Timber, especially hardwood, is expensive. Getting storage right is an important concern to any business that works with wood. There are a number of pitfalls that can damage valuable wood whilst you’re waiting to use it for any job, most of which can be avoided through simple procedures and a little understanding of this material’s properties. In this article we look at some of the top industry tips that will help you to cut down on potential losses through storage problems.
Work Smart
One of the best ways to avoid problems occurring from
storing your timber is by ensuring that it is not kept for any considerable
amount of time. Through proper project management and clearly defined
time-scales it is possible to order your wood so that it is only stored for a
maximum of 48–72 hours, before being taken to its final destination. This way
you can also ensure that you keep your storage requirement at a minimum and
aren’t paying for unnecessary space.
Moisture
All wood is made up of a large percentage of water. During
the strengthening process, wood is dried out to allow timber to gain integrity.
However, if wood is kept in a very arid atmosphere, then it’s possible for it to
dry out too much, causing shrinkage and, in a worst case scenario, damage such
as cracks and splits in the wood. If you are going to have wood in storage for a
long time, then strongly consider purchasing a humidity gauge. If you discover
that there is a noticeable problem with moisture in the air, then this can be
rectified with a humidifier.
Physical Damage
Much of the physical damage that occurs in wood is down to
the way lumber has been machined or stored at the timber merchant. We cannot
stress enough the importance of using a well-established and trustworthy
supplier for your wood, as even though you may have to pay a small amount extra,
you can be sure to save money in the long run by avoiding wastage through
purchasing the best quality stock. For instance when trees are felled, the wood
at their core is subjected to huge amounts of shock and vibrational energy. This
can seriously affect the strength of your wood, causing faults that may not
become apparent until machining, where the stress created by the sawing process
can cause splits in affected timber.
Metal Corrosion
Believe it or not, wood can actually attack metal. Air and
moisture can combine to react with timber, especially with wood that has been
dried out in a kiln, to produce acetic acid. Over time hardwoods such as oak and
chestnut will produce considerably more of this corrosive substance than
softwood. As this is a natural process there is little that can be done to the
wood to prevent it from evolving acetic acid; however, by using stainless steel
wood racking, as opposed to aluminium, low-alloy steel or carbon steel frames
and shelves, you can ensure that the amount of damage caused by this chemical is
minimal.
Treatments vs Fasteners
It’s not just wood-based acids that can cause problems with metals. It’s
known that many treatments that are applied to timber – such as flame retardants
and preservatives – can also cause damage. Prior to 2000, a compound containing
copper and arsenic was often applied to pressurised timber as a fungicide. This
was identified as a potentially carcinogenic material, and was thus swapped out
for copper azole. Although this material is safer from a human perspective, it
is known to erode certain types of metal, hence the advice from the industry is
either to use fully galvanised, ceramic-coated or heavy-duty stainless-steel
screws for this type of timber. Other problem compounds include borax and
ammonium sulphide, both of which are added to wood as a type of salt-based fire
retardant, and are known to cause corrosion damage to metals.
Carcassing Timber
If you’re looking for wood for a precise purpose within a
building, then it’s possible to purchase what’s known in the trade as carcassed
timber. This has been specially machined, treated and cut for a specific job
within the housing industry, for instance as a roof batten or floor joist, where
the structural integrity of the wood is of the utmost importance.
Ventilation
Just as not enough moisture in your timber storage can be a
problem, too much moisture can also damage your wood. It is possible to hire two
different types of dehumidifiers to help remove the water vapour from the air in
your storage unit. A refrigerant unit is the most common type seen in the UK,
which works by condensing and evaporating moisture in the air. The second type
is known as a desiccant dehumidifier that uses special chemicals such as silica
gel, not unlike those that you’ll find sometimes in packaged goods, which can be
used to quickly rid a room or storage facility of moisture.
Bowing
It is vital that all your wooden planks are adequately supported whilst in
storage. It is possible for long planks of wood that are only supported at
either end to sag under their own weight, causing a bowing effect along the
length of the plank, which will render it unsuitable for use. Always make sure
that all wood is supported by evenly spaced props along its entire width and
length, which will prevent it from sagging and will help keep your planks
straight and flat.
Is Your Unit Secure?
Wood, especially hardwoods such as oak, have a large resale
value in the UK. It is possible that thieves may see your industrial unit as an
easier target than a large house in a residential area, especially with the
number of home alarm systems that are now in use. Always make sure that your
storage area is secure and, where possible, use storage that comes with
security, such as a night-watchman and cameras, keeping your wood in the right
hands.
Benefits
Obviously by cutting down on the amount of wood damage in
storage you’ll save your business money by reducing wastage, which can also add
extra time to your jobs, and may require you to take additional trips to your
timber suppliers. All of these factors may also increase the ecological impact
of your business – damaged wood means extra trees have to be felled to supply
your business needs, and unnecessary use of your vehicles will add to the carbon
footprint of your work. By adopting a fine attention to detail in your timber
storage, you can ensure that your business saves money and is more
environmentally friendly too.
