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Can I get a away with this? Wood is hygroscopic. Kiln-dried timber should be kept dry. The reading was sky high in the pan and up two tiles high on the wall. Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. Thank you for the helpful article. The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. Any opinions. You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. You must be careful with a thick slab once you cut it. Set the meter to the species that makes up the bulk, in this case, the plywood. I would not recommend re-drying finished plywood. Wood moisture content is always varying. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. They were installed over existing plywood subfloor. can be laid with falls and set downs. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. We also ship to other European countries, for dryer country like Spain the EMC could be between 12 and 14. Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists? Notches at the end of the joist should be no deeper than 1/4 the depth. Lay the panels perpendicular to floor joists, allowing 1/4 inch of space between panels and the wall. Why and how can I say this? Dryer wood produces more resistance than wetter wood. It is best to replace the particle board subfloor. These mold spores land on the wet wood and take root. I found your moisture levels column through a search for good wood for low humidity. If a wooden sample has moisture content range of 2-6% only and if it has moisture content of 9 or 10% then what does this mean?? Floors should be: level within a 3mm deviation per 1m for floors up to 6m across (measured at the furthest points across the full width of the floor) a maximum of 20mm out of level for floors over 6m across flat within a 5mm deviation, measured using a 2m straight edge with equal offsets. If he is using a high-quality product from companies such as Delmhorst, they provide a slide hammer pin attachment, and they need to use insulated-shaft pins. Just across the threshold to a white oak floor installed in ~1914 and the MC is 15%->16%. Ev Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. I-joists are strong, lightweight, "I" shaped engineered wood structural members that meet demanding performance standards. Insert the pins into the surface of the wood you want to test. I not sure if this is normal, related to the re-shim or need to install a crawl space dehumidifier to slow the progression? As with plywood subfloors, if there is movement or squeaks, refasten the subfloor to the joists and set protruding fasteners into the subfloor. 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. Typical humidity levels inside a home is between 40 to 50%. There was a board that cracked along a glue line. Most floor joists are single or double, and most often made with 2x6s or 2x8s. i also drilled into the wood every few inches, several inches deep with a typical drill bit. The ideal moisture content will depend on the humidity indoors. board. The cedar I have is now at 12-16%. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. It constantly absorbs and releases vapour into the . What are acceptable ranges of moisture for composite materials like MDF and Plywood, for indoor furniture use? A11 - Substrate Testing - Floor Covering Reference Manual Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? 24 and 26 framing studs should measure 19% moisture content or less. On a hot, humid summer day, the air venting into the crawl space could be as much as 75% relative humidity and 85 degrees. So if I understood the article right and not sure that I did. hj0Ed=h].J-)_q},jR3$\ eH"wCk)E)J8 I would like to load eucalyptus and pine wood logs to India . We are manufacturer of eng wood flooring. Damn those shop classes I didnt take. I strongly recommend using a moisture meter, along with a thermo-hygrometer, or even a smart logger before you start building, to ensure the wood is at an optimal moisture content in an environment that has an acceptable relative humidity and temperature range. I cant speak for the home inspector who has raised concerns, or what his experience level is, but I can assure you that the floor joists beneath this home are no different than 90% of the floor joists I have inspected over the past three decades. If a board reads 100% (Difficult to measure accurately) then the weight of the water equals the weight of that wood. It is also possible high moisture has entered the container during the trip to Europe. At this home, cool objects include the air conditioning ductwork, the ground and the overlying wood floor system, which is exposed to very cool temperatures due to air conditioning duct leakage. I requested the treated lumber be brought in a few weeks prior to build, stickered and put under cover to acclimate and dry it. This app will tell you the percent moisture content that a given temperature and humidity will equilibrate to. My main concern here is that the flooring didnt have enough time to acclimate to the surrounding conditions. Wet Floor Joists - Drying Water Damaged Floor Joists moisture will typically measure 7-10%. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. Here is a link to a calculator and table: http://www.csgnetwork.com/emctablecalc.html. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. Mold and fungus in the crawl space can definitely become a problem, but dont be fooled into thinking that a Borate spray HAS to be applied in EVERY situation. I have 1 1/2 thick cherry boards that I had milled from a tree in my yard last fall. 1. Wood is a hygroscopic material that contains water, even after it is cut from a tree. 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. Mold starts to grow in the mid to high 20 percent moisture contents. The failure in your case sounds as though the piece was exposed to a rapid loss of already low ambient moisture, causing the cracking in the piece. i dont understand how the bottom beam looks like swiss cheese from all the holes ive drilled and has had a commercial blower on it for days yet the number is still high despite there being no visible water to keep the wood wet. Was told thats not done. You will however, need to become familiar with reading your local floor joist span tables for floor beams, floor joists, window and door lintels, ceiling joists, roof joists, roof rafters, and roof ridge beams, as well as the sizing and spacing of wood studs tables. Accuaracy is of course more important.. How best to handle moisture inside concrete block basement walls? in other hardwood areas that wasnt close to the water, was measuring about 16-19%. 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. Best of luck with your project. Remember that the meter assumes it is reading timber. This level of moisture is unlikely in a joist which is independent of a wall or under a water leak. Turn on the meter. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify. %PDF-1.5 % I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. PDF Moisture and Wood-Frame Buildings - Healthy Heating 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. Interior walls non-insulated at around 7-8% mc. Here is a link to our moisture meters, thermo-hygrometer, and Smart Logger. -XF% Writing all the way from Australia, Steven. Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! It is not fair to ask the seller of this home to pay some pest control firm to spray Borate on the floor system. Under the floor - Consumer NZ The SG setting is on the card that comes with the meter. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. What are Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood? Thanks for the the information, very detailed and useful. 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. Moisture Content of Wood | Everything You Need to Know - Reliance Timber Not using the correct procedure. Uneven Floors, Sagging Floor Repair - Problem Signs and Solutions by JES Perhaps there is something different about the East and West walls. The difference between the wood subfloor and the hardwood flooring shouldn't exceed 4% for solid strip hardwood . We will be building fir windows. Continue reading MC in the home. Repair is often required when WMC readings are in this range. Great article, thanks for the info. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. summary Acceptable wood moisture readings on a meter normally range from 6% to 8% for woodworking. Thank you. For joists where the rot infestation has been thoroughly dealt with: it is acceptable to leave the joist as it is. 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. My question for you is: after a smallish unheated underground space (similar to a basement, i.e. Or perhaps I should advise them to buy Wagner meters, for better accuracy ;-). These WMC readings are usually provided by pest control operators, and are included in the termite letter (form CL-100 Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report). Oh no! The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). 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! Soil is almost always damp. My last Wagner was appropriated by the individual who appropriated other tools out of my old sho. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. Checking the Moisture of your Subfloor - Ambience Hardwood Flooring Im on a grade-level concrete slab, and the water made its way over (under the tiles) to my sink vanity. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. PDF Solid Wood Flooring Installation - Mullican Flooring A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home | US EPA Varying humidity levels can cause wood to lose or gain water and shrink or expand. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. Bird, who runs the School of Fine Woodworking outside Knoxville, Tennessee, says he knows wood shrinks seasonally but wants to minimize the shrinkage and expansion by drying the wood to a moisture content of about 8%. Your subfloor moisture level should be no greater than seven to nine percent when you are installing flooring. I suggested replacing my dehumidifier (Sears brand, bucket collection) which has been inoperable this past year. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. 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%. Everyone who works with wood needs to understand how wood interacts with moisture in the environment. I think that I know my own answer, but thought I might reach out for some possible better insight. Kiln-dried wood usually shows a moisture reading of 10% on the outside and then 25% on the inside. Both slab-on-ground and suspended concrete floors for wet areas: are deemed impervious when steel trowel finished or polished. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. What would be the recommended MC for doors of my new building(under construction)? What is the acceptable moisture level for plywood? Mold and fungus in the crawl space can definitely become a problem, but dont be fooled into thinking that a Borate spray HAS to be applied in EVERY situation. 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. endstream endobj 79 0 obj <>stream We have a free app called WoodH2O for Android or iPhone. Thank you, In wood products manufacturing, 6-8% is pretty much the norm, at least in North America. PDF Moisture Content in Wood Structural Members in Residences With Decay The purpose of acclimating is to allow the flooring to equalize to the surrounding conditions, no matter how large the room is. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. It causes decay of the wood structure. 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. or finally the product will be placed where. I gladly obliged. Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. However, this time I was planning to use oil based poly rather than the spar urethane to reduce the amount of yellowing. Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? Would you be able to say anything about the optimal MC range for this specific situation? This means a very absorbent wood can retain more water, weight wise, the weight of the wood itself. 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. Mobeen, If a wooden sample gains moisture, then the sample will increase in size. 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 water eventually came out a electric outlet located three inches off the floor. Rotten Floor Joists - Repairing & Replacing Rotting Joists 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. We dont know if we still have leaks? Your cost could be more or less, depending on the size of the floor area. Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. Two questions I need a reliable, easy to use meter that can cover all species as I now have a portable mill and that can be used for treated. Great info! The wood has been kiln dried and packed in corrugate. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. First of all, it's normal for a below-grade concrete block wall in contact with the soil to have a high moisture content. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. What can we do to get the row products closer in moisture content, we are currently using fans, We are in northern lower Michigan I am the general contractor for the house, and want to avoid any problems, would love to talk to you on the phone, my number is 9894647248, Mark Skiba, This is a great site about moisture content. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. Water Level Survey: Are You Smarter Than an Egyptian? Im down to ~13-19% MC near floor level, based on a cheapo moisture meters readings. Replaced the subfloor, which is . How to Level a Floor - Lowes I used my Wagner meter and it Measured in the 10% area. Which Orion moisture meter model would you suggest for my application? What is a Normal Reading on a Moisture Meter? All Materials Covered . A high reading in one area indicates a problem that must be corrected. The sink vanity is made from typical laminated particle board, and Ive been trying to dry it in place using a dehumidifier and sealing the area off. Also, if the leak was bad enough, it will be necessary to have a contractor make sure the strength of the subfloor isnt compromised. Which do you recommend? That is still quite a wide range. Any time water can be absorbed into a material such as wood, drywall etc, its always a good idea to check for excessive moisture, especially if you suspect a leak. Seattles EMC ranges from 12.2% to 16.5%. It is also possible to have moisture content readings over 100%. Floor Joist Sizes & Span in Residential Home Building (Complete Guide) 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!. Since Im drying them outside, being in AK I would like to work with them if possible before the long moist winter. The installer should then check the moisture content of multiple boards and average the results. We have had an abnormally wet spring and part of summer. board, and a 12-in. Your email address will not be published. So what do you think is the ideal moisture% I should dry them to before rotary polishing them? The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. These are typical readings for exterior wood. There will be statistical outliers on both the low and the high end and youll want to catch these by using a quality moisture meter. This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. Can carpet be reinstalled? 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? Reaching these moisture content levels does not mean mold growth or corrosion . As long as the moisture content does not exceed those readings you should be ok. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. 2. A dry reading will be 16% MC (Moisture Content) or below. 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. This summer I milled several 1.25 boards from a fir log that had been cut around 10 years ago. In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. Under the floor. Before installing carpet, you will need to dry the subfloor first. Spruce isnt a hardwood so Im assuming I could get away with a shorter dry time. Hope this helps. Your ideal MC will also depend on the outdoor humidity levels. i am baffled. endstream endobj 81 0 obj <>stream They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. my question is, is there a possibility that the wood will shrink because of the weather condition?the wood that we used for the door frames and bidding is beechwood. Grain orientation matters You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. Free Webinar The What, Why, and How of Wood Moisture Testing. When the wood neither gains nor loses moisture, we say that the wood has reached its equilibrium moisture content (EMC). Take the readings in at least 20 spots per 1,000 square feet of flooring and average the results. Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? This can be a problem once installed in furniture or a floor. Wall Corners-Perpendicular within 1/4" in 10'. Home Moisture Meters Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content. Here current humidity is 76%.