Understanding Wood Shrinkage in Finish Joinery

These days, wood shrinkage from trim in finishing joinery causes some problems and has put the reputation of even the most experienced finishing joiner’s reputations to the test. This can be somewhat controlled if properly addressed, however the cutting speed at which houses are built and the use of new wood these days raises many of the problems that are sadly sometimes unavoidable.

Wood trim must be acclimated to the interior environment of the home where it will be installed. This also applies to the wood of a new hardwood floor that will be installed. What this means exactly is that wood takes time to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels of the house where it will be installed. This in turn reduces shrinkage of the wood and helps keep the miters tight and the doors working properly. There is much discussion about the length of this acclimatization period and a few variables come into play here, especially with a newly built home. A minimum acclimatization period would be 48 hours. If the environment changes from the storage place of the cut wood or the warehouse to the environment of the house it is not a big difference. Another factor is that after the acclimation period it is best to finish and seal the wood, whether you do it before or after installation.

Ultimately, the wood will shrink and swell according to the seasons. Some places more than others due to climatic differences. The best way to reduce this is to try to keep the environment in the house relatively uniform with just the temperature, although I have seen a new house with new trim jobs empty with no activity like cooking or showering for a long period of time. shrinkage in cutting wood due to lack of moisture. I had tidied up this house and was sick when I came back for the final; Fortunately, the builder I had done the work for understood this problem and took full responsibility. He had been in the finish carpentry business for a long time and had a good reputation for doing a good job, but sometimes that reputation means nothing to people who don’t understand these issues.

For DIYers doing clipping work, there are a few things to consider. If you are remodeling or renovating an existing home, simply taking the precautionary measure of acclimating the wood will eliminate the main shrinkage problem in most cases. However, in new houses it is good to know the humidity levels in the house, as well as the wood. An easy way to check your wood is with a moisture meter. This little meter is relatively inexpensive or can be borrowed from a building or remodeling contractor. Using a dehumidifier is recommended in a new home or new construction and it is also wise to do some research on the moisture content that is recommended for the area you live in. This is due to the different climates of the country and the different temperature changes for the different areas. As a finish carpenter, it’s important for people to understand some of these wood shrinkage issues, whether you’re doing the work yourself or hiring a professional to ultimately do it for you to protect yourself. .

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