Although mass timber construction represents a sustainable alternative to traditional structural options in the US architects and developers have encountered market barriers related to growth of mold and potential for biological deterioration in response to wetting. Microbial overgrowth after wetting is of particular concern in healthcare. However, our previous pilot work indicated that viable bacterial load is low on dry wood surfaces in comparison with other common construction materials; moreover, other studies in healthcare, food production/preparation, and laboratory environments have concluded that wood performs as well, or better, than plastic, vinyl, or steel surfaces.