A moisture content of less than 20% indicates that your joists and beams do not have the necessary moisture content for mold or fungus to survive. 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!. A company sealed off the foundation vents and removed all the insulation from the crawlspace with the humidifier mitigating the moisture from the leaks. Simply put, the post offers some useful information. Do you see any dangers of using poly with a MC of around 12, or am I risking adhesion failure especially if the wood does end up shrinking dimensionally? You can hardly see the humps except the first pier that popped up . I am having a section of our 3.25 Maple hardwood floor replaced. Im planning on using some of it to build a new front door for the house and was wondering what MC I should be shooting for. They are currently nearing equilibrium (around 12 MC) and are stored within the house. Best of luck with your project. The interior home conditions are, AC running at 68-70*F. Exterior wall condition 104*F as checked with an IR thermometer of East wall not in the sun. As the humidity increases, the MC increases, causing the wood to expand. h_k0 r ?c|@+wpF=M^r? ( BzPxgA9P{j]s 3r\WQu\@U.Jy'h{>dccy. Are the measurements of all wood the same? Is this accurate? I dont know what to believe except the company who installed the vapor and dehumidifier said the vapor barrier needs to be changed out because of all the sewage and drainage stains after the plumbing is fixed. Thanks for the email. You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. From a strictly static MC%, 16-20% MC for long duration is going to promote mold growth. P.O. We found the problem and the leak was resolve quickly! Its always a good idea to check with the manufacturer of the finish also. The plumber said that the floor has an elevated moisture reading and took a photo showing the 99.9% (maximum reading) on the meter while the meter was on the floor. The floor immediately felt stronger. Floor joists are generally 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches in width, with 8 or 10 inches as the most common sizes. Once the summer cooling season ends, and the A/C is shut off, and the outside air cools, and the humidity drops significantly, the cool dry air now flowing beneath the home dries out the floor joists. We are manufacturer of eng wood flooring. The acceptable moisture levels in a crawl space are between 30% and 50%, with under 55% being the ideal. Just across the threshold to a white oak floor installed in ~1914 and the MC is 15%->16%. hL Moisture content of 11.5% for the oak is a little high for furniture grade hardwoods. we are presently constructing a new timber frame residence on ocean front in BC, Canada. Hi, we live in a coastal area, had a recent water leak, and a hard wood floor MC is measuring about 25% the water did not contact this area directly. Its mc is 11- 12% . Any suggestions to this being possible to correct? Hi Larry, So a friend of mine has some pine and oak blabs at MC levels of (oak 11.5%) and Pine 13-14%. Thank you for the well described article. The boards should be no wider than 6 inches and installed on a 45-degree angle. The next question is almost the same as before, if we have various kinds of wood, such as March wood, mango wood, pine. we had a problem with our shower curb. Its never constant. or finally the product will be placed where. Hope this helps. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? 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. Since Im drying them outside, being in AK I would like to work with them if possible before the long moist winter. But the table will be inside? Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. When wood is subjected to an environment that is higher in humidity, it will swell or expand. 3. I just bought a live edge slab of Cherry from a local sawmill that was kiln dried. These are typical readings for exterior wood. I am not familiar with the particular moisture meter the plumber was using, but assuming it is correct, that moisture content is way too high to install new flooring. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. Subfloor material such as plywood or OSB should measure between 10 and 14% moisture content. Its not growing or feeding on the wood. This summer I milled several 1.25 boards from a fir log that had been cut around 10 years ago. I recently received a call from a Realtor who is selling a home. A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. Is this dry enough that Id be able to reinstall the trim over the particleboard? This pinless meter is accurate, Ive got 2 other pin moisture meters and all 3 of them read within only 1-3% difference as checked on wood structures. Will the reading be accurate? If you want, just give me a call at 800-634-9961, ext 225. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. 24 and 26 framing studs should measure 19% moisture content or less. So, is it really this wet or is our meter over-reading? Not only did the aggressive notching doom this joist, it affected the structural integrity of the floor system above. I-joists are strong, lightweight, "I" shaped engineered wood structural members that meet demanding performance standards. Thanks for the reply. How would be the best way to prevent mold from growing on the furniture. Thank you for the helpful article. However, kiln drying is used to speed up the process. Keep indoor humidity low. This is expensive and its ridiculous. If your subfloor is a wood product, make sure the reading is less than 20% on the moisture meter. Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache? Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. Here is a link to our moisture meters, thermo-hygrometer, and Smart Logger. within two percentage points of the EMC where the wood is going to be used. He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. The shipping time is approximately 45 day in a 40 container to the west coast . I live in Charlotte, NC. What is a Proper Structural Engineering Inspection? A moisture meter will help verify. )IS0i 1P *V? U? The humidity in the room is currently 40! provide a good substrate for a wide range of wet area finishes. What should be the approximate Highest MC to prevent wood problems to include finishes? As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. However, many building materials may have been dried down to about 15% moisture content. But this wetness is only surficial. The photo shows a floor that is out of level over four or so boards adjacent to the external wall. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. 2013-10-14 03:14:29. The more specific way to know would be to measure the relative humidity and temperature in your homes air and then plug the numbers into a calculator like this https://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/equilibrium.php This will tell you what the MC% should be based on your specific environment. The interior wood moisture level should be 12% or lower before painting. And it really helps to pay an HVAC contractor to better seal and insulate the A/C ducts so they dont leak cold air!!! Drying equipment removed 3 days ago. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. Ev My question for you is, now that it is stained, can I still get an accurate MC? That doesnt make much sense to me. Thank you. 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. We are shipping some acacia chopping board to colorado ( US) with moisture ranges from 10-14% while shipping from India but once product received all get cracked . I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. The acceptable wood moisture content normally ranges from 6% to 8% for woodworkers who build cabinets, fine furniture, musical instruments, dishes, toys, decorative art, boat restoration, or various other wood products. Based on common guidelines or recommendations, the acceptable moisture levels for wood are as follows: Wood objects used indoors: 6-8% Wood flooring: 6-9% Construction: 9-14% Keep in mind that a wood's acceptable moisture level will depend primarily on how it will be finally used and the average RH where it will be finally used. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. Next, check the moisture of new floorboards. Be notified when an answer is posted. Im in Milwaukee, wi if that matters. Which Orion moisture meter model would you suggest for my application? Wood Rot in Crawl Spaces: Whats That Smell in My House. What do you recommend? Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. One type of wood moisture meter. This must be done before attempting to dry out the wood. Thanks for the question. Thanks in advance for your input! Its still there and causing stains and scaring inexperienced home inspectors who frighten buyers, but its dormant. moisture meter testing a floor joist In this image we measure a reading of 37% in this floor joist. Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. A 10% moisture content reading means that 10% of a wood samples weight is due to water in the wood. Typical moisture content for furniture in a home is 6-9%. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). 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. The acceptable moisture content in wood depends on two factors: These two factors make it difficult to say anything specific about acceptable wood moisture content. If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. board, and a 12-in. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. Generally the entire floor is dry. These mold spores land on the wet wood and take root. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? Thank you. Damn those shop classes I didnt take. A subfloor needs to be clean, dry, level and structurally sound. I buy many Artificial Trees for our Stores, which has Wood Stems/Barks, mainly produced in China & Shipped to UAE. The moisture content overall is almost always below 20%. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. 78 0 obj <>stream What do you recommend the reader to be at before insulation and drywall on new construction? I read your article and really like it. endstream endobj 79 0 obj <>stream Now the fungus goes dormant. As the airs RH increases, so does the moisture content of any wood exposed to the air. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. I have a black walnut slabbed up that has been air drying outside for 2 yrs. We are very arid where the tops were built so I figured the tables would be just fine knowing that it is arid where they were goingbut that doesnt seem to be the case. Let's repeat that again. Live in Tn. Make sure theyre aligned with the grain and not across it. Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. On a hot, humid summer day, the air venting into the crawl space could be as much as 75% relative humidity and 85 degrees. I have one question with regards to pinless moisture meters and wallboard/Sheetrock. So, i had one installed a few weeks after we met. I had a quick looked around the crawl space and didnt notice any structure damage. And it's important to keep in mind that a glued-up panel behaves basically as one wide piece of lumber. It causes decay of the wood structure. These tools will give you the confidence that you have done everything on your part to ensure the highest quality in the piece you have built. My thought is maybe to get one of your meter for greater accuracy? Great article, thanks for the info. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. This can lead to rising damp, dry rot, timber decay, fungal growth and borer. ie SW=Starting weight, TW=Target weight, using T%=Target percentage My calculation ( T% X SW = TW). Great article! board will move twice as much as a 4-in. Step 1: Check the Floor. 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. For example, if the expected EMC ranges from a low of 6% to a high of 9%, the baseline moisture content of the wood would be 7.5%. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. They delivered the wood one day, and began to stain and install it over the next two days, finishing on the 6th day. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Observed water leaking along seams of several sheets of original plywood in attic. For example, from 25% to 45% or from 45% to 65%. This means your crawl space humidity goes up by about 22 degrees. board will move 3 times the amount as a 4-in. 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. 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. 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. If the water leak was bad enough, dry rot can occur causing possible structural integrity issues. The conversion puts the adjusted MC between 9.5 -> 12%. Some of the unfinished wood you see on the market has been kiln-dried to reduce its water moisture content to around 8% so that it wont suffer from moisture-related defects like warping and buckling. The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. Does it have another common name? A moisture content reading of 25% is borderline to support mold. Under the floor. I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! I would like to load eucalyptus and pine wood logs to India . So please help us to know what should be required moisture level in Acacia board in final product if we need to restrict wood movement at Colorado . Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. What is the acceptable water/moisture content in cassia bark?- in south east asia. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has a chart that indicates the moisture content of wood at any given combination of temperature and humidity. Many thanks for your advice, really appreciate it! Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. Using South Carolina Residential Construction Standards to Solve Problems, Website by Integritive Web Design :: Asheville, NC. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify. My last Wagner was appropriated by the individual who appropriated other tools out of my old sho. Good luck. i want to make a headboard from it. Second, would the same pine slab, would it be okay to use for a side table or Kitchen island. Crawl Space Inspections: Once a Year Keeps the Contractors Away! This document describes the meaning and use of readings from a wood moisture meter. Toilet overflowed and moisture meter is reading 30% in worst area. With a degree in Computer Systems, Larry is involved in both hardware and software development of wood moisture measurement solutions. 20% 28% Readings in this range indicate that conditions are border-line for decay. What would one expect to read in plywood subfloor and old growth pine floor joist? Because wood shrinks and warps as it dries, woodworkers want it to be pre-shrunk before they use it. The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. Best, Kyle. Any moisture content measured higher than that might result in movement, such as warping and twisting, once it dries. 2nd question, will lacquer on surface of flooring affect the reading. With a Wagner L606, I am getting MC readings 12%->15.5% . I know the rule of thumb is 1 year of dry time per inch of thickness of wood. The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . 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! Too wet and you get fuzzing. For most areas of the United States, acceptable moisture levels of wood and lumber can be in the range of 9% to 14% for exterior wood or for building envelope components within constructed assemblies. The National Association of Home Builders Green Home Building Guidelines for solid strip flooring and wide-width flooring are as follows: summary Wood flooring installers typically want the moisture content of their wood to be between 6% to 9%. I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. 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. We have started to import teak outdoor furniture from Indonesia into Europe. For solid strip flooring (less than 3 wide) there should be no more than a 4% difference in moisture content between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials. I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. The manufacturer of the oil-based poly should have a specification on the maximum allowable moisture content of the wood. moisture will typically measure 7-10%. The three main sources of moisture: Condensation, Foundation wall transfer, and leaks. 541-679-2612 www.Roseburg.com. Wood Moisture Content (WMC) is often used as an indicator of decay problems in houses. A termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. One of our new line of moisture meters will help locate areas of high moisture, if it still exists. I would think at least fixing your dehumidifier is a must. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! There is no balancing layer on the reverse of the panels which might obstrust breathing of the panel. This means a very absorbent wood can retain more water, weight wise, the weight of the wood itself. Be on the lookout for flooring failures such as swelling, buckling, cupping, etc. 1. in Indonesia there are a lot of raw materials consisting of natural fibers, such as: pandanus, water hyacinth, rattan etc. Any suggestions .thanks. Most of it will dissipate. Interior walls non-insulated at around 7-8% mc. Again, the correct moisture content will depend on the surrounding conditions. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? 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. I think that I know my own answer, but thought I might reach out for some possible better insight. I have some black walnut and cherry that Ive milled and want to make some charcuterie, cheese, bread boardsetc with, would the 6 8% dryness apply to this or what would you recommend? This is the standard in the construction industry. Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. Elaine. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? 2-1/4", the moisture content between the flooring planks and the subfloor should not exceed 2%. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. The other was for a $100 retail gift card. Floor joists come in dimensional lumber lengths from 8 to 16 feet or more. The substructure may show decayed areas, ranging from small to very large, of rotten floor joist, sills, and . Wood freshly cut or kiln-dried is always interacting with environmental moisture. However, a general rule of thumb is that the basement's humidity level is not over 30 - 50 percent. Pin-type meters use penetrating electrodes and measure the woods moisture content using electrical resistance. Down pour of rain onto underlayment of attached garage. Also, please feel free to provide us with the number that you called so we can make sure that all of our phone numbers are printed/posted accurately! I had several of the varnished decorative hardwood laminated ply panels replaced in the lounge on an air conditioned luxury yacht. Mold starts to grow in the mid to high 20 percent moisture contents. In other words, the water weighs more than the wood fibers. This is based on a chart in Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. These are the "safest" conditions for most types of woodbetween 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 30% to 50% RH. As a result, the normal moisture meter reading for these materials in between 0.5% and 1%. If the moisture content of the product is well outside the range of optimal MC, the wood flooring should not be accepted because it will lead to shrinkage, bowing, cupping, and other physical problems. You can determine the correct percent moisture content by using our free app called WoodH2O. Hello, Paul here. The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. all concrete) is framed and sheetrocked (though not mudded or sealed in any way) is then the studs are tested for humidity, what would be a reasonable level here in Seattle, living approximately 100 yards Puget Sound? Your subfloor moisture level should be no greater than seven to nine percent when you are installing flooring. 16% - 20%- Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. Freshly cut wood has a lot of moisture in it. Wood is a hygroscopic material that contains water, even after it is cut from a tree. Will your meters work to find MC levels for composites? Dryer wood produces more resistance than wetter wood. Hug the ones you love when you see them! You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. Be sure to acclimate the wood to desired EMC of the interior environment before you use it. Hello! Ideally Ill wait until reaching final drying but sometimes I need to use wood before that point. Insert the pins into the surface of the wood you want to test. Also, the glue manufacturer should ideally give you some specifications for max and min moisture content. If after the inspection we find that your sagging floor joists need support or your home's foundation needs repair we may recommend using IntelliJack, JES Helical Piers, or JES Push Piers. Houses with timber-framed floors can be at risk of having poor underfloor ventilation. 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. My question for you is: after a smallish unheated underground space (similar to a basement, i.e. A dehumidifier in the crawlspace will help but can be expensive. For more information, see our article comparing Pinless Moisture Meters vs. Pin Meters. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. One of his own service guys said foundation caps needed to be replaced. The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. Thanks! While playing around with my pinless meter and checking the interior East and west walls on hot days, I notice the moisture content being very high 60% mc to off scale. I recommend one of our Orion models: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. 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. If decay or WMC readings over 28% are present, find and fix the sources of liquid water quickly. -25% moisture content in a VENTED crawl space. When determining the acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring before installation, the NWFA states that the flooring professional should establish a baseline for acclimation. 12% is good for softwoods, but again, it depends on the relative humidity and temperature where the finished product will be kept.
acceptable moisture levels in floor joists