Drying Up Hardwood Quickly – A Quick Guide

The wood that we use comes from a variety of trees. Therefore, it is of many different kinds and types. There is softwood that takes less time to dry. To dry hardwood, you need a longer period of time as it has more density than softwoods. Some of the hardwood out there can take one to two years to season. This article will tell you about some ways to dry up hardwood quickly.

Many factors play a factor in the time it takes to dry hardwood. First, of course, is the type of wood you have. Second is the climate of the area that you are living in. If your area’s climate is hot and dry, then it will be easier for you to dry out the hardwood. On the other hand, if you live somewhere that is cool and damp with a lot of humidity, drying hardwood could take much longer. The size and length of the piece of wood and where and how you have stored it are two more things to consider.  

The hardwood that has more than 20% of moisture content is not yet ready to burn. How can you check the moisture content of your hardwood? Well, this can be done with the help of a moisture meter. These instruments can be held in your hand, and the device’s screen will display the moisture content of the wood. The ideal moisture content in a wood piece is somewhere between 15% to 20%. The moisture reading should be taken from many places in the wood piece. The center of the log is the most important of these. You don’t have to buy a really expensive moisture meter, many companies make them, and most of them work well. 

Before we go further and tell you how to dry your hardwood properly, you must learn how first to check if the wood is seasoned or not. By seasoning the wood, we mean whether it is ready to be burned. 

How Can You Tell The Best Way to Dry Wood?

Bark of the Wood 

One sign that the wood is dry is the loosening and falling of the bark. That is why we notice that logs of seasonal wood are without their barks. 

Weight of the wood 

It is, of course, the water content in the wood that makes it heavy. As the wood dries, the water leaves the log, and hence the wood piece becomes lighter. So, check the weight. The lighter the wood, the drier it is.  

Color of the wood 

The bright green and fresh piece of log turns dull and grey as it seasons. Looking at the color of the log is the easiest way to tell your piece of hardwood is ready to burn.   

Smell of the wood 

A wet piece of wood, when cut, will have a strong smell. In the same way, when the wood is cut, you will notice signs of dampness in the piece. This should be used as an indicator that the wood is still unseasoned. 

Cracks in the wood 

Cracks will only be visible in pieces of wood that have dried. Green and fresh pieces of wood will never have or show cracks in them.  

Sound of the wood 

Pay attention to the sound of the wood. Remember that dry wood pieces, when struck against each other, will make a hollow sound, unlike the dull thud sound that wet wood pieces make.  

Moving forward, we will now mention for you some tips that will go a long way to help you dry up hardwood quickly and easily. 

Ways to Dry Up Hardwood Quickly

Take the Suns Help 

Yes, spread your pieces of wood out in the sun. Any place that receives direct sunlight is good enough. The driveway, the rack for drying the wood out, or even sidewalks. This is a good way of speeding up the drying process.  

You might not have the room to do this, so instead, the wood can be put in stacks, one on top of the other. As the wood on the topmost layer dries up faster, it should be removed and kept on storage racks. This would expose the second layer. In this way, all the layers of the wood will get their turn of getting dried in the sun. 

Take the size of the hardwood into consideration  

Small pieces take less time to dry than pieces that are big. It is advisable to cut the hardwood in the size that will fit in your fireplace. If the log is big in size and you cut it after you think it has dried to put in your place, you might find it is still not completely dry and ready for use.  

Air circulation 

Another way you can speed up the drying of your hardwood is by increasing the airflow. The air circulation should take place all around the piece of hardwood. Try keeping and stacking the wood pieces on a rack above the ground, and also make sure the wood stacks are not leaning against any wall. This will allow the air to flow under and behind the stacks of wood. Both hardwood ends should also be exposed to the air, as this is where the moisture in the wood exits. 

Keeping the hardwood well away from walls and well-circulated will prevent the formation or buildup of mold in your hardwood.  

Conclusion

Following the above-mentioned tips will definitely help you speed up your hardwood’s drying process. As long as you do your homework and keep the information provided above well in your mind, you will be able to dry up and store the hardwood safely and indefinitely without it being spoilt or degraded.  

911 Restoration of Charleston 

If your hardwood has suffered water damage or mold infestation, call 911 Restoration of Charleston at (843) 872-9135 now! Our team is professionally trained and prepared to help you restore and protect your wooden property from all kinds of water and fire damage.