Wood cupping
Wood cupping describes where a plank or piece of wood bends across it with or across its grain and is the impact of shrinkage. When wood is observed in cross secrion wood cuts normally cup in the opposite direction to the flow of growth rings.
This characteristic may be used to its advantage for example where two layers of wood planks are used as roof sarking or vertically in fencing. In a roof the outermost planks are laid to cup downwards, whilst the layers beneath are laid to cup upwards, this causes the plank curves to tighten against each other over time, thus creating a better seal for the roof face.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Carpentry.
- Facts about forestry.
- Janka hardness rating scale.
- Nails - a brief history.
- Sustainable timber.
- Staircase.
- The differences between hardwood and softwood.
- The use of timber in construction.
- Timber.
- Timber vs wood.
- Types of timber.
- Types of timber species.
- Whole life carbon assessment of timber.
- Wood around the world.
Featured articles and news
Guide to ISO 19650 for Architecture Firms (2026)
A user gives their low down.
A UK training and membership provider for mould remediation professionals.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
Independent NSI and BAFE study exploring how organisations are changing the way they buy fire safety services.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.
Setting Expectations on Competence Management
Industry Competence Committee.
New Scottish and Welsh governments
CIOB stresses importance of construction after new parliament elections.
The sad story of Derby Hippodrome
An historic building left to decay.
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.