Fabrication practices to manage timber movement

• Do not fix multiple screws in a line across the grain of wide pieces of timber – it causes moisture induced stress cracks - if necessary make one screw an anchor point and over-drill adjacent screw holes to allow movement,
  
• Do not rigidly fix timber infill panels into frames,
  
• Do not apply finishes in ways that potentially glue frames and panels together,
  
• Wax between frame members and panels to prevent sticking,
  
• Screw counter-tops tight along one edge, while allowing the opposing edge to move via slotted fixings or oversized screw holes,
  
• Screw table tops to sub-frames using slotted fixings or oversized screw holes – the top should be able to shift slightly under firm hand pressure,
  
• Test the timber moisture content. For furniture components where the timber is too moist (over 13% MC) dry further before final dimensioning and fabrication,
  
• Do not rely on applied coatings to prevent changes in timber moisture content – they cannot stop water vapour transferring into the timber.