Does your wood swell? (Thanks not that... the trailler )

[Cosmo]

Just curious if you notice any wood swelling on the trailer in humid weather?
If so what do you notice? Doors and cabinets not closing like they do in the dry months
Galley hatch requires an extra nudge to close?
Things not lining up like they did in dry weather?


Thanks
Cosmo

[noseoil]

A "normal" solid wood can & will swell up to about 1/8" per foot across the grain when humidity changes. Plywood isn't as bad as a solid panel, but it can still move around a bit. I'm building in 5% relative humidity where I live in the summer, but this jumps up a lot during the monsoon season, from July to September most years. Best to allow for some movement in the design & minimize it as much as possible by sealing up all the edges & end grain as you go.

P.S. Thanks for the clarification in your thread title.....

[tony.latham]

I too live in a dry climage. The humidity will get down below 10% this afternoon. Earlier this week, we were camping in a drizzle with a 100%. (And of course in the cabin the humidity rises when we're in there.) I'm assume the wood is moving a bit (most of it is plyood), but I seal everything on the outside with epoxy and everything else gets a minimum of three coats of poly. Thus the change in the wood is going to happen much slower than with bare wood.

But to answer your question, no. We don't have a loose/sticky problem with anything. I use the Fredrick's hatch system and it has an 1/8" gap on both sides of the veritcal 1/2" piece that protrudes from the wall into the hatch seal gap. Doesn't stick. Always seals.

T

[Cosmo]

Thanks for your help! good information.

I am in the humidity zone of the north east. So far so good. Back hatch requires a slight nudge to line up correctly when closing, but nothing to worry about at all.

I appreciate the information.

Regards
Cosmo

[Mary C]

Cosmo, I live in Ga the humidity capitol of the south. At least it seems that Wafter two years of summer rains. and yes wood swells in the summer and high humidity and will smell too. I have learned to use poly urathane and and a mixture of varnish and paint thinner on any woods that are not in air conditoning or in another state. I suggest that you Give room for swelling and use some poly tape if you want a tight fit. that will mash down if the wood swells and fill out if the wood swells.

Mary C.