Time to harvest timber for felling. Winter log house is better than summer log house, but how to determine it? How to distinguish winter wood from summer wood

There is an opinion among ordinary people that timber harvested in winter is more suitable for construction. On the other hand, many sources and experts claim that this is nothing more than a myth. Let's figure it out.

First, let's pay attention to who is debunking this myth. If you look closely, we will notice that all publications of this nature are posted on the websites of wooden house-building companies or those selling business assortment. What a coincidence, isn't it?

What is their interest in promoting the summer forest?

Logging is a labor-intensive process, often dependent on the weather, so timber is cut and removed when there are roads. Winter is better suited for this, be it a swamp, rivers without bridges or lowlands. But to harvest round timber only in winter, both costs and large areas for warehousing, but not all companies can afford it.
Therefore, it is much more profitable to divide the harvesting season into at least two periods, adding the summer one.

There is less moisture in cold weather!?

The main argument in favor of the absence of dependence of wood quality on the time of year of felling is the indicator of natural humidity. Scientific evidence says that smallest percentage keeping it in a tree turns out to be not at all winter period, and in late summer, early autumn. The fact that the weight of one cube of timber in winter is up to 20% more than in summer is cited as indisputable. And they conclude that cutting can and should be done not only in winter, but also in summer.
It turns out that in the old days they observed signs and customs too zealously?

Interested loggers are happy to explain this issue. In their opinion, firstly, earlier in the summer the peasants were so busy that logging had to be postponed until the winter; secondly, in winter it was easier to harvest and export timber. We agree about the export. But, if there really is no difference, then working in the summer forest is still much easier and more pleasant than standing knee-deep in snowdrifts, and finding something for a couple of weeks in the summer won’t be too difficult.

And yet, something suggests that earlier people were far from being so dark and ignorant in this matter, but quite the opposite.

Therefore, even today, both adherents of the winter forest and sellers of the summer forest agree on one thing - after the tree has been cut down, the gradual loss of moisture from it begins. How and under what conditions it is dried will further affect its quality as a material. And the higher the percentage of wood moisture at the time of felling, the greater the consequences for the round timber this process can occur.

In this case, first, unbound (free) moisture evaporates from the surface areas of the wood, and then from its deeper layers. And what higher speed of this process, so more likely to form deep cracks. The ends of the logs are especially affected; covering them with paint or lime only partially alleviates the problem.

It turns out that the less moisture there was initially in the tree trunk, the less likely the log to be damaged. On the other hand, waterlogged wood with a gradual increase in temperature and the absence of direct rays of the sun will dry more gently than with a low moisture content, but in hot weather. After debarking, a thin layer of bast remains on the logs; it serves as a kind of protection against the release of resin from the tree. As a result, it is distributed throughout the wood, making it more resistant to rot and pests.

Simply put, wetter winter wood gradually dries out evenly throughout the winter and therefore cracks less. Summer wood dries faster in the hot sun, so it may well have more cracks.

Another point is the “healthiness” of the raw materials. When logging in summer, two more problems arise: damp summer forest turns blue very quickly. Even timely debarking and stacking often do not help. A damp summer forest is likely to be attacked by insect pests, because summer is the time of their intensive settlement.

In conclusion, I would like to say that, taking into account the peculiarities of the current construction of baths, summer preparation cannot be considered unacceptable. If you do everything yourself or control the process, then the wood will really turn out to be functional and will not be inferior to winter wood.

how to distinguish a log house from a winter forest from a summer one? and got the best answer

Answer from Vladislav Seleznev[newbie]
The forest is mainly cut in winter because it is dry in winter. A wet summer forest is obviously worse. Summer wood cracks much more during the drying process. Look at the cracks.

Reply from On Indyukov[guru]
If this is a log house, then it is almost impossible to distinguish a winter forest from a summer one in a dry state. Unless...
....iodine!
if you drop iodine on a cut, it will be 2 shades
if it is brownish red, the tree is summer
if the blue tree is cut in winter.
And if it's sawlog:
1.Visually. As a rule, winter forest does not turn blue (if stored normally on pads). In the summer, in the winter forest, the bark has already dried out and partially fallen off. After harvesting, summer timber must be removed from the plot within a few days. Otherwise, it starts to hurt (various bugs, blue stains, fungus). It is better not to build a house from such a forest.
2.Measure the moisture content of the wood at a depth of 10-15 cm. You need a fairly expensive moisture meter.

Reply from Rub.schik[guru]
You won't be able to tell the difference!! If the log house is treated with an antiseptic, it will last a long time and look beautiful!! And untreated wood from any forest will turn blue and black. And if they tell you that the log house is from a winter forest, then they are simply trying to deceive you)) A winter forest is considered to be one that is cut down at a time when there is no sap flow in the trees, and in such winters as now it is all like summer!!

Eco-friendly construction. Estate: I am planning to build a wooden house from rounded logs. Everywhere it is written that you need to make a log house exclusively from wood harvested in the winter because... he's the best. However, few places say how to determine whether it is a winter forest and how to check the sellers

I am planning to build a wooden house from rounded logs. Naturally, the first thing that arose was the question of ordering a log house. I looked through a bunch of books and everywhere it is written that you need to make a log house exclusively from wood harvested in the winter because... he's the best. However, few places say how to determine whether it is a winter forest and how to check the sellers.

Of course, conscientious carpenters harvest timber in winter, and in spring and summer they cut logs and assemble them. However, what prevents unscrupulous producers from harvesting wood in the summer, when it is easy to do, put it in storage and sell logs from it all winter and half of next year under the guise of winter wood. Let's try to figure this issue out together.

First, a little theory or why the winter forest is so good:

In winter, the trees enter a state of dormancy; they are prepared for a long winter. The pores close, sap flow and growth stop, excess moisture is discharged through the root system.

Therefore, with the further use of products from such wood, we receive the following advantages:

• when heating logs, no resin will be released from them
• the wood is more dense and dry i.e. less susceptible to deformation and cracking
• the material undergoes a long period of natural drying, since several months pass from the moment of harvesting to the summer heat
• winter timber harvesting is carried out at low temperatures, which means that the wood retains its natural light appearance longer and is less susceptible to infection by fungi and insects.

Now let's move on to practice - How to recognize what is being sold to you by the type of winter wood.

I’ll say right away that it’s difficult for a non-specialist to do this, but it’s possible.

There are several ways:

First– it’s better to see it once - it’s ideal to go to the site where the log houses are made and look at the unsanded wood from which the house is made. If you see dirt on the bark, this indicates that it was cut down in the summer; if dark spots appear on the saw cuts, this indicates that the forest was exposed to rain. Winter forest at proper storage, as a rule, does not turn blue. In the summer, the bark of the winter forest has dried out and partially flies off.

Second- choose proven ones. Everything is clear from the name; you probably turned to carpenters from whom your friends or acquaintances have already placed orders. Conscientious sellers must have the addresses of those to whom they have already supplied log houses or even installed them. Take an interest in the reputation of suppliers and a lot will become clear.

Third- order time factor – for additional guarantee it is worth buying timber, a log house or a bathhouse in winter months starting in January or February, or at least in the spring. The reason is simple - it is at this time that the harvesting of winter wood begins, and that cut down in the summer, as a rule, ends. Therefore, at the end of summer, in the fall, it’s time to start designing a wooden bathhouse or house and choose suppliers and carpenters. Because It will take from a month to two to develop a sketch of the project, select an internal layout, clarify details, and draw the so-called timber frame for a residential building. In the meantime, the winter forest will arrive, from which we need to build.

Fourth– trust but verify. If you have been offered a ready-made log house under the guise of a winter one and it is not possible to comply with steps 1 and 3, at least carefully inspect the product. There should be no deep cracks on the logs - this is not only a sign of a summer forest, but also indicates a violation of the drying technology. Logs should dry slowly naturally, and the longer the better: the tree needs to dry not only outside, but also inside. Those. if you are offered a box house made of summer wood, felled during the same period, then dry summer external southern walls will dry out very quickly, and internal and northern walls will dry out more slowly and due to internal tension, large number cracks

You should be especially wary if the manufacturer offers a wooden house box coated with an antiseptic. Here they can say that they cut it last season, they didn’t sell it, so they treated it with a septic tank (or maybe with bleach to pass it off as new). Moreover, such unfortunate carpenters will prove that they cut it in winter. But why do you need unnecessary problems - it’s better to control everything and get a high-quality log house.

Fifth- instrument control. Some authors advise placing one drop of iodine on a cut log. Because In winter wood there is more starch, the tree in this place should turn blue. Next, you can measure the moisture content of the log at a depth of 10-15 cm. But for this you need a special moisture meter.

These are the methods for determining winter wood for construction. Each of them is not particularly effective, however, if you use them in combination, then the likelihood of getting a high-quality frame for a wooden log house or a house made of timber is quite realistic. published

The developer of a wooden house faces many problems. One of the most important issues– choice of wood, because the durability of the future structure largely depends on the material.

It has already become a classic statement that the winter forest is much better than the summer forest.

Advantages of a winter log house

Firstly, timber harvested in the cold season is much less susceptible to decay. He is not afraid of warping. And there will be no problems with drying, since it happened naturally before the construction of the house begins in the summer.

In winter, trees are dormant. In preparation for wintering, the pores close, there is no movement of sap, and growth stops. Wood does not need excess moisture, so it is shed. As a result, when using houses from such a forest, logs will not release resin when heated. Dense, dry wood is not prone to deformation, and there is also less chance of cracks forming. Wood is less susceptible to fungi and insects.

So you've decided build a house from rounded logs. It’s good, of course, to trust the performers of the work, but it’s also not superfluous to check, because not everyone works conscientiously. It is better to make sure for yourself that it is the winter forest that is offered. But how to do this?

It is not easy to recognize the difference, but it is possible if you know the main points. Ideally, of course, you should see for yourself at the construction site what material the house is being built from. But sanded wood will tell you little, and on unprocessed raw materials you can see dirt, which indicates summer harvesting.

Breaching on saw cuts dark spots- a sign of a forest that has been in the rain. A good winter forest (you still need to know how to store it!) should not turn blue. Over time, the bark dries out and flies off in some places.

To avoid any doubts about the time of cutting wood, buy it in the winter months. Of course, there is a chance that they will slip you the remaining summer wood, but it is small.

It is more difficult to determine the quality of raw materials when purchasing ready-made ones log house. They may tell you that it is winter, but if you see deep cracks on the logs, do not trust such a seller. Not only is this a sign of a summer forest, you can be sure of obvious violations of the drying technology. The proposal of a wooden house box coated with an antiseptic should also be alarming.

When going to select logs, take iodine with you. In order to establish the truth, you only need one drop. When cutting a log of winter wood, it should turn blue, since in the presence of starch in the cold season it reaches its maximum concentration.

Humidity is one of the most important parameters when choosing lumber. For timber made from winter wood, this indicator is minimal. The maximum moisture content of wood is observed in the warm season of the year. Lumber released from the summer forest takes a long time to dry out, and the structure built from it shrinks within 1 year. Timber from winter forest dries much faster. It takes only 6 months for a house built from it to shrink.

Impact of microorganisms and fungi

Wood harvested in winter is less susceptible to destruction due to the formation of fungus on it. For cold period As the year progresses, the moisture level will gradually decrease, and by summer the tree will become practically dry. Therefore, blue fungus will not appear on its surface, and wood-destroying microorganisms will not form inside. Due to the high level of humidity, a summer forest is susceptible to the formation of bacteria inside it and the appearance of mold outside.

End color

Depending on the time of year in which the wood was harvested, the color of the ends of the timber will differ. If the lumber is made from winter wood, then its ends will be light. If summer wood was used, then dark. This is due to the fact that it rains during the warm season. Wood darkens when exposed to moisture.

Spil

Despite the fact that wood is an easy-to-work material, different times over the years it has been cut differently. In winter, processing is easy due to the fact that it is dry. Therefore, the timber cuts are perfectly straight. Summer timber will be a little rough. This indicates the harvesting season of the timber from which the lumber was produced.

Which timber is better - summer or winter?

If you choose from two types of lumber, you should give preference to the one made from winter wood. The use of such timber will reduce the construction time of the building and begin finishing it faster. In addition, due to more uniform shrinkage, the lumber will not be greatly deformed or crack. Summer timber may lose significant size and cracks may appear in it, which will have to be caulked.

How to buy timber and not make a mistake?

One of the main ways to purchase lumber the desired type- buy it at certain time year. The timber is not stored with manufacturers. Therefore, you can choose the right moment to buy material from summer or winter forests. Bought early spring the timber will most likely be made of winter wood. Acquired late autumn- from autumn wood: lumber will have the same disadvantages as timber from summer forest. This is due to the fact that at the beginning of autumn the moisture content of the wood decreases, and at the end it rises again. Therefore, the lumber will be high level humidity. The timber purchased during the warm season will be made from summer forest.

Before purchasing, it is advisable to inspect the lumber yourself to understand what kind of wood it is made of. Some manufacturers always tell customers that they sell timber from winter wood. They know that customers want to buy it. To buy the right timber, you need to know the difference between lumber made from summer and winter wood.