Shrinking wood on playset

[Eric Goldsmith]

I recently built an outdoor play set for my kids using ACQ-treated pine. The wood was a bit damp when I built the play set, and I expected a bit of shrinkage. I've been checking the tightness of the carriage bolts about every other week.

I've found on 3 occasions, the bolts felt surprisingly loose, and required one or more turns of the nuts to tighten.

I'm surprised how much the wood is shrinking. How long can I expect this to go on? Will the wood eventually reach a stable point? Or will this be a constant battle?

Thanks, Eric

[Bill Schnakenberg]

About a year.

[J. Clarke]

Are you sure it's shrinkage and not the nuts working loose from movement during play?

[Nova]

It will eventually stop shrinking. A general rule for drying lumber is one year for every inch of thickness. The shrinkage will initially be rapid and will slow as the wood becomes drier.

-- Jack Novak Buffalo, NY - USA (Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)