Supplying Timber Issue 9 0 - Autumn 2025 - Flipbook - Page 40
———— STORING TIMBER ————
ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR
TDUK explores why correct timber storage and transport matter
more than ever, and o昀昀ers some top tips to help merchants protect
their stocks and minimise wastage.
STOCKING TIMBER
With hot weather becoming
a staple of 2025, and as the
percentage of Redwood timber
being delivered to builders’
merchants is rising, the way we
handle and store timber is under
greater scrutiny than ever before.
For builders’ merchants and site
managers alike, keeping timber in
prime condition is no longer just
good practice – it’s a necessity.
When at its best, timber is a
beautiful and versatile material.
But it’s also vulnerable to external
weather conditions. When handled
improperly, stored carelessly or left
exposed during transport, it can
quickly lose the qualities that make
it so desirable.
Protect against moisture
Moisture remains timber's biggest
adversary. Even the best-quality
timber, delivered in perfect
condition, can be rendered un昀椀t
for use if its moisture content
shifts signi昀椀cantly before
installation. Swelling, shrinking,
cracking, and fungal growth are
common outcomes of such shifts,
compromising everything from
structural integrity to appearance.
That’s why checking the moisture
content at the point of delivery
should always be a 昀椀rst step. If it
doesn’t meet the speci昀椀cations, it
should be 昀氀agged immediately.
Freshly plastered rooms or newly
concreted 昀氀oors can present
hidden dangers to timber. The
high levels of ambient moisture
in such environments may go
unnoticed until the timber stored
in the room begins to warp or
split. Storing timber in a garage
or shed with good air昀氀ow or, when
on site, ideally waiting until the
building has properly dried out, is
a safer alternative when indoor
storage is necessary but un昀椀nished
construction prevents proper
environmental control.
Keep your timber covered
The place where timber is
stored also plays a crucial role
in protecting its performance.
Ideally, timber products should
be stored indoors – in the same
building they’ll eventually be used
in. But when that’s not an option,
good temporary covering and
careful planning are essential.
Timber stored outdoors must
be kept o昀昀 the ground, away
from pooling water and splashing
from guttering or nearby tra昀케c.
It should also be protected by
a waterproof covering that still
allows air to circulate. A breathable
tarpaulin, suspended so it doesn’t
touch the wood itself, can provide
the necessary balance between
shelter and ventilation. Elevation
matters too: stacks should sit on
bearers or pallets to keep them
dry and evenly supported. Even
small details, such as making sure
coverings don’t trap condensation
or ensuring air can pass between
the boards, can make a critical
di昀昀erence.
Speci昀椀c product needs
Of course, not all timber is created
equal – and neither is the way it
should be handled. Carcassing
timber, though more robust, still
bene昀椀ts from thoughtful storage.
A 昀氀at, dry surface layered with
gravel or sand can help prevent
water retention. Stacking on evenly
sized bearers reduces the risk of
warping as conditions change.
For joinery items and factory昀椀nished products such as doors
and windows, the stakes are even
higher. These are often delivered
ready to install and pre-wrapped
to protect precise 昀椀nishes.
They should remain wrapped
until they are needed and be
stored vertically, ideally in a dry,
ventilated space that mirrors the
environment they’ll be installed
in. A shed with heating control or
a dried-out interior room is best,
with care taken not to damage
ironmongery during storage.
Sheet materials present their
own challenges. These timbers
must be stored 昀氀at, on bearers
no more than 600mm apart,
and always kept o昀昀 the ground.
