A question to installers, designers and general public or end user.
Do you prefer Kiln Dried hardwood or Air Dried Hardwood for your installations. Could you explain why, quite often a supplier may offer a choice of both and I wonder what influences your decision.
I would say that I would prefer KD, however this is more expensive and sometimes it ignores the basics on timber, drying and moisture content. To put it simple, the wood you have needs to be in balance with its surrounding, so if you live in a wet country (UK) then better AD, if you live in Chile, UAE, Israel or Mexico then defenitely better KD. Number 2 on the decision making is the kind of wood, if your wood is pine, it is obvious that it ‘works’ much more then a dense wood such a a hardwood like ipe or bankirai. If you want to know all the exact numbers on contraction and shrinkage of the most known woods we have a great wood comparisment chart for you. Good decionmaking!