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Storing Wood in an Unheated Building 
Question
If it's already dried, stays out of rain and sun, sounds like a respectable place to lay to rest some lumber.
From contributor K: You may want to treat the ground under it for termites, if you didn't when you built the shed. From Professor Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: If the wood was kiln dried to 7% MC, which is common, now in your shed, it will or has regained moisture up to as high as 12% MC, unless you are in a humid area and then it will be higher. As a result, such higher MC will not be acceptable for furniture, cabinets, etc, until the MC is lowered back to 7% MC. There is a small risk of powderpost beetles. From contributor B: Dr. Wengert, I have a similar situation - 20x35 metal building, uninsulated/unheated. Am I correct that the gain back to 12%+- is a gain of free water and as such, is much easier to tack back to 7% if put back in the solar kiln a few days?  From Professor Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: It is actually bound water, but is easy to remove. If you can add about 10-15 degrees of heat to the building, you will achieve a good storage condition. Measure the RH to be sure. Target is 38% RH. From contributor B: It is a metal building and it gets plenty hot in there on these summer days - 110-120. That should do it in the summer, if I understand what you are saying. From Professor Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor: Install a small fan to blow the heat down from the ceiling. It will work year round. Check the RH using a $25 sensor from Radio Shack. Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
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