The Benefits of Kiln-Drying Round Wooden Posts: Ensuring Longevity and Durability

Round wooden posts are used for a variety of agricultural applications and the quality of these posts play a significant role in the overall durability of a structure. At West Branch Wood Treating Sales, we take pride in offering high-quality, kiln-dried posts that are designed for those who are in it for the long haul. But what exactly is kiln drying, and how does it benefit a wooden post? In this blog, we’ll explore the process, its advantages, and why kiln-drying is a great choice for any trellises, fencing projects, and more.

What is Kiln-Drying?

Kiln-drying is a controlled process that uses heat and controlled airflow to remove excess moisture from wood and prevents any potential pest infestation. The process involves placing the wood into a specially designed kiln (a large, heated chamber) where temperature levels are closely monitored. The primary goal of kiln drying is to reduce the moisture content of the post, which helps to prevent the wood from warping, cracking, and shrinking over time.

We kiln-dry our posts to a moisture content of less than 20% to ensure they are ready for proper CCA treatment penetration and long-term durability. Improperly dried posts can result in uneven treatment, warping, bowing, cracking, or deteriorate more quickly.

For those working with wood products or managing lumber drying operations, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Department of Forest Ecology and Management offers valuable guidance in their article Causes and Cures for Warp in Drying  which explains why wood warps and how to minimize these issues during the drying process.

How The Kiln-Drying Process Works

The process begins by loading the freshly cut bundles of wood posts into the kiln. We can load approximately 32 bundles of posts on average in our kiln at once. These posts contain a significant amount of moisture in them prior to being dried. This is how the process works:

1. Pre-Heating: The kiln is first heated to a regulated temperature, which varies depending on the type of wood being dried. The heat begins to open the pores of the wood, allowing moisture to be eliminated.
2. Drying: As the temperature increases, moisture is slowly removed from the wood. This is done through a combination of heated air circulation and close temperature regulation. The process may take several days, depending on the size and type of wood. Our round posts are made from Red Pine species and typically dry in the kiln for approximately 3-4 days.
3. Monitoring and Control: Throughout the whole process, the moisture content of the wood posts is constantly being monitored. The kiln will alter the temperature and airflow to ensure even drying and prevent the wood from becoming too dry.
4. Cooling: Once the desired moisture content is reached, the posts are slowly cooled before being removed from the kiln and get ready for pressure-treatment. This ensures that the wood post stays consistent and doesn’t experience abrupt stress or damage when exposed to different environmental conditions.

We have a set of standards on how we check the moisture inside the wood post using a pin-type moisture meter, also known as “spiking the wood” after they are kiln-dried to ensure they are dry enough to receive chemical treatment. You might even notice a slight blue tint as they dry—this natural color change can be a visual sign that the post is nearing proper dryness, but we always confirm it with accurate moisture testing.

Benefits of Kiln-Dried Wooden Posts

1. Decreased Risk of Warping and Cracking
   One of the most common problems with untreated or air-dried wood is warping and cracking. Warping is when the wood bends or twists out of its original shape, often leading to a bowing shape, while cracking is when splits form on the wood post, usually along the grain. Some splits are normal but deeply cracked wood could cause issues in the long run. When wood retains excess moisture, it can expand and contract with changes in humidity, resulting in unstable posts. Kiln-drying removes this moisture, ensuring they remain straight and durable over time.
2. Improved Strength and Durability
   This process strengthens wood by reducing the moisture content to an optimal level. This makes the wood less prone to decay, fungus, and rot, which can otherwise compromise its strength and result in a reduced lifespan. Kiln-dried wooden posts are more reliable and long-lasting than their untreated counterparts, making them a go-to choice for any fence installation or trellis systems.
3. Faster Drying, Faster Installation
   With kiln-dried wood, you can expect a quicker and more efficient installation process. This can also speed up the construction of your project, as there’s no need to wait for your posts to air-dry for 160+ days or longer before they can be treated with CCA.
4. Prevention of Termite Infestation
   Kiln drying eliminates excess moisture from the wood and removes any pests such as termites as well as terminating any fungi present. These features ensure that your fence posts or trellis posts remain safe from pest damage, which can cause many issues including more repairs in the future.
5. More Consistent Quality
   Wood that dries in the kiln will be dried evenly, which allows for more consistent quality. The process ensures that each post is uniformly dried, minimizing variations in moisture content that can occur with air-drying.

What are Kiln-Dried Round Wooden Posts Used for?

There are many applications that these posts are used for. Ensuring that your posts are kiln-dried is essential as these products are less likely to split or become compromised over time, which ultimately increases the lifespan and performance of the wood. It’s important to understand that to ensure the longest lifespan of your posts, they must be treated with a quality wood chemical preservative after they are kiln-dried. Kiln-dried treated round wood posts are perfect for:

Residential and Farm Fencing – They provide strong support for agricultural enclosures, whether you’re containing livestock, horses, or marking property lines.

Commercial Fencing – These posts are commonly used in a wide range of commercial projects, including perimeter fencing for large solar farms  and cannabis operations.

Trellis Systems – If you’re wanting to produce higher yields, these posts will aid in supporting healthy growth production.

Marina Docks – Their improved resistance to moisture makes kiln-dried posts a reliable option for waterfront installations like marina docks and piers.

Conclusion

Kiln-drying is a critical part of the process to ensure high-quality, strong, and long-lasting round wood posts. This type of drying allows the post to dry evenly and consistently. If they aren’t properly dried, it can lead to several issues including warping, cracking, pest infestations, and premature rot or decay.

At West Branch Wood Treating Sales, we understand the importance of kiln-drying our wood. We follow high standards to verify they are dried properly to receive treatment, which includes using a pin-type moisture meter to test the moisture content and drying them ourselves so we can oversee every step of the process. By choosing our kiln-dried posts, you’re investing in materials that are made to last.