As temperatures climb and humidity soars, summer presents both opportunity and challenge for the construction industry. For builders and homeowners, understanding how the season affects construction lumber is critical to avoiding costly setbacks, structural issues, and aesthetic damage. Lumber protection is crucial during this period of the year and ensuring that building components, job sites, and future homes are protected, is essential.
So can builders and homeowners battle these harsh, heated months? By understanding the effects of the season and learning to proactively prepare materials for the duration of construction and completion. Let’s take a look at just how lumber and lumber components are affected by the summer season.
Heat, Humidity, and Wood: A Delicate Balance
Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture based on environmental conditions. In the summer, elevated temperatures and fluctuating humidity can dramatically influence how lumber behaves on the job site.
- Moisture Content and Warping
When exposed to prolonged heat and high humidity, untreated or improperly stored lumber tends to absorb moisture from the air. This can cause:
- Swelling: Boards may expand, leading to tight joints and misalignment in framing or flooring.
- Warping and Cupping: Uneven moisture absorption causes boards to twist, cup, or bow, making them harder to install and reducing structural integrity.
- Checking and Splitting: If moisture is rapidly lost—especially in direct sun—wood can dry too quickly, causing surface cracks known as “checks.”
For builders, this can mean costly waste, rework, and schedule delays. For homeowners, it could spell long-term issues such as doors and windows that don’t close properly or creaky, uneven floors.
- Mold and Mildew Growth
Summer’s combination of heat and humidity creates ideal conditions for mold. Lumber sitting exposed on a job site, even for a short time, can become a breeding ground for fungal growth. This not only affects appearance but can also trigger health concerns and reduce resale value for new builds.
Builders working in coastal or southern climates are especially at risk, as afternoon showers and high dew points make it difficult to keep materials dry.
Practical Solutions for Builders
Proper Storage
Lumber should be stored off the ground, covered with breathable tarps (not plastic), and kept out of direct sun. Stickering—placing thin spacers between layers—allows for air circulation and more even drying.
Use Treated or Engineered Wood
Pressure-treated lumber and kiln-dried materials are better equipped to handle summer’s environmental stress. Treated lumber resists rot and mold, while kiln-dried wood has a controlled moisture content, reducing movement after installation.
Schedule Smart
When possible, plan framing and exterior work for early morning or late afternoon. Avoid exposing bare wood to mid-day sun, and install vapor barriers or sheathing quickly to prevent unnecessary exposure.
What Homeowners Should Watch For
Homeowners involved in summer construction projects should ask:
- Is the builder using properly stored or treated lumber?
- How is the builder protecting materials from weather before installation?
- What steps are being taken to prevent mold or moisture damage?
Investing a little time upfront in these conversations can prevent major headaches later, from musty odors to warped trim and cabinetry.
The Long-Term View: Protecting Your Investment
For both builders and homeowners, understanding lumber’s vulnerability in the summer is more than just technical know-how—it’s about protecting your investment. Mold remediation, structural repairs, and aesthetic corrections can easily run into thousands of dollars if summer conditions are ignored.
By respecting the science of wood and implementing best practices during summer builds, you can ensure durability, integrity, and a longer lifespan for the structure.
How We Can Help
Summer may be peak building season, but it’s also the most demanding on construction lumber. With informed choices and proper precautions, both builders and homeowners can navigate the season successfully—and build structures that stand the test of time. TechWood offers multiple protective treatment solutions that provide both builders and homeowners warrantied protection against moisture, mold, rot, degradation, termites and fire damage. Our “pressureless process” creates a permeable barrier that allows the lumber to maintain its stability, while keeping out the damage and deterioration caused by moisture, mold, and insects. The treatments can be applied to lumber components and entire framing packages before construction begins, providing assurance that even through construction delays and exposure, lumber is protected both during and after construction.
For more information on TechWood superior protective lumber treatments, please call us at 1-833-TEKWOOD.
