Proper Acclimation of Hardwood Decking and Siding

DO LIST

Always Do This for Proper Acclimation of Hardwood Decking or Siding

DON’T LIST

Never Do This for Proper Acclimation of Hardwood Decking or Siding

DO: Always allow your decking or siding wood to properly acclimate on site prior to installation. One to two weeks is usually sufficient, as long as your wood is stored properly during this period.

DON'T: Never install your wood decking or siding immediately. If your outdoor wood acclimates too quickly, you may get excessive surface checking, cupping, twisting, warping or other problems.

DO: Always store your wood decking or siding up off the ground. If you must let your wood acclimate over dirt or lawn areas, always keep your wood stacked a minimum of 8” to 12” off the ground. A tarp on the ground (not your pile) will also help reduce moisture from rising out of the earth.

DON'T: Never store your wood directly on the ground, driveway or concrete. If water settles on hard surfaces, your wood will literally be sitting in a puddle of water. If you store wood too close to the ground, it will “wick” moisture out of the earth and wreak havoc on your wood decking or siding

DO: Always use “spacers” or “stickers” between rows of decking or siding. This allows air flow between layers of wood, which will help the acclimation process along.

DON'T: Never stack rows of decking or siding directly on top of one another. Stacking wood without spacers will not allow it to breathe and acclimate properly.

DO: Always cover the top of your stack of wood decking and siding only. Leave the sides and ends of your pile open to let the air circulate properly. This is like using an umbrella at the beach, it keeps off the sun, but lets the breezes through to dry the wood. If there is an area on the property that gets a breeze, this is the ideal area for gentle acclimation.

DON'T: Never cover the entire pile of wood decking or siding while it acclimates. You must leave the sides and ends of the stacks open. Covering the entire pile traps moisture and is often worse than no cover at all. It’s like locking the wood inside a steam bath. This is sure to cause cupping, swelling and lots of problems.

DO: Always use a sheet of OSB or plywood or wood scraps from your job site or a canvas type of tarp on the top only of your stack of wood decking or siding.

DON'T: Never use clear poly film or plastic on top of your decking (before or after) installation. This can create a greenhouse effect and ruin your wood.

DO: Always use a UV inhibiting sealer on your hardwood decking or siding, even if you want the material to weather to a natural silvery patina. The UV inhibitors will help minimize surface checking and protect your wood after installation. For best results a UV inhibitor should be applied before installation or immediately afterwards.

DON'T: Never let your wood decking or siding weather naturally without proper UV protection.  This is like going to beach for the first time on the hottest day without sunscreen. Unprotected wood often dries out too quickly, creating problems. Your wood needs UV protection until it is fully acclimated to your site.