is lumber or logs that have been stored outside for approx 1 year still viable for construction material?

Question

logs have been wintered over with no protection. wondering if they can still be used to make boards. woods included are pine, black walnut and oak. or are they only good for firewood?

Answer 1

Probably should be OK unless some serious rot has set in. Logs left for a while will dry out but that isn't necessarily a problem because the timber will be less likely to warp when it is milled. A lot of timber will warp if it hasn't been seasoned before milling. You could test mill a log and see but I guess it depends on how much it will cost you to transport and mill the log. One idea might be to cut a thin slice off one of the ends and see what the timber looks like ... see if there is any heart rot and see if dampness has penetrated the trunk from the outside during the winter.

Answer 2

Well.. it all depends. You can hear the quality of wood by dropping it on the floor. Thats how we test out wood at scouting before we build stuff with it. If it sounds hollow, dont use it.