Green lumber is a very attractive building material for one main reason – it is a lot cheaper than its alternatives. Why is that? Green lumber is naturally dried; it hasn’t been put through a kiln or a similar process that quickly dries the wood. The result is lumber that has a very high moisture content. So, what effect does this have on homes built using green lumber? If you live in a climate where there is high humidity, you will find out that the wood will take a very long time to dry up completely. This can lead to mold growth, but it also makes it difficult to paint the lumber. The wood will also shrink after it has been installed and dries up further, leading to popped nails, cracks that might be visible between boards and drywall that gets dislodged from the studs behind it.
Considering all this, you might want to think twice before deciding that the savings are worth the trouble.
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