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Shrinkage issues with 1x6 Garapa in coastal humidity — Species

Shrinkage issues with 1x6 Garapa in coastal humidity

Dana Kowalski Aug 29, 2026 at 10:34 AM

Has anyone else been dealing with excessive gap shrinkage on 1x6 Garapa lately? I just wrapped up a 400sqft install in Florida using material from a new supplier. I gapped it at 3/16 inch per spec, but after three weeks of the heat cycle, those gaps have opened up to nearly 3/8 inch. It feels like the moisture content in the bunk was way higher than advertised. I’m usually a huge fan of Garapa for the price point compared to Ipe, but this is making for some unhappy clients. Are you guys acclimating the Garapa on-site for longer than 48 hours now? I might have to switch back to the more stable batches of Red Balau if this keeps up. Let me know if you’ve noticed similar movement in recent shipments.

2 Replies

Tony MarchettiSep 2, 2026 at 10:34 PM

I feel your pain, man. I stopped trusting 'pre-dried' bundles a while back. For Garapa, especially down here in the humidity, 48 hours is a joke. I’ve started sticker-stacking everything on-site for at least a week before laying a single board. I also suggest running a moisture meter on every bunk when it hits the job site; if it’s above 15%, you're just asking for trouble. I switched to using the DeckWise hidden fastener systems with the pre-set spacers, which helps manage the movement better, but honestly, if the wood is green, nothing saves you from those gaps. Stick to your guns on the acclimation period.

Rachel WoodSep 9, 2026 at 10:34 AM

I hear you, Florida sun is unforgiving. Beyond the acclimation, are you sealing those end grains immediately after every cut? I’ve found that even with decent material, Garapa wicks moisture in and out at the ends like a sponge, which exacerbates that board-to-board variation. I started applying a high-quality wax emulsion end sealer, like Anchorseal, on every single cut before fastening. It’s an extra step that adds time, but it’s saved my bacon on shrinkage control. If you aren't sealing the ends before install, you're losing the battle against that humidity cycle regardless of how long you sticker it.