Why Wood Moves and Why You Need To Know

1 / 14

Why Does Wood Move?

When humidity is high, wood absorbs moisture and swells. When humidity drops, wood shrinks. This “movement” is gradual, so you probably won’t notice weekly changes. But seasonal changes cause problems you can’t miss, like sticking doors, ugly gaps in woodwork or a crack in a tabletop. This movement occurs whether wood is fresh from the mill or centuries old, whether it was kiln dried or air dried, and it can exert a tremendous force that is almost unstoppable. But with a little knowledge of wood movement, you can minimize its potential consequences. Here we will explain the basics of wood movement and show you real-world solutions to the problems that it can cause.

2 / 14

Width Movement is the Main Issue

Wood moves as its moisture content changes. Wood doesn’t move much lengthwise, so you don’t have to worry a lot about boards getting shorter. But a board can move quite a bit across its width. A board that’s 6 inches wide during a humid summer might shrink by 1/32 of an inch in winter. That’s not much, but it’s enough to cause a crack in a tabletop or create gaps between floorboards.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p63MoqOyoJGjsbq5wKdlnKedZLmqv9NorqGxXay8sLCMpqavnaNixKnFjLKmrmWemrKledOoZKSmn6x8