What is warping in timber?

• A. A distortion in wood caused by uneven drying, resulting in bending or twisting.
• B. A process of turning a log into planks.
• C. Drying wood to reduce moisture content.
• D. Applying a protective coating to wood.

Answer: (A)

Warping happens when timber dries unevenly. As wood loses moisture, it shrinks, but not equally in all directions or across the whole piece. If one side or part of the board dries faster than another, internal stresses build up and the wood twists or bends as it tries to straighten. This distortion can appear as a bow, crook, cup, or twist and is a common problem during drying or seasoning.

This isn’t about turning a log into boards (sawing), nor just reducing moisture content, nor about applying coatings. Those are separate steps—sawing creates boards, drying reduces moisture to a target level, and coatings protect the surface.