How to Prevent Wooden Pallets from Rotting

Wood is our most common material for building pallets because it is strong and durable. To make sure your pallets avoid rot and stay this way, proper storage is essential. First, consider how long you will be storing pallets made from wood.

For short-term storage of a few months or less (most pallets out there), the effects of outdoor storage such as moisture, sun, snow, etc. will usually not have an adverse effect on wooden pallet performance. But, long-term storage under poor conditions can lead to pallets that "look" bad, grow mold and can even become rotten and unsuitable for use.

Avoid rot damage to wooden pallets by keeping them stored properly.

4 Tips for Preventing Wooden Pallet Rot

​If you need to store wooden pallets for long periods, try these tips to help make sure your pallets stay fresh:
  

1. Keep Pallets off the Ground
   The bottom pallet resting directly on the ground, even in a paved lot, can lead to rotten bottom boards under long-term storage. Placing pallets on 4x4's or similar dunnage allows the bottom pallet to dry between rains, etc. and will significantly increase pallet life.
   
   
2. Ensure Proper Airflow
   Pallets can be stored outdoors for longer periods if the air moves through them to dry out the boards. Be aware that even indoor storage in a tight, damp area can lead to rot.
   
   
3. Rotate the Stock
   When you bring in a new load of wooden pallets, make sure you use the older pallets from the back of the row before moving to the new ones.
   
   
4. Move the Pallets
   If you have a design that is not going to be used for a few months, it is best to move the stacks around periodically. If the pallets are stacked 20 high, take off the top 10 and put them on the bottom. This changes the position and ensures no one pallet is in an overly-moist environment as compared to the rest.

How can I Tell if a Wooden Pallet is Rotten?

If you have pallets that are questionable, hit the boards with a hammer. Rotten boards will break in a straight line and appear "brittle." You can break good boards with enough force, but the wood will break in a splintering manner. It takes a lot of force to break a sound board even with a hammer.

Check wooden pallets for rot damage before using to avoid accidents and injury.

Do not use a questionable pallet, as the potential for additional damage to products or people is not worth the savings. If ever in doubt, contact your pallet supplier to test older pallets to ensure they remain safe for use.

Have storage conditions ever caused your wooden pallets to rot? Tell us how you found (or solved) the issue in the comments below or ask for help.

Post by: John Clarke, Technical Director