Is it Always Good to go “Green”?

Throughout the past few years, small businesses, corporations, and even individual homeowners have pledged to “go green” with the goal of improving their impact on the environment. While this is a commendable goal, to be sure, going “green” in certain aspects may not have a great outcome. For example, using “green lumber” may be an attractive idea for saving time and money in new construction, but it may not be ideal in the long run.

Green lumber is wood used as a building material that has at least 19% moisture content. Typically, lumber used in construction has been kiln-dried or otherwise “seasoned” to allow for as much moisture removal as possible. Green lumber hasn’t gone through that kind of process, so it’s naturally a lot cheaper. However, all lumber will dry out over time until it reaches a comparable moisture level to its surroundings. As that happens, the wood shrinks, which can cause a number of significant issues.