If my framing lumber for my new home gets wet during construction, will it harm the wood?
Many people building a new home, will understandably get concerned when only the frame structure is exposed and is experiencing wet conditions like rain throughout the build.
Believe it or not, the lumber can be submerged in rain water for hundreds or years before rotting. But the rot you are familiar with is in the presence of oxygen and water.
Framing Lumber and oriented strand board are developed with the understanding that there is a very high likelihood that the frame gets wet in the process. The lumber is very resistant to water and some easy precautions by the construction team help to keep things in good condition.
One important part of this process is to sweep the oriented strand board clean each day so that other materials don’t trap water on surface unnecessarily. Sweeping standing water off of these boards following a rain is an important part of keeping the integrity of the materials.
Some oriented strand board has drainage slots to help reduce the water.
Job sites will want to keep piled lumber off of the ground so it can breathe. Keeping the lumber stacked in a way that the sides are exposed but generally protected on the larger surface area, is your best bet as rain won’t collect on top of the wood.
Be cognizant of sweeping and removing the saw dust before applying any water repellent to sub flooring. A good method is to clear off the saw dust, add the water repellent and use a paint roller to push around and apply the product.
Once the roof is installed its very unlikely of your lumber getting wet.
If you discover some mold on the lumber, it can be cleaned easily with oxygen bleach treatment.
Chlorine bleach is another option, but many people do not prefer this option because of the fumes and affect on plants in the area.
Oxygen Bleach can be applied with a sprayer. There is no odor, and does a good job of removing the mold.
Hopefully this helps to ease the anxiety around your new home’s framing lumber getting wet during construction.
Photo by Bailey Starner on Unsplash