Another device used to measure moisture is the moisture probe, which measures only the outer fractional portion of the timber. It can not penetrate the wood deep enough to give an accurate reading of the moisture content throughout the log, but only the outer portion, which will tend to be the driest portion of the timber. Wood must be conditioned to the moisture content it will assume during it's service life. Otherwise, it will have a tendency to shrink and twist to some degree. The customer can see the final beauty and integrity of each log before it is placed in the wall, and not have to worry about what the home is going to look like after the logs have finally dried-out.
Most manufacturers provide only air-dried logs.
These logs are seasoned by simply storing them for an extended period of time. The important point here is to make sure the customer asks the manufacturer of the air-dried materials to guarantee the moisture content levels. From a practical standpoint, however, it is not usually done. Uniform and stable - no severe shrinking or warping. Warping and twisting occur during kiln-drying, before construction.