Have you ever heard of “green” lumber? Nowadays, when someone puts a “green” label on things, we almost instinctively imagine that it’s referring to something eco-friendly, or some kind of natural product. In this case, green lumber refers to wood that has been left to dry out naturally, instead of being forcefully dried in a kiln.
This may or may not be a good thing, depending on the circumstances. Green lumber is generally less expensive, but over time it can warp and expand a bit more than kiln-dried lumber. The reason for this is fairly simple. There is often high moisture content in green lumber, since it doesn’t have as efficient of an opportunity to dry as traditional lumber. This moisture can lead to mold, widening seams, or other issues.
Of course, in a low-moisture, high-temperature location, this may be perfectly fine, and in fact, may lead to overall cost savings in construction.
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