Does water damage wood?
Actually water alone cannot damage wood, but water in combination with other natural weathering elements, such as sunlight, does cause problems. Wood, being a porous, will absorb moisture from rain or snow causing it to swell. Then direct exposure to sunlight will cause this wood to release the moisture and shrink. This constant expansion and contraction due to natural weather patterns causes wood cracking, splintering , warping and twisting. Pressure treated wood needs immediate and long lasting protection. Almost all new pressure treated lumber used for construction is swelled in dimension because water is used in the pressure treatment stage. Once exposed to warm air and direct sunlight, new pressure treated lumber will begin to dry out very rapidly releasing the water put in during treatment. this initial rapid drying and shrinking cycle will begin immediately degrading the lumber. Since cracking, splintering and warping can be most severe, immediate protection is vitally important
