Kiln Drying Service? What Is That Exactly?

Kiln drying is the controlled removal of moisture from wood in a special chamber. Compared with leaving lumber to dry outdoors (air drying), kiln drying uses heat and airflow to reduce moisture quickly and uniformly, minimizing warping, twisting and insect infestation, For example, a kiln can dry lumber in weeks instead of the months or years air drying would take.

Do You Cut Down Trees?

No. We don’t cut down trees. We specialize in drying and processing wood after it has been milled. If you need a tree removed, contact a professional tree service; once your logs are cut, we can help you preserve and dry them. If you need a referral, we work with several reputable firms that can work with you to select the highest quality sections and stage them for removal by a milling service. Give us a call to discuss your specific removal and we will connect you to the right resource.

I’ve Hired a Tree Service to Cut Down a Tree on Our Property, but I Want to Save Some of the Wood for Future Use. What Do I Need to Do?

Before the tree service arrives, tell them you intend to keep logs for lumber. Request that they cut the trunk into straight sections (ideally 9–10 ft long) and avoid dragging the logs over dirt. Have the ends sealed with a commercial end sealer or even latex paint to reduce cracking, and if possible, store the logs off the ground, or on ground that’s not susceptible to pooling water. After end sealing and ensuring the log is in a relatively dry location, you’ll have some time to arrange on-site milling, or transportation to a local mill. Contact us for referrals on milling, transport and drying, the earlier you’re able to reach out, the better.

My Tree Service Left a Large Log on My Property. Do You Have a Sawmill?

We don’t operate a sawmill, but we work closely with sawyers who can mill your log into slabs or boards. Once milled, we can provide kiln drying and help with transport. We’re happy to advise on your project, give us a call or send an email.

How Should I Store Wood While It’s Air Drying?

Stack lumber outdoors on a firm surface, in an area not prone to water pooling. Raise the stack off the ground with timbers and use dry stickers (thin strips of wood) between each layer to allow airflow. Orient stacks to catch breezes and cover only the top to keep rain off. Air‑drying can take many months; check moisture periodically. A good rule of thumb for air drying is 1 year per inch of thickness.

How Important Are Stickers When You’re Stacking Wood After It’s Been Milled?

Very important. Stickers are 1‑inch thick strips placed between layers of boards to promote airflow. Without them, boards can develop decay, twisting and warping. Evenly spaced stickers help wood dry uniformly and preserve value.

What Are Stickers?

Stickers are thin, typically 1‑inch‑thick strips of wood placed between layers of stacked boards to create gaps for air circulation. They’re essential for air‑drying lumber; without stickers, boards can decay or warp. Orientation of stickers is equally important. Place stickers at consistent intervals, 4-10” in from the end, and spaced 16-20” apart. Even the thickest slabs will begin to sag if the weight isn’t distributed evenly from the wood, to the stickers, to the ground.

Why Should I Air Dry the Wood?

Drying wood before use prevents staining, decay and dimensional changes. Air drying gradually reduces moisture content over several months and is a cost‑effective first step. It reduces kiln time and stabilizes the wood’s shape and strength.

Is Kiln Drying Necessary? Won’t the Wood Dry Out Over Time?

Wood will eventually dry on its own, but it can take months or years and may still contain pests and moisture gradients. Kiln drying reduces drying time from months to weeks, kills insects and fungi, and produces more stable, defect‑free lumber. For most woodworking and construction uses, kiln drying is necessary.

Will the wood warp, crack or check during the kiln‑drying process? Is there any way to avoid warping, cracking or checking? Do you offer any guarantees?

Kiln drying greatly reduces the risk of warping and checking, but wood is a natural material and some movement is unavoidable. Problems arise when moisture leaves the board too fast or unevenly, creating stress differences between the core and shell. To minimize defects, we control temperature, humidity and airflow in our kiln, advise our customers to use uniform stacking with evenly placed stickers to allow even airflow, and place weight on stacks when we feel it will aid in the process. We follow industry‑established schedules, including lower temperatures for check‑prone species. While these measures significantly reduce warping and checking, we cannot guarantee that your lumber will be flat or free of cracks; the inherent variability of wood and unseen stresses within logs can, and often do, cause defects that reveal themselves over the course of drying, or are amplified by the drying process.