Should You Store Lumber for Long-Term at a Construction Site?

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Construction processes tend to last long due to various reasons. This often calls for storage at the construction site. While it sounds all good and beneficial, there can be various concerns to manage. This gives way to the question, i.e., should you store lumber for the long term at a construction site?

What Counts as Long-Term?

There cannot be an objective answer to this question as the term long-term has a different meaning in different industries and work dynamics. When it comes to the construction industry, the constituent businesses tend to plan and manage their activities on a yearly basis. However, considering a year as long-term is inappropriate as construction activities face different factors that affect it for the better and for the worse. This makes seasons a better choice to be termed as long-term.

What Are Conditions Concerning Storing Lumber?

Construction materials come with various qualities and natures that contribute to the overall construction projects. (These materials can be successfully acquired with the help of construction takeoff services) These qualities and natures are the conditions concerning storing them. In the case of lumber, these conditions include:

  • Beams and planks should be stacked over each other in a formation that allows wind to flow through
  • The storage should be kept absolutely moisture-free
  • Make sure that any sort of termite or infection is kept away from the stored lumber
  • Store it away from any possible falling object that could damage the beams and planks

Is it a Favorable/Good Choice to Store Lumber for the long term?

Lumber is one of the highly demanded construction materials. It too is acquired and utilized like others; similarly, it too is stored at the construction site before the exact usage. However, this store is often kept for only a very short time. Still, the option to store lumber for the long term at the construction site is still an important option. But before you actually do it, it is better to understand whether it is a good choice. To answer this question, you need to assess these:

Can the condition stay favorable?

Lumber is an expensive material as it comes from nature. It makes affording it a big challenge in many ways. Thus, once acquired it should be allowed to go to waste. Otherwise, it will cost much more the next time. To avoid all that, you need to make sure that the conditions in the storage will stay favorable until its utilization. If that is not the case, the decision is a foolish one, and the material could go to waste.

The location does not experience extreme weather

Lumber is prone to weather conditions, which is why various protective measures are ensured for it. However, these measures relate to both before and after usage. In the first case, the measures include making sure that the store is safe. An important danger to it is extreme weather, and therefore, storage should resist it. Only then is the decision to store it for the long is a good one.

Is the store breachable by unauthorized personnel?

Lumber is also prone to other factors such as harmful contact, falling, or something falling over. This can mainly happen if someone unrelated might enter the storage and interfere with the stack beams and planks. To avoid that, you need to make sure that no unauthorized personnel enter if you plan to store it for a long time.

Storage is safe from rain and possible breach of moisture

The biggest threat to lumber is water. While it gives life to a tree, it devastates processed lumber. Therefore, the storage should be completely moisture-free. An important factor is to make sure that rain cannot reach the storage. It is essential for opting to store it for the long term at the construction site.

The stacking arrangement is favorable for the material

Long life in the storage is also dependent on the stacking arrangement. If the arrangement is proper, it will provide a longer life within the storage and vice versa. This also contributes to the overall life of the material at the construction site and the decision to store it.

Conclusion

Construction processes relate to various concerns, such as managing materials. This often relates to storing them before using and after acquisition. This primarily relates to storing lumber (have lumber takeoff services to acquire it properly), among other factors. However, if you are looking to store it for the long term at a construction site, you need to consider different factors.