DIYbanter - View Single Post - drying out new floorboards (not kiln dried)

wrote:
wrote:

I relaid both my downstairs rooms with (redwood) pine. Left them for
four weeks - stacked with one inch spacers.

I had some terrible warping/cupping.

Next time I'm paing someone to do it....

You really need 6 months or more for new wood even though it is all
kiln dried to at most 20% (I think) . One solution is to lay the boards
un nailed and then finish off 6 months or so later. You could lay them
upside down so that they are all new and clean when you turn them and
do the second fix.
Drying stuff under weights is pointless - it will spring to the warped
shape as soon as released.

cheers

Jacob

New stuff is dried to 17% moisture content (the point at which mould
doesn't develop). Good quality redwood shrinks across the grain but
shouldn't distort unduly. Whitewood is more reliable in this respect.

Reclaimed pitch pine from commercial premises is usually pretty dry, but
a lot of it is taken from docks and other outdoor locations. Being a
resinous timber, it takes a long time to dry. You still get a whiff of
disinfectant when you cut it.