How to Acclimate Your Portland Deck
Prior to constructing a new Portland deck, the decking must be allowed to acclimate. This can take several weeks, and must be done in conditions similar to where they will be installed. A completed deck will be exposed to the weather, and the acclimation process is what prepares the wood to face those conditions. You wouldn't install your deck in a shed or smother the finished thing with a tarp, so don't do that to the boards. Instead, pile your decking outdoors with spacers in between each layer, allowing for adequate air flow across each surface of every deck board. Every climate is different, so how long this process takes can vary. It is very important, however, in order to avoid problems like warping.