The Effects of Humidity on Lumber

Our solid hardwood pieces are made up of many pieces of wood. Each is unique and you may notice natural variations in color. The lighter pieces were closer to the tree’s bark, while the darker pieces were closer to the tree’s center. All are equally strong and impart the beauty and value that make solid hardwood second to none.

Since our furniture is made from natural, solid hardwoods, it is prone to humidity changes. There a few things that may happen as the humidity changes. If the humidity drops, your furniture will shrink. A dining table with leaves for example. When those leaves shrink due to humidity, they may not fit properly because the holes when they fit together have shrunk. Another issue, and this is more on the extreme side such as a harsh winter, is your furniture can split and crack apart.

The other side is if the humidity is too high, your furniture will start to swell. What starts to happen is the lumber bulges out and starts to warp. As seen in the picture, a treated piece of wood stays perfectly flat while one with too much humidity begins to wrap and the finish becomes distorted.

The best way to maintain your solid hardwood furniture is to maintain a humidity level around 40-50% in order to prevent warping and cracks. If your furniture is in a dry area, use a humidifier to put humidity back into the air to prevent cracks. Use a dehumidifier if your furniture is a humid area to take away some of the humidity to prevent your furniture from warping.

If you have any more tips you’d like to share, leave us a comment in the section below and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!