Boards in the Basement

[WMcGinn]

Newbie here....   

I've got a house on my hill property I recently bought that has a full basement....  Would this basement be a good location option to stack/dryout lumber?       

I already need a dehumidifyer down there.    Wasn't a problem in the winter cause there's a woodstove down there too..

I'm wondering about problems I'd have to worry about like bugs, smell, moisture, etc...   

wm

[LeeB]

Not a good place. It's damp in there already and you will just be adding more moisture. You'll create more problems than it's worth.

[Ianab]

What Leeb said.

Every pound of green wood is about 1/2 lb of wood, 1/2 pound of water, most of which is going to evaporate. Thats going to give you massive moisture problems in the enclosed basement.

Air dry the wood outside, maybe for 6 months depending on your local climate, then it should be safe to bring it inside for final drying and long term storage.

Ian

[thecfarm]

I'm no expect on air drying lumber outside.But try to keep it in the shade and sticker it and keep just the top covered.Old steel roofing works real good.Get it off the ground pretty good too.Like 4X4's on the bottom.Make sure the stack is level and I mean level.Crooked piles will give you crooked lumber.

[WMcGinn]

Thanks for the advice,  I suspected it wasn't a very good idea.