, turned the board over and saw the logo for the mill nearby. It cost so much because they had to ship to California and back. The owner didn't argue with the head carpenter any more about anything.

[Rapids]

Just throwing it out there I have recently started watching another guy on YouTube. He is building a log cabin with just hand tools which I had kind of originally thought that this channel was going to be. He is My Self Reliance and well worth a watch.

[sawyerswoodlandscapingllc]

Said so well guys! I have countless conversations explaining drying, checking, natural beauty with my sawmilling and slabs. I am sharing this!!! I love the beauty of knowing the story of a house or pieces you get. Great to see yall!

[JimsEquipmentShed]

I don't think kiln drying is required, but I DO think drying is required.
When we built our place we allowed the milled wood to dry for almost a year before using it. Even then, the planks for the board and batton's still shrunk probably 1/4" per unit over the years. There will be shrinkage for sure, You just have to account for it, and move on.
The boards we finished for our floors were installed much later, and were allowed to dry in our garage to four years, and another two weeks in the room they were to be used in.

[Hammerjockeyrepair]

I was just going to say that!!! These fools talking crap about building a green timber frame house. Some of the OLDEST HOUSES ARE TIMBER FRAME from green trees hundreds of years ago, and the houses are still in better condition than EVERY 10 year old modular home! Keep up the great work guys! I cant wait to see the finished product!

[NelsonImprovement]

Jesse and Alyssa, have you considered getting a 250-500 gallon fuel tank and having your gas delivered? It is pretty common practice on farms and in rural areas. The fuel doesn't cost any more either in my experience due to the volume being purchased. You could probably find a used tank or set of tanks pretty cheap on a farm sale/auction. Some gas barrels are even on a stand so that they can be gravity fed instead of needing to be pumped.

[rogerrowan]

Kiln dried lumber is stickered and run through the kiln which is both heat, moisture controlled and air flow controlled to help ensure all the sticks of lumber are as uniformly dried as possible. As a Forester involved with lumber companies, I've not seen a banded bundle approach for drying lumber.

[AndTheCorrectAnswerIs]

Yes people have been using green timber framing for thousands of years...and yes, every timber framed structure I have ever been in is twisted and out of square. Jesse would make a great used car salesman. Being correct never gets in his way when he is talking.

[stephcorn]

I have a cedar barn made in 1880, the outside of it must be compared to rock instead of wood. It's water resistant and still strong after 137 years of Canada weather.

[makingitthrough]

Hi from Ontario. Many thanks for speaking so beautifully about this subject. What a wealth of "hard to get" information you have put out there. You communicate so clearly.

[ottercorporation]

Glad you made this a topic. When younger we didn't have much and used full round green spruce and fir trees as studs. That building is still standing, and those studs are straight as the day they were set. We also used the same for tripods, and those green trees were very strong.

[kansaIainen]

In Russia they have built huge wooden churches through centuries. They used to hammer the ends of the logs instead of oiling. Hammering with the hammer side of the ax polishes the end of timber like it was lacquered, it becomes smooth like glass.

[gonedeepseafishing]

20 years ago we built a couple 12×16 sheds and a 24×48 pole barn with green rough cut 2x's and 1x's and those buildings came out super straight and square. My opinion is that green lumber is great as long as you get it built quick before it starts to dry. When I say quick I mean ASAP! Before somebody leaves it in the sun, back of the truck, not stacked neatly etc... With the pole barn we actually watered the stack of wood on the ground it to keep it wet while building with it during the week it took. They remained super straight but then again no interior finishes, heat, vapor barriers etc.. to deal with which may be why they aged so well. They were built in the spring and painted on the outside in the fall. Still look great.

[boolanny]

A number of problems can result from the use of green lumber. Nail “pops” – as framing members dry and shrink, gaps are created between nailed together framing members, as well as between exterior or interior sheathing and framing members. Mold can begin to grow on green lumber before it is even used in construction. Airborne mold spores are found almost everywhere, and they can easily cause mold growth on wet wood surfaces.
In exposed areas, green lumber can be difficult to paint or stain, sap within the wood oozes out and causes discoloration and gaps between members (such as fascias) can result.
As it dries, wood shrinks considerably, and is prone to both “warp” and “check” (crack). Used in construction, problems may arise including warping the underlying structure and causing structural instability. Unlike lumber which has been dried at the mill, green lumber has not been treated with any substances which are designed to promote water and insect resistance. Green lumber is more subject to rot, and it can be viewed as a buffet by insects.
More often than not, the use of green lumber for framing material comes from lack of knowledge by the end user. For buildings where the finished quality makes a difference, dry lumber is the only sensible choice.

[danielrose]

I live in a half-timbered house in germany which was built green about 150 years ago. The house is slightly changing shape depending on the season because some beams are exposed to the weather. Luckily we have plenty of craftsmen who understand their trade and know how to build in such an environment. Living there for 30 years now, we had to straighten 2 doorframes, no other issues.

[sheldonpenn]

I built a timber frame in 1997 out of Douglas fere. After we moved in at night it would make small noises as it settled. The frame was coated with linseed oil before rasing the frame. We also panted the the frame with one coat of mat varnish after completion of the house. Results some minor checking and seepage of sap.

[mudweimer]

It’s worth mentioning that the post and beam joints go together wet so they can dry together and it also tightens the peg joint. I’ve never pulled a straight peg out of an old beam!

[petermartin]

Thanks Jessie, informative and interesting video. I am from England and we have timber frames still standing from the 13th century!

[thespook]

Jesse, reading the comments here justifies the video you made about comments from watchers. Gotta love "armchair builders." That said, I thought it was the very best short lecture I've heard about green lumber, and I've been working with wood all my life. Haters just gotta hate. . . "blow it off" and keep up the great work.

[dano]

I work in a sawmill and we kiln dry all our pine wood. if it is all stuck with one inch stickers the same way and it is all stacked in such a way, each and every time to ensure proper air flow while in the dry kilns. if it is done the right way, all the boards in these packs are dry to the same level. we use a 6 to 7 day drying schedule. packs are checked for moisture level during drying and at the end of their schedule. i would think the same would go for timbers as it does for 1" boards, only taking much longer to dry.