Storing Construction Lumber
 

I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack to
prevent warping? The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Thanks! J.A.

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 10, 6:45*pm, "J.A.Michel" wrote:
I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. *The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. *They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. *Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack to
prevent warping? *The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Yep, exactly. Set them up on some wood blocks so the bottom boards
are dead flat. It's probably not necessary to sticker them if they're
already dry and the basement is conditioned. Strapping them isn't a
bad idea - ratchet tie-downs would be nice, or you could weight down
the top with concrete block.

R

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 10, 6:58�pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jan 10, 6:45�pm, "J.A.Michel" wrote:

I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. �The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. �They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. �Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack to
prevent warping? �The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Yep, exactly. �Set them up on some wood blocks so the bottom boards
are dead flat. �It's probably not necessary to sticker them if they're
already dry and the basement is conditioned. �Strapping them isn't a
bad idea - ratchet tie-downs would be nice, or you could weight down
the top with concrete block.

R

they will dry futher in your basement, and likely warp.

on a good note they will make excellent fire wood...........

lumber sold today is grown quicly in a farm like arangement, look at
the growth rings they are BIG, this makes the lumber much less stable

Storing Construction Lumber
 

wrote in message
...
On Jan 10, 6:58?pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Jan 10, 6:45?pm, "J.A.Michel" wrote:

I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. ?The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. ?They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to
come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. ?Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack
to
prevent warping? ?The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Yep, exactly. ?Set them up on some wood blocks so the bottom boards
are dead flat. ?It's probably not necessary to sticker them if they're
already dry and the basement is conditioned. ?Strapping them isn't a
bad idea - ratchet tie-downs would be nice, or you could weight down
the top with concrete block.

R

they will dry futher in your basement, and likely warp.

on a good note they will make excellent fire wood...........

NOT! Pine, spruce, and other soft woods are full of tars and gums that could
potentially cause a chimney fire.

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 10, 8:37*pm, "1D10T" wrote:
wrote in message

...
On Jan 10, 6:58?pm, RicodJour wrote:





On Jan 10, 6:45?pm, "J.A.Michel" wrote:

I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. ?The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. ?They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to
come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. ?Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack
to
prevent warping? ?The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Yep, exactly. ?Set them up on some wood blocks so the bottom boards
are dead flat. ?It's probably not necessary to sticker them if they're
already dry and the basement is conditioned. ?Strapping them isn't a
bad idea - ratchet tie-downs would be nice, or you could weight down
the top with concrete block.

R

they will dry futher in your basement, and likely warp.

on a good note they will make excellent fire wood...........

NOT! Pine, spruce, and other soft woods are full of tars and gums that could
potentially cause a chimney fire.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

lay down 3 strips of narrow, same thickness, strips (stickers) -
center, and about 18" from the ends.
lay down 6 boards
lay down another 3 strips
and so on
that will get you a stack about 7 high

place some good weight on top of the stack, but allow good airflow.

I'd sticker them because today's wood is generally green.

If not already, paint over the ends to seal then up.

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 10, 9:09*pm, " wrote:
On Jan 10, 6:58 pm, RicodJour wrote:



On Jan 10, 6:45 pm, "J.A.Michel" wrote:

I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack to
prevent warping? The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Yep, exactly. Set them up on some wood blocks so the bottom boards
are dead flat. It's probably not necessary to sticker them if they're
already dry and the basement is conditioned. Strapping them isn't a
bad idea - ratchet tie-downs would be nice, or you could weight down
the top with concrete block.


they will dry futher in your basement, and likely warp.

I wrote: "if they're already dry" - seems to me that's pretty clear
terminology.

on a good note they will make excellent fire wood...........

You're jumping the gun. If the OP has reasonably dry lumber to start,
puts them in conditioned space, and restrains them from moving,
where's the problem? He's going to be using them for framing out a
basement, not making furniture.

lumber sold today is grown quicly in a farm like arangement, look at
the growth rings they are BIG, this makes the lumber much less stable

Of course newer lumber is less desirable, but maybe the OP lucked out
and discovered some "NOS" 2xs. ;)

R

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 10, 6:37*pm, "1D10T" wrote:
wrote in message

...
On Jan 10, 6:58?pm, RicodJour wrote:





On Jan 10, 6:45?pm, "J.A.Michel" wrote:

I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. ?The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. ?They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to
come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. ?Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack
to
prevent warping? ?The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Yep, exactly. ?Set them up on some wood blocks so the bottom boards
are dead flat. ?It's probably not necessary to sticker them if they're
already dry and the basement is conditioned. ?Strapping them isn't a
bad idea - ratchet tie-downs would be nice, or you could weight down
the top with concrete block.

R

they will dry futher in your basement, and likely warp.

on a good note they will make excellent fire wood...........

NOT! Pine, spruce, and other soft woods are full of tars and gums that could
potentially cause a chimney fire.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

BS. That is an 'old wives tale'. Most times the ones who spread that
crap is someone who has never burned any and never knew anyone who
did. I would bet you don't even burn hardwood and further don't know
anyone who does. If it were true noone would be able to heat with
wood in over 1/2 the states and for sure all of Alaska and most of
Canada. Cured softwood is no more dangerous to burn than hardwood.
Clean the chimney at the beginning of the season, burn correctly and
don't worry aobut it. If paranoid, clean chimney again about the
middle of the heating season.

Harry K.

Storing Construction Lumber
 

"Harry K" wrote in message
...
On Jan 10, 6:37 pm, "1D10T" wrote:


NOT! Pine, spruce, and other soft woods are full of tars and gums that
could
potentially cause a chimney fire.- Hide quoted text -

BS. That is an 'old wives tale'. Most times the ones who spread that
crap is someone who has never burned any and never knew anyone who
did. I would bet you don't even burn hardwood and further don't know
anyone who does.

I have been burning seasoned oak in two fireplaces for over 30 years. I
clean the chimneys every fall beore the cold weather arrives. I know of
three neighbors who have had chimney fires because they were burning a mix
of seasoned and unseasoned pine and failed to maintain their fireplaces.

If it were true noone

what the hell is 'noone'?

would be able to heat with
wood in over 1/2 the states and for sure all of Alaska and most of
Canada. Cured softwood is no more dangerous to burn than hardwood.
Clean the chimney at the beginning of the season, burn correctly and
don't worry about it. If paranoid, clean chimney again about the
middle of the heating season.

I'm sure there are many who are not aware of the need for proper maintenance
of their fireplaces and the fact that softwoods contain resins that do not
'go away' with seasoning. Much of the resin crystallizes and remains in the
wood. Ever hear of 'lighter' wood or 'torch' wood? They refer to softwoods
that contain enough resin to burn like candles. I have stacks of it many
years old that I use for kindling.

Storing Construction Lumber
 

"J.A.Michel" wrote in message
...
I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack to
prevent warping? The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Thanks! J.A.

After reading here, I think I'll stack it in a neat pile on some shorter
scraps of wood, and bind it with ratchet-straps at the ends and in the
middle. Hopefully warpage will be minimal.

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 11, 10:19*am, "J.A.Michel" wrote:

After reading here, I think I'll stack it in a neat pile on some shorter
scraps of wood, and bind it with ratchet-straps at the ends and in the
middle. *Hopefully warpage will be minimal.

That's all you need and really all you can do. Good luck with the
basement.

R

Storing Construction Lumber
 

"J.A.Michel" wrote in message
...

"J.A.Michel" wrote in message
...
I picked up about 40 2x4's on sale today. The intent is to use them to
finish my basement at some point in the future. They were too good of a
deal to pass up, but I won't finishing my basement for some time to come.

So I intend to just stack them and store them in the basement. Is there
anything special I should do like set them on cleats or strap the stack
to prevent warping? The basement is clean, dry and heated / cooled.

Thanks! J.A.

After reading here, I think I'll stack it in a neat pile on some shorter
scraps of wood, and bind it with ratchet-straps at the ends and in the
middle. Hopefully warpage will be minimal.
I really believe you need spacers in between. Otherwise the outer boards
will absorb and/or release moisture unevenly and that is very likely to
cause warping. Stacking the boards together is also likely to cause mold to
grow between them. Good air circulation and support will give the best
results.

Don Young

Storing Construction Lumber
 

On Jan 11, 6:53*am, "1D10T" wrote:
"Harry K" wrote in message

...
On Jan 10, 6:37 pm, "1D10T" wrote:



NOT! Pine, spruce, and other soft woods are full of tars and gums that
could
potentially cause a chimney fire.- Hide quoted text -

BS. That is an 'old wives tale'. *Most times the ones who spread that
crap is someone who has never burned any and never knew anyone who
did. *I would bet you don't even burn hardwood and further don't know
anyone who does.

I have been burning seasoned oak in two fireplaces for over 30 years. I
clean the chimneys every fall beore the cold weather arrives. I know of
three neighbors who have had chimney fires because they were burning a mix
of seasoned and unseasoned pine and failed to maintain their fireplaces.

If it were true noone

what the hell is 'noone'?

would be able to heat with
wood in over 1/2 the states and for sure all of Alaska and most of
Canada. *Cured softwood is no more dangerous to burn than hardwood.
Clean the chimney at the beginning of the season, burn correctly and
don't worry about it. *If paranoid, clean chimney again about the
middle of the heating season.

I'm sure there are many who are not aware of the need for proper maintenance
of their fireplaces and the fact that softwoods contain resins that do not
'go away' with seasoning. Much of the resin crystallizes and remains in the
wood. *Ever hear of 'lighter' wood or 'torch' wood? They refer to softwoods
that contain enough resin to burn like candles. I have stacks of it many
years old that I use for kindling.

Ah! A spelling flame!.

BTW. repeating BS does not make it valid. That people have chimney
fires because they do not maintain them...

Again. it is BS. There is _some_ validity to it if one burns
_unseasoned_ pine, fir, spruce, etc.

Harry K