Our green lumber is prepped to protect the boards from staining and fungal infestation during the drying process.
All lumber is stacked according to strict guidelines that include double end trimming, a wax coating process, and stacking with corkscrew sticks. These methods prevent blemishes and warping by facilitating an even drying process and maximizing airflow between boards.
During the stacking process, an NHLA-certified inspector ensures our product standards are met.
Cover tops are placed on the stacks to protect the lumber and improve uniformity of shape for each board. The stacks are then moved into one of three drying locations determined by their usage.
Oak air-drying yard—This lumber typically used for flooring is stored for three to five months in preparation for the kiln. The area is laid out to promote efficient air-drying while protecting from winds that could result in checking.
T-sheds—Our thick stock lumber continues its drying process here, where it is protected from heat and winds on four sides by Shade-Dri cloth. Based on the thickness, the lumber in the T-sheds cures for nine to 18 months. This slow air-drying process is necessary to producing straight and consistent planks.
Pre-dryer—White Oak is our most sought-after product. To maintain a constant air-drying schedule, our White Oak is stored in a 600,000-foot pre-dryer equipped with heaters and fans. This process produces a supply of 4/4 White Oak that is unmatched by any other supplier.
After our boards dry to a 20 percent moisture content, they enter one of our six kilns to reduce moisture to NHLA standards. We closely monitor temperatures and moisture during the process, checking one sample every 8,000 board feet.
Our commitment to sustainability can be seen through our use of reclaimed sawdust to fuel our kilns. Instead of natural gas or fossil fuels, we gather sawdust during the manufacturing process to fuel the heat for our kilns.
After kiln-drying, our boards are processed through the roughmill for lumber that will undergo further processing to produce surfaced lumber, flooring or mouldings or our dryline for lumber that will be sold and shipped rough.
