Timber structures and components for visually exposed applications should be stored:

Use clean dry timber free from grit or grease supported high enough to clear rain and mud splashes.

Locate bearers at ends and near joints. Ensure self weight is uniformly supported to avoid distortion.

Spacers help trapping dirt or water between timber faces but must be in line vertically.

Secured against wind. Rain normally does not harm short term but prolonged exposure can lead to swelling and staining. Sun darkens exposed wood quickly. Partial exposure or partial masking can be very difficult to blend in later.

Transit wrapping protects during delivery, handling and erection only. Ideally, it should be removed promptly to avoid moisture traps and ensure even weathering. However, site management will often prefer to retain for protection against wet trades. In this case small holes should be cut in underside of retained wrapping to drain any water pockets. It is also particularly important to make and keep good any disturbance around joints etc.

When handling and erecting structural timber components for visually exposed use, care should be taken to ensure that they are:

Use webbing slings to avoid local bruising. Locate with care to ensure balance support. Control with guy lines.

Mud, plaster, banding, temporary bracing, partial wrapping etc, can all leave light patches when removed or made good. Other materials should be removed promptly.

Particularly nails in temporary bracing's or nearby timber. Rain can create dark stains from any unprotected ordinary steel.

Preferably with permanent bracing . Wire guy lines with turnbuckles or timber members may be needed to resist sudden high winds etc. (When delays in permanent framing are unavoidable).

When prolonged exposure is expected close wrapping may be desirable but difficult to secure without water traps. Black polythene can be draped over with a continuous top batten and open soffit.