#SPIKE SEASONING SAMPLE CRACK#

Higher grades of lumber will have fewer and smaller knots.ĭead or Loose Knot – During the development of a tree, lower branches usually die off and are surrounded by subsequent growth around it. Knots are not only unattractive looking, they also can weaken the board strength and often act as the starting points for checking.

Grading lumber knots are classified for their size, form, soundness and the firmness with which they are held in place. This is normal and structurally acceptable in most cases.Ī knot is a defect in a piece of wood caused by the presence of a branch. As the wood dries, it shrinks, and the shrinking often causes existing cracks to open or twisting to occur. With the typically large cross-sections of posts, commonly 4x4 or 6圆, the lumber does not dry uniformly. Whether in a dry or wet climate, there will still be annual variation. When it comes to posts, grade two is most often accepted and the market norm.Įxterior environments have fluctuating moisture content in the air and materials. A grade one lumber is of better quality, and thus of greater structural performance than a grade two, for example. Lumber grading procedures evaluate these conditions piece by piece and rate the lumber accordingly. Straight from the lumberyard, lumber components likely already have some cracking and checking present. Wood reacts differently in the various climates across the U.S., and different species and grades also have differing appearances. Thicker members like 6圆 posts tend to dry out unevenly and are especially susceptible to extreme checking. Checking often affects pressure-treated framing materials as they are usually sold very green and are put under a lot of stress as they dry out in the sun. Adding a UV-protective stain can help protect decking and rails. It is usually caused when lumber dries out too quickly.

#SPIKE SEASONING SAMPLE CRACK#

This occurs due to the differences between radial, tangential and longitude shrinkage in a piece of wood or growth stresses that encourage the board to reform its original shape.Ī check is a term used to describe a crack that runs through a board, usually running lengthwise. Warping is any variation from a true plane surface on a piece of lumber. Stains can also conceal visual defects by covering them with a consistent color throughout the deck. Using protective stains on your deck can prevent some damage to the wood by slowing down the drying process in order to limit checking. Properly drying the wood before it is installed will also help. As a general rule, you can reduce the amount of defects by purchasing higher-grade materials at the outset. Some are present when the wood is produced and others develop or become more severe as the wood ages. If you are going to build a deck, you might as well become familiar with the different types of defects so you know what to watch out for.ĭefects in lumber are faults that detract from the appearance and utility of the wood.

Unfortunately, there are very few perfect pieces of lumber out there.

Spike seasoning sample