All timber is dried to a moisture content of 10% or less, this will hopefully stop the wood from bowing/splitting or cracking. It is up to the buyer to ensure the product is kept oiled/waxed and not submerged in water as well as being kept in a moisture free and stable environment regarding heat. A full set of maintenance/care instructions will be emailed over upon dispatch, please also get in touch if you require any further assistance regarding the product as we want you to get many years use out of it.