I usually get my 2x4s from Lowe's, but I forgot to specify KD Pine when I ordered from a lumberyard this time. The moisture meter shows 24%, which seems a bit high to me. Can anyone tell me if that's typical for green lumber, or is this lumber particularly damp?
3 Answers
Honestly, that sounds about right. The moisture content limit for construction lumber is typically around 17%, but I've noticed that lately, a lot of lumber is coming in much wetter than that, especially in Michigan. It’s frustrating, and I think they might be skimping on the drying process. I usually check with my meter, and mine tends to read similar numbers. Be careful with lumber that sits un-banded for a while as it can warp.
24% is pretty standard for green lumber. When you're building a house, the wood usually needs to be dried down to around 19% before sealing up the walls. So, you're not far off from what you'd expect for undried 2x4s.
That moisture level is pretty common for green lumber. Just a heads up, if you're planning to use it right away, it might twist or warp a bit as it dries out. If you're using it for something like furniture framing, just make sure to account for that as it can affect glue bonding.
Yeah, I was thinking of using it mainly for framing in my van build. Do you think it’s better to just screw everything instead of relying on glue with it being so wet?