[Johnsonjess]

Hey there, we are building a house and using our own cedar trees for the vertical 8x8 posts on the front and back porches. My father has milling equipment and is going to help us cut the logs. It is Eastern Red Cedar.

My question is - how long do the posts need to dry before I use them for vertical support? They will support the overhang of the roof but they are not load bearing.

Thank you!!

 

[jwoodcraft]

They held up the tree, so structurally not a problem. In my area most framing is green lumber. Probably get some checking as they dry.

 

[WoodenDreams]

If you want dry lumber, I normally figure 1 year for each 1" thickness from time of milling, if stickered. Log homes are made with fresh lumber. Douglas Fir used to build bridges for highways, roads and parks are green. Not the green treated stuff

We have three lumber mills in our area. I used to be an over the road flatbed driver for twenty years. From what I've hauled and seen with lumber. If you look at treated lumber for outdoors construction. This stuff may only be as little as a month old by the time it gets from the mill then treating plant to the lumberyard you be purchased by the consumer. None treated wood can be as little as 3 days to get to the lumberyard to be purchased by the consumer if it doesn't go through a kiln dried process. Then a matter of how long it sits in the lumber yard before purchased.

 

[LesB]

The only problem I would foresee is cracking as it dries. Which is often seen in log constructed houses. It doesn't usually affect the structural integrity.

 

[OldCoach]

I did the same back in 2016 using what is called around here as mountain cedar, aka ash juniper. The posts had been cut less than a month prior. No problems for 6+ years.