Air Dried Timber

Timber is dried via two methods: (i) Air drying (or natural drying) and (ii) kiln drying (artificial drying).

Air Dried Oak

The air drying process starts with the careful stacking of fresh sawn timber into layers separated by uniform sticks which allows the air to circulate around the timber. This draws out the naturally occurring water from the sap and eventually reduces the moisture content of the wood. However, the process of milling a tree will expose tensions and stresses within the boards, which if used immediately would cause a product to warp, twist and split. The process of air drying means the wood is exposed to fluctuations in temperature and ambient moisture levels of the changing seasons. The timber responds by expanding and contracting and thereby releasing its’ tensions and stresses over time, resulting in timber which can be used in joinery or cabinet work.

Typically 100mm thick timber is dried for 4-5 years. Timberpride can offer 100mm, 120mm and 150mm joinery oak from stock. These have been seasoning for between 4 and 7 years, and would be at around 18% moisture content.

For quality, thick joinery oak there’s no substitute for time!

As timber dries moisture leaves the wood at different rates. Timber will naturally shrink, twist and crack during this process causing tension within the fibre. This tension eases with time as the wood expands and contracts with the temperature variations throughout the season; hence why air drying takes typically 2 - 5 years.