Im not sure I can really answer this question. Yes, the wood can still be read for MC with a stain on it. Building Performance Series No. This building was constructed around 1966 and this little space appears very dry, in spite of a recent leak from an nearby hot water tank. Squeaks from subfloors The floor installer is often the 'first cab off the rank' when there is a squeaking floor and the problem may If the humidity is a constant 76% then the wood will equilibrate between 14 and 15% moisture content. This type of floor-leveling is DIY-friendly and costs approximately $1.50 per square foot when applied 1/8-inch thick. Indoor humidity is around 50%, indoor temps around 70 degrees. 2. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. Moisture contents of 12 to 17% is ok. You dont want to see any subfloor reach about 25% which is where mold will start to grow. (As a percentage) Basically the chimney breast (in bedroom and downstairs room) has been measured with a digital moisture meter and states 'OL' on the display, the surrounding walls measure between 0.4% and 1.2%. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. (Itd effectively seal the cavity under the vanity, so once the trim is back on, i dont think itll dry out much more.) A subfloor needs to be clean, dry, level and structurally sound. If the moisture is less than 20% and the floor joists are structurally sound, like the joists at this home, there is no need to worry about any fungal staining that might exist. However, many building materials may have been dried down to about 15% moisture content. Three years ago, the floor sank in a heavy traffic area and an engineer told me Masonite was used to shim and had compressed. Hello! We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! The floor immediately felt stronger. Hi Larry, We are a joinery company and we have a project here in UAE which is located in another part of the emirates and the humidity in that area is very high especially during summer because it is near the coastal area. Congratulations on your new furniture. The water wasnt properly dried and organic growth was discovered by previous owner. The acceptable moisture levels in basement walls and floors will depend on many factors. Thank you. I used my Wagner meter and it Measured in the 10% area. My question for you is, now that it is stained, can I still get an accurate MC? Wood used indoors will eventually stabilize at 8-14% moisture content; outdoors at 12-18%. In your area, wood that has been in an environment to a duration of time would be between 6-11%. We also ship to other European countries, for dryer country like Spain the EMC could be between 12 and 14. Once wood is dried below about 28% WMC, water is not available to support decay, unless the wood is exposed to liquid water. They delivered the wood one day, and began to stain and install it over the next two days, finishing on the 6th day. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. we are presently constructing a new timber frame residence on ocean front in BC, Canada. Substructures with WMC in this range may show decay or rot in floor joist, sills, and subflooring. There are two main ways of measuring wood moisture content: oven-dry testing and moisture meter testing. The difference between the wood subfloor and the hardwood flooring shouldn't exceed 4% for solid strip hardwood . In other words, the water weighs more than the wood fibers. He added that plastic sheet ground covering that his company laid over my crawl space had been moved in spots and that I no longer had full coverage. Whats the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Engineering Inspection? I recommend one of our Orion models: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. So, i had one installed a few weeks after we met. My house was built in 1927. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. We will be building fir windows. Wide-spread and often extensive moisture damage occurs in residences across the state of South Carolina and elsewhere in the Southeast due to the regions warm, humid climate. Truss Uplift: Who Would Have Ever Thunk It? A dehumidifier in the crawlspace will help but can be expensive. Its mc is 11- 12% . So, is it really this wet or is our meter over-reading? 1. Based on common guidelines or recommendations, the acceptable moisture levels for wood are as follows: Keep in mind that a woods acceptable moisture level will depend primarily on how it will be finally used and the average RH where it will be finally used. You mentioned the humidity outside is 55%. This week, I notice the next pier on the same beam is starting to push up, warping the floor. Should I wait? Now the fungus goes dormant. You mentioned it was installed just 3 days after it was delivered. Wood moisture content between 0% and about 28% is dependent upon the relative humidity (RH) of the air. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. Most of it will dissipate. Even at this, the estimate would be the high end of MC% prior to shipment, but only rough estimate. Over a year ago, I re-shim all the piers with metal shims. could you please guide or on how much should be the Expected Humidity % in high Humid areas like UAE considering these are mostly for Indoor purpose where ACs are on 247 at say 24 Degrees. Hug the ones you love when you see them! These varying humidity levels of the surrounding air cause wood to not only gain or lose water moisture but to expand or shrink as well. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. Furniture grade wood is typically dried to a target of 6%-9%. A dry reading will be 16% MC (Moisture Content) or below. I have come across this and havent made the purchase from my friend because I am not sure about the warp or breaking it will come. Typically, allow about 3 weeks for hardwood to acclimate in the environment. The company they hired measured 47% in the wood and declares that this must be ripped out and replaced. My meter tells me anything above 12% is wet but I cannot find any source of leaking or signs of water. That is way beyond fibre-saturation. As with any wood product, the environment where the finished product will Live will determine the correct moisture content. Post and beam constructions don't have to be kiln-dried but should be air-dried. It is not uncommon for wood to expand or contract as much as a 1/8 per foot of width, so maintaining a stable environment is important. primer, the moisture vapor transmissions rate (MVtr) from the substrate should not be in excess of 5 lbs. I would also consider the environment where the table will live. It is best to allow the wood to equilibrate to the room environment. Maximum Moisture Content Of Concrete This is a nominal value most product manufacturers specify when concrete is dry enough to allow their product to lay down on it. All Rights Reserved. As a result, the normal moisture meter reading for these materials in between 0.5% and 1%. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. After you remove the old flooring, you'll need to ensure the subfloor is properly prepared before laying the new vinyl, hardwood or laminate flooring. Replaced the subfloor, which is . The other question is what should the moisture content be on treated lumber that will be for the framing of the deck? I have a couple questions. I had engineered hard wood installed and it is curling at the joints. of water/day/1000 sq. The process is time-consuming but produces accurate results if followed correctly. Are the measurements of all wood the same? Allowing the wood to acclimate in the final spot before building, really isnt possible because it is 8 hours away, and I cant take a week off to go up there and build the table. When the wood neither gains nor loses moisture, we say that the wood has reached its equilibrium moisture content (EMC). There are water stains on the particle board floor, but the flooring felt completely dry a few minutes after the reading was taken (I didnt see the reading being taken), the floor looks dry in the plumbers photo, the particle board flooring is not noticeably swollen, and it certainly has no flaking or other signs of disintegration or lessening to its structural integrity. . Thank you, In wood products manufacturing, 6-8% is pretty much the norm, at least in North America. The EMC of wood or lumber exposed to an outdoor atmosphere varies across the U.S. For instance, in the coastal city of Seattle, the EMC of wood or lumber is higher than the EMC of cities inland or in the Southwest. Percent moisture content in wood is the ratio of the weight of water compared to the overall weight of a piece of wood. I live in coastal South Carolina .we are definitely afraid of mold formation. Generally the entire floor is dry. The thinner veneers wont have much bearing on the reading. Below 12% Readings in this range are common to kiln or oven dried woods and furniture grades of wood, and represent dry conditions. Thanks for any help you can provide! With a concrete subfloor you should use a digital hygrometer, which needs to be left in place for at least 24 hours. During the summer months, when outdoor humidity is high, the hot/humid air enters the crawl space through the foundation vents and condenses on cool objects. Was told thats not done. Any input would be most appreciated. Im still not sure that whatever they do will produce a good, long-term result, but I need to know what they should be doing to the wood. moisture will typically measure 7-10%. I have removed the 1 3/4 edge and resawn to take out the splinter (1/4) re bicuited . The fir stock was originally KDd to around 8% but has been covered and stored outside for over a year and currently MC is around 12%. 2. 2-1/4", the moisture content between the flooring planks and the subfloor should not exceed 2%. I not sure if this is normal, related to the re-shim or need to install a crawl space dehumidifier to slow the progression? The moisture content of freshly cut wood is typically somewhere between 40-200%. Both slab-on-ground and suspended concrete floors for wet areas: are deemed impervious when steel trowel finished or polished. Hi Larry, just finished a black Walnut dining room table back in November. Because pinless meters scan the woods surface and cover a larger area than pin-type meters, they provide a more thorough picture of the woods moisture content. I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. This will stop the wet/dry cycle that exists every year, in every ventilated crawl space containing A/C ductwork in the SE United States, over their lifetime. Timber framing needs to be dried to acceptable moisture content levels as stipulated in NZS 3602:2003 Timber and wood-based products for use in building. How would be the best way to prevent mold from growing on the furniture. The purpose of the vapor barrier is to keep moisture away from materials that expand and contract. You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. There is only so much moisture a piece of wood can give up, over time, before a failure occurs. Good moisture content for hardwoods is 6% to 9% moisture. How Timber Reacts To Moisture. Therefore, just because the wood is kiln-dried doesnt mean it has lost the ability to absorb moisture. In fact, according to M. Steven Doggett, Ph.D. LEED AP, the founder of Built Environments, Inc., wood moisture content as high as 15% can cause corrosion of metal fasteners and at 16% may lead to fungal growth. This will drastically speed up the drying process. The normal outside equilibration moisture content (EMC) for Indiana is anywhere from 13% to 16%. 17 and the flooring is at 6 to 7. For a wooden subfloor you will need to use a 2-pronged moisture meter. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. If there are quite small amounts of moisture in a wall of dense plaster or brick, then a meter will probably indicate over 20% or so and this will be in the 'red zone' or beeps and squeeks may happen. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. As the humidity increases, the MC increases, causing the wood to expand. I am not sure if this is pressure treated wood given its an exterior wall and if that affects what these numbers are. The acceptable moisture levels of wood and lumber are in the range of 6% to 8% for interior and 9% to 14% for exterior wood or for building envelope components within constructed assemblies. Sagging or Uneven Floors Solutions. Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. I had it milled into 2.25 slabs and I stacked it on a deck area. Is this accurate? Keep monitoring it. For example, if the moisture content of the delivered wood is 12% and the optimal MC is 6%, then physical problems will occur during the acclimation process. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, https://research.cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/wpe/files/2016/08/Equilibrium-Moisture-Content-of-Exterior-Wood-in-the-US.pdf, https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-950-smart/, http://www.csgnetwork.com/emctablecalc.html, https://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/equilibrium.php, https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-910-deep/, https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=j6WRW76_NdmT0PEPkN29kAc&q=wood+moisture+content+and+mold&oq=moisture+content+and+mold&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i30l3.8963.15970, Restoration Expert Says Moisture Management Critical to Health of Any House or Building, Correct Moisture Content: Critical to Your Woodworking Projects, Mckinleyville Middle Schoolers Learning about Wood Moisture Content, Ambient Data Loggers: Peace of Mind in a Box for Wood Flooring Installers, 5 Things Not to Do When Measuring Moisture in Wood Flooring, Alabama Wood Crafters Share Wood Woes When Overlooking a Moisture Meter. moisture meter testing a floor joist In this image we measure a reading of 37% in this floor joist. The problem is some of the water made its way under the basmenet bathroom floor which is dricor with electric heating wire on top, then tiles, and unfortunately it looks like some of the dricor wood got wet as well! Looking back at pictures of the build process, they brought the hardwood bundles into my home in late October of 2017 and installed them 3 days later. Thanks for the email. My plan is to make a wall-mounted headboard out of angle iron and these boards (boards will not be joined). Damn those shop classes I didnt take. If your subfloor is a wood product, make sure the reading is less than 20% on the moisture meter. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found. this is an interesting read I landed upon as I was searching for MC in wood items. Thanks. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. or finally the product will be placed where. Would the screws skew the measurements? Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. board will move 3 times the amount as a 4-in. However, this range will vary slightly according to the geographic region because of varying RH levels. One type of wood moisture meter. Crawl Space Inspections: Once a Year Keeps the Contractors Away! We have a free App called WoodH2O that will tell you the moisture content given certain temperature and humidity conditions. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. You must be careful with a thick slab once you cut it. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. Once the wood samples weight stops changing, its weight is compared to what it was before the drying process began. 541-679-2612 www.Roseburg.com. Your email address will not be published. When determining the acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring before installation, the NWFA states that the flooring professional should establish a baseline for acclimation. These are the "safest" conditions for most types of woodbetween 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 30% to 50% RH. About how long do you think we should allow the new wood to acclimate in the end use environment before installing it? These are slabs roughly 2 thick. Here is a link to a calculator and table: http://www.csgnetwork.com/emctablecalc.html. Being that we live in Central Florida, 40 miles North of Tampa and using this chart page 5 ( https://research.cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/wpe/files/2016/08/Equilibrium-Moisture-Content-of-Exterior-Wood-in-the-US.pdf) were it states EMC for wood exposed outside for our area of 12.5 to 14.0 when I put the moisture meter to the wood it should be in those ranges if going to be used outside? Im not sure which part of Europe you are from, but typically the Indonesian climate is very humid compared to other parts of the world. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has a chart that indicates the moisture content of wood at any given combination of temperature and humidity. If the middle is wet, you may experience cracking/splitting if dried too fast. You can now understand the meaning of moisture content 5.5%, 15 g/m2/24 hours, and relative humidity 75% with these facts. I would love to be able to give you the perfect answer but unfortunately, there isnt one. We also have an Orion 950 moisture meter that will automatically give you EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) and other useful statistics. Thank you for the well described article. Elaine. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. h26P0Pw/+Q0L)66 I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. I have 1 1/2 thick cherry boards that I had milled from a tree in my yard last fall. The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. The other thing to consider is examining how water is entering your crawl space. Poor Drainage: A Foundation Problem Waiting to Happen, A Trade Secret: Bucks Vinyl Siding Test, Foundation Repair Salesman: Licensed to Kill, Dear God, Martha, Our House is Breaking in Two!. BD-2100 Pin Meter. If the subfloor is not acceptable, it can often be overlaid with 1/2 -inch plywood. This can lead to rising damp, dry rot, timber decay, fungal growth and borer. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? He asked if I could double-check the findings of another home inspection company that requested expert advice on some mold/fungus they found in the crawl space of the home. They are returning to remove one plank and take it back to see what they can do to meet my satisfaction. Very simple and understandable. I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. Any suggestions to this being possible to correct? Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! 800-347-7260 Fax. They are putting desiccants in the container to absorb the moisture but we feel its going to be a long time enclosed in the container without any air circulation. The cedar I have is now at 12-16%. Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? However, this time I was planning to use oil based poly rather than the spar urethane to reduce the amount of yellowing. First, test the moisture level of the subfloor. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify. If the wood is covered by a material like MDF or other, do we take 2x the measurements? Its hard to gauge anything off of a cheapo meter, but if and I mean if, we were to assume it was reading effectively, the numbers are too high. I know the rule of thumb is 1 year of dry time per inch of thickness of wood. About 5/16 penetration into the wood measures 8% using pins only. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. ( 55 days transit by sea) What should be the moisture content while loading in Containers? Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? . We have had on/off rain and humidity 80-90% range. Box 1437 Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. I manufacture ice cream sticks and disposable wooden cutlery from European Baltic birch wood in India. Any suggestions .thanks. There is over three foot of block above grade around the entire house. This means that wood intended for interior use in this location should not only be dried to around 6% but should be kept at this moisture content both before and during the manufacturing process. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. Good luck. The moisture content overall is almost always below 20%. 1. in Indonesia there are a lot of raw materials consisting of natural fibers, such as: pandanus, water hyacinth, rattan etc. Walking on Joists Before all accessories and floor decking are installed, I-joists are unstable and can roll over if walked on, leading to injuries. I did not find any information on Matumi. Here's a good rule of thumb: Notches should be no deeper than 1/6 the depth of the joist. summary Acceptable wood moisture readings on a meter normally range from 6% to 8% for woodworking. We dont know if we still should be having a commercial drying process? Wood in buildings usually has a wood moisture content of 5% to 15%. These include warping, cracking, buckling, diminished wood strength, corrosion of fasteners, and even fungal growth. Also, if the leak was bad enough, it will be necessary to have a contractor make sure the strength of the subfloor isnt compromised. I have used spar urethane as a finish on a few other 12 to 18 MC (semi-wet) log projects that turned out wonderfully. This means a very absorbent wood can retain more water, weight wise, the weight of the wood itself. The boards should be no wider than 6 inches and installed on a 45-degree angle. I was able to get the MC down to 15%. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! The other was for a $100 retail gift card. Here is the one I would recommend: https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/mmc220-extended-range-moisture-meter/, My potential house in North Carolina Fayetteville area was just checked for moisture content in the crawl space. Any thoughts as to what the issue was with the first install so we dont have the same issue again next year after we go through a new install? My question for you is: after a smallish unheated underground space (similar to a basement, i.e. Here is a good source for mold and wood: https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=j6WRW76_NdmT0PEPkN29kAc&q=wood+moisture+content+and+mold&oq=moisture+content+and+mold&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i30l3.8963.15970..206760.0..0.100.1475.25j10.1..gws-wiz..0..0j0i131.PkfEQYRef9I. What % does it have to get down to before it would be usable to make a table top ? we had a problem with our shower curb. Please give us a call at (800) 634-9961 or email info@wagnermeters.com, if youd prefer. I would think it would vary depending on the contents. Ive been following your in depth blog on moisture meters for around 1 year now. Everyone who works with wood needs to understand how wood interacts with moisture in the environment. The air vents stay closed year round. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. Should I wait for the slabs to be within that 6-9% to cut and glue? After reading your article and following comments, my question is : How much does the finish of a wood project for indoor use affect the moisture content? The fir windows and exterior doors will be affected by the the exterior and interior RH. Step 1: Check the Floor. You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. The home inspector failed to report all the sewage stains on the plastic and organic growth on some of the joists have which had been exposed to moisture the whole time even though the dehumidifier has been mitigating the plumbing leaks. Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content.
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