Kiln Dried Lumber

Two Kilns for Precision Drying of Premium Lumber

At GPS Hardwoods, we understand the importance of high-quality, well-dried wood for your projects. Our kilns are designed to meet the specific needs of our customers in Greensboro, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Kernersville, NC, and surrounding areas. With our advanced kiln drying and sterilization processes, we ensure that your wood reaches the optimal moisture content in a controlled environment.

Our services, backed by 9 years of experience, include:

• Kiln drying and sterilization
• Custom drying hardwood
• Domestic wood sales
• High-quality woods

Request a call back to learn more about our kilns and how we can meet your lumber needs.

Why Kiln Drying is Important

Properly dried wood is essential for any woodworking project. At GPS Hardwoods, our kilns offer numerous benefits, ensuring that your wood is ready for use and free from defects.

Here’s why you should consider our kiln services:

• Achieve very low moisture content
• Controlled drying environment
• Prevents warping and cracking
• Enhances wood durability
• Ensures wood stability
• Eliminates pests and fungi

Call or text us to discuss how our kilns can benefit your next project.

Various Kilns We Use

GPS Hardwoods uses an 18-foot-long vacuum kiln and a Nyle dehumidification kiln to dry wood. So what makes a vacuum kiln different from our dehumidification kiln? A vacuum kiln lowers the atmospheric pressure inside the chamber, so we are drying our wood at the equivalent of 30,000 feet above sea level. The air is much thinner within the kiln, and this allows the moisture within the cells to wick out more easily.

For sterilization to occur, the internal temperature of the wood needs to be at a minimum of 133 degrees for a period of time (depending on the thickness of the boards). This kiln will allow the heat to reach 160 degrees, which is easily hot enough for sterilization. Our objective is to lower the moisture level of the boards to between 6.5% and 7.5%.

When we first get our boards from the sawmill, we “sticker” them, which means we insert small pieces of wood that measure ¾ inch x 1 ¼ inches between the boards. The wood is then air-dried to allow the moisture to be removed slowly. The wood will air dry more quickly with warm summer temperatures. In the winter, with little to no heat, the wood barely gives off any moisture so it becomes a very slow, drawn-out experience. In the winter, 1-inch walnut needs to air dry for close to 5 months before it is ready to go into the kiln. Two-inch walnut could take 9 months or more, going from the fall to the spring. 

Here is where the Nyle dehumidification kiln comes into play. When wood comes from the sawmill, we sticker it as we normally do. Then we put the boards directly into the Nyle kiln at 90 degrees with a light breeze. Now it will “air dry” much quicker as it thinks that it’s summertime. After 1 to 2 weeks, it is ready to be transferred into the vacuum kiln.

Request a call back today to discuss the kilns we use to dry wood.

Comparison Times for Drying Wood

According to GPS Hardwoods, the time comparison below is for starting to dry in the fall or winter months:

Previously, it took the team at GPS Hardwoods 3 to 5 months air drying and 1 to 2 weeks in the dehumidification kiln to dry 1-inch-thick wood. Now, we can get the same finished product in 3 to 4 weeks. When dealing with 2-inch slabs, the difference in time is much more pronounced.

Is kiln-dried wood worth it? For general construction, kiln-dried lumber is not necessary. In fact, many people prefer to build some of their projects out of green lumber, straight from sawmill. It is easier to cut and nail, and as it dries, will shrink and form itself to the shape of what it is nailed to. It will develop memory and be strong in the shape it is installed. Most people who have never built from green wood have never seen this effect. For example, hickory framing lumber is easy to work when it is green, but as it dries and hardens it gets to the point that nails can barely be pulled out without stripping their heads or breaking them in two.

Many people think air drying is as good as kiln-dried lumber for furniture and cabinetry, but it is not. Air-dried lumber can only get down to 13% to 15% moisture content in North Carolina. This means that cabinets and furniture made from air-dried wood will still be relatively wet, and will continue to dry and shrink as the piece is brought into a controlled environment. When in a lower moisture structure such as a house, the wood will most likely crack and warp.

Kiln drying is simply a process that allows the wood to reach extremely low moisture content in a controlled manner. As the wood gets to a low moisture content, less than 9%, it will lose the water in its cell walls, called bound moisture, contract upon itself, and become stable. Any wood will still expand and contract in a household environment, but kiln-dried wood will do so at a much-reduced rate.

Call or text GPS Hardwoods if you have questions about our wood-drying process.

Contact Us

If you’re in need of high-quality, kiln-dried wood, GPS Hardwoods is here to help. Reach out to us to discuss your requirements and let us provide you with the best lumber solutions in Greensboro, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Kernersville, NC, and surrounding areas.