Green lumber is a term for wood which is used for construction, that contains a higher level of moisture. Some may know it as wet lumber.
A freshly cut tree, as we are aware, holds a lot of water. After the tree has been cut down, the water that has gathered in the cells of the wood (also known as free water) starts to gradually evaporate until it reaches the same level of moisture as that of its environment. This process is referred to as equilibrium moisture content, or EMC.
With this in mind, it stands to reason that the longer time the wood is left before it is used in construction, the more time the wood will have to dry out, making it better to use. With green lumber, however, this is not the case. It has generally not had enough time to properly dry out before being used. After processing the lumber is often covered in plastic wrapping and then stored. This obstructs the process of evaporation, which means the wood will continue to have a high moisture content and not reach EMC.
Certain areas of the country like Arizona and parts of California, that are hotter and drier, will often use this kind of wood because it will dry out quicker.
Perhaps you are asking why this type of lumber is used in construction? As is very often the reason, it usually is a matter of the price. Green lumber is typically less expensive to use. It is also softer, making it less prone to splitting when nails are hammered into it
From this short description of green lumber and its use in construction, perhaps you have other questions about whether green lumber a good option for you. For example, is it better to use kiln dried wood? We will discuss this topic in our next blog.
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