Most of it will dissipate. I was able to get the MC down to 15%. how do I determine the mc standard for this material, is it the same as wood or has its own specifications, 2. Top 5 Causes of Cracks in Brick Veneer Homes. As a general rule, with geographic exceptions, wood flooring performs best when the interior environment is controlled to stay within an RH range of 30% to 50% and a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I would like to load eucalyptus and pine wood logs to India . The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. I get some water seepage through an exterior wall at basement floor level as a result of heavy rain. Should I remove more foam to be sure. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. Thank you for the helpful article. That doesnt make much sense to me. I manufacture ice cream sticks and disposable wooden cutlery from European Baltic birch wood in India. board. Many timber-framed floor problems can be traced to moisture levels, excessive loads or borer. It is also possible to have moisture content readings over 100%. Sorry, that time of year. Hello! Also, the glue manufacturer should ideally give you some specifications for max and min moisture content. 1. Moisture levels in your crawl space that go beyond 70% lead to mold growth and health concerns. This pin-type moisture meter is one of Delmhorst's most popular models. To make sure the wood is properly dried, he always uses a moisture meter before working with it. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. This can be a problem once installed in furniture or a floor. Working with some slabs of spruce. The photo shows a floor that is out of level over four or so boards adjacent to the external wall. How long will it take to get to the ideal moisture reading and is it better to be stored in a garage or inside a house? One of his own service guys said foundation caps needed to be replaced. I had a pin meter but found I had to put the pins in the ends or try to find an area that wouldnt be seen, so Im thinking a pinless might be better. The wood and varnish appear otherwise pristine, uncracked and not bubbled or clouded in any way. Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. 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. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. Building Performance Series No. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. Sometimes moving the air around is enough to remove moisture and dry surfaces. Are the measurements of all wood the same? A floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. Great article, thanks for the info. If this is confusing, dont worry. What is the acceptable moisture level for plywood? 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. It is impossible for me to tell you what the percentage of furniture should be, but if you know the EMC in the area it will be kept, you can check the MC continuously until you reach its EMC. It is best to replace the particle board subfloor. I am building a farm style dining table with pecan 2 thick X 8-0 long boards. hj0Ed=h].J-)_q},jR3$\ eH"wCk)E)J8 I suspect the screws may be skewing the measurements. Therefore, just because the wood is kiln-dried doesnt mean it has lost the ability to absorb moisture. 24 and 26 framing studs should measure 19% moisture content or less. Squeaks from subfloors The floor installer is often the 'first cab off the rank' when there is a squeaking floor and the problem may Should it be less? 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. 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. One sheet of plywood is 25% next to a 2X4 truss reading 17-27%. Good luck. 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. Were so sorry for the inconvenience. 2. 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? This chart highlights the ideal levels of moisture in wood at various temperatures and relative humidity (RH) levels: In this chart, you can see a small highlighted section. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. I have an unusual question, if I was to sandwich recycled paper (similar to hardwood floor paper only heavier) between 2 layers of wood as a draft stop what should the moisture content be to avoid the paper absorbing any water and ending up with a mold issue thanks in advance for any info you can provide. Now the fungus goes dormant. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. My question is regarding finishing. Step 1: Check the Floor. Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. 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. What is the optimal MC of the fir stock for construction of the windows? The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. Perhaps there is something different about the East and West walls. Below 12% Readings in this range are common to kiln or oven dried woods and furniture grades of wood, and represent dry conditions. Its always a good idea to check with the manufacturer of the finish also. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. The lumber was recently milled, although the tree had been cut months, years ago. With regard to mold growing on your furniture, I would have to defer you back to the shipping company as they have more experience dealing with these types of issues. Please give us a call at (800) 634-9961 or email info@wagnermeters.com, if youd prefer. I understand that a home inspector expressed concern about fungal growth on the floor framing, so the buyer is concerned that the fungus needs to be removed/cleaned/mitigated from the joists. 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. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. ft., based on a standard AStM F-1869 (Calcium Chloride) test, or 80% rh, based on AStM F-2170. This can lead to rising damp, dry rot, timber decay, fungal growth and borer. 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. Percent moisture content in wood is the ratio of the weight of water compared to the overall weight of a piece of wood. 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? within two percentage points of the EMC where the wood is going to be used. In general, 12% moisture or above is too wet to install flooring. Jerry, From a moisture standpoint, water in the basement can over time absorb into your subfloor. Dryer wood produces more resistance than wetter wood. Example: 1.2mm Hickory wear layer 9mm thick plywood compose of 7 layers, 2 layers acacia, 4 layers of Eucalyptus\2 layers Acacia and one layer Poplar. Foundation Underpinning Repair: Unnecessary? Please provide us with regular updates. Remember that the meter assumes it is reading timber. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. Like all wood materials, I-joists are susceptible to moisture. In other words, the water weighs more than the wood fibers. Keep monitoring it. You must be careful with a thick slab once you cut it. My house is 24 years old. Before installing plywood underlayment, ensure that the existing flooring is thoroughly vacuumed, free from debris, and stripped of wax. The ceiling in the bedroom above the chimney breast shows signs of damp however doesn't feel damp/moist. The electrical current will then move from pin to pin and measure the resistance encountered. It is possible, in some species, to have a moisture content higher than 100 percent. 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. This is based on a chart in Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. Do you have any recommendations on how to prevent mold from getting on the wood? can be laid with falls and set downs. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. If you want, just give me a call at 800-634-9961, ext 225. These are the "safest" conditions for most types of woodbetween 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 30% to 50% RH. Acclimation is the process for conditioning the moisture content of wood flooring to the environment where it will be installed. 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. Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. Do NOT install the flooring planks until these moisture content levels are achieved. Prior to the flooring installation, make sure your subfloor has not experienced leaks or other water damage. Other signs of high moisture readings include surface mold, evidence of water flows in the crawl space, evidence of water stains or evaporation from foundation walls and columns, evidence of condensation on ducts and evidence of water drops impacting the soil under ducts. 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. A dehumidifier in the crawlspace will help but can be expensive. Hi Moisture Experts, My house is 25 years old located in Oregon City OR (near Portland). As the humidity increases, the MC increases, causing the wood to expand. 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. However, kiln drying is used to speed up the process. Whether youre a woodworker making cabinets, a wood flooring professional installing hardwood floors, or if you use wood in construction, wood moisture content (MC) should be always on your mind. 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. The rim joist and floor joist sit right on the block. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. 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. To establish a baseline for wood flooring acclimation, the installer will need to calculate the optimal moisture level of the wood by dividing the regions high season and low season EMC. WagnerMeters 1.93K subscribers 3.2K views 1 year ago Hardwood Flooring - Tips & Problems Do you work with wood? Hello and thanks for writing in. 1. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. endstream endobj 80 0 obj <>stream "Mold requires moisture to survive, so protecting lumber and wood structures from moisture will prevent mold growth. They are returning to remove one plank and take it back to see what they can do to meet my satisfaction. Best of luck with your project. 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. Where are you located? The ideal moisture content for hardwoods is between 6% and about 9%, depending on the ambient conditions around the wood. the concrete was completely dry, no standing water. During the summer months in the northeast region, wood subfloors and floor joists often measure 19. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache? 2-1/4", the moisture content between the flooring planks and the subfloor should not exceed 2%. Wiki User. 12% 16% Readings in this range are common to lumber during construction, air dried lumber and healthy residential substructures (beneath first floor in crawl spaces). Typical moisture content for furniture in a home is 6-9%. Thanks. Substructures with WMC in this range may show decay or rot in floor joist, sills, and subflooring. 541-679-2612 www.Roseburg.com. Use a wet/dry shop vacuum, sump pump, or rags to clean up standing water or excess moisture from the floor and from the surface of the wood. A high reading in one area indicates a problem that must be corrected. My house was built in 1927. You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify. You will also see that the healthy wood moisture levels of 10% - 16% occur when the relative humidity is between 55% and 80% at 70 degrees. 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. Lower differential means slower heat loss. We are checking moisture levels in several areas each day. I would not recommend re-drying finished plywood. The subfloor registered from 12% to 17% . (864) 506-4701, South Carolina Residential Construction Standards, http://www.rlcengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RLC-Engineering-1.png. We really cant overstress the importance of taking plenty of moisture readings. As with any wood product, the environment where the finished product will Live will determine the correct moisture content. The thinner veneers wont have much bearing on the reading. You can Google moisture content of wood necessary to support fungal growth and see for yourself. They are now saying that they will replace whatever boards are bad and resand and finish the floors, however Im concerned that there is an underlying issue that will resurface here? 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. Box 1437 Subfloor material such as plywood or OSB should measure between 10 and 14% moisture content. What % does it have to get down to before it would be usable to make a table top ? Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? I dont know what type of floor you have, but if it gets wet enough, about 25% moisture content or higher, mold can grow. i used my dremel with a shaping bit about 1/8 in to cut vertical slits or vents about an inch deep and a couple of inches tall into the bottom 24 and have kept a commercial floor blower on the wood several hours a day for more than a week yet, the number is not going down. The reading was sky high in the pan and up two tiles high on the wall. Let's repeat that again. Any suggestions .thanks. As this moisture condenses on the floor system, it wets the wood. I suspect the moisture was the culprit? Elaine. Is this accurate? Add 1 to this value and round up the answer to the next whole number: 7.40625 + 1 = 8.40625 9 floor joists. If your subfloor is a wood product, make sure the reading is less than 20% on the moisture meter. At that point in time, we did not have a conditioned house. Hello Larry I am from Bangladesh. ( 55 days transit by sea) What should be the moisture content while loading in Containers? Floor joists support most of your home's weight and play a crucial role in structural integrity. Thank you. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. I installed a sump pump and 6 mil vapor barrier, but the barrier is not sealed around piers and the ground is moist under the barrier all year. I am based in The Netherlands. However, this range will vary slightly according to the geographic region because of varying RH levels. Second, would the same pine slab, would it be okay to use for a side table or Kitchen island. Waterproof membrane . These are typical readings for exterior wood. 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. Retain this information with your records. Crawl Space Inspections: Once a Year Keeps the Contractors Away! Please commenr? Great info! Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists? moisture will typically measure 7-10%. We have industrial fans going 24/7 to try and dry out the room and also have a dehumidifier running, Ive had the heated floor running in hopes that it could help dry any of the wet wood directly below. The interior was 3/4 BW the tables dimensions were 40x 70 . You can use a dehumidifier when you need your crawl space drier, but it's essential to maintain proper moisture levels as much as possible. Different wood? Failure to do this will result in warping, cracking, and other problems after the construction of the wood product. For a wooden subfloor you will need to use a 2-pronged moisture meter. Chris. He, of course, said that type of product is insufficient. Treatment levels for timber and timber-based materials used under tiles in wet areas where the waterproofing membrane cannot easily be inspected or maintained should be: H1.2 for timber floor joists and wall framing around showers; H3 (CCA treated) for plywood. After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. This means the weight of the water exceeds the weight of the wood by itself. Were looking to replace the floor in an old (unheated) hay barn with treated tongue & Groove 26 flooring and need to know if the advertised 19% MC will be ok and not shrink too much. Your cost could be more or less, depending on the size of the floor area. This level of moisture is unlikely in a joist which is independent of a wall or under a water leak. I am planning an under-house excursion tomorrow. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. When determining the acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring before installation, the NWFA states that the flooring professional should establish a baseline for acclimation. There are joists that display splitting. Two weeks is sufficient for softwood. 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. Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. Finally the question I have is I-used your Wood H2O app and the humidity here (outside) is 55% and the temperature is near 70 (inside)am I correct that 10% is what Is the acceptable moisture of the wood should be for furniture building? I read your article and really like it. Joist spans may not be on the minds of most do-it-yourselfers, but joist spans are everywhere: above our heads in the ceiling joists and below our feet as flooring joists. Your email address will not be published. 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. Since the cold weather has come on, the organic growth has gone dormant, but a contractor noticed joists with distinctive moisture content where there are definitive separations between dry and wet looking wood. These are slabs roughly 2 thick. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. All houses now use perimeter foundation so outside contact temperature stays at about 55 F all year. 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%. Some wood you buy from a lumber store can be higher than 14% but typically range between 12-14%. The engineered wood floor appears ok. The optimal humidity in a home is generally 35%-55% and anything under 20% is actually considered unhealthy, as it dries out the skin. The conversion puts the adjusted MC between 9.5 -> 12%. Currently the RH is 76%, the residence RH will be set at around 35%. BD-2100 Pin Meter. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. Sorry that this is so long-winded and I thank you in advance if you are willing to address this question for me. Too dry and you get chipping out of the wood. Avoid unnecessary moisture exposure of all wood components by enclosing the frame against adverse weather as soon as feasible. 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? The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. Its mc is 11- 12% . Again, the correct moisture content will depend on the surrounding conditions. 3. We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. board will move 3 times the amount as a 4-in. Thanks for the article, really appreciate the info! this is an interesting read I landed upon as I was searching for MC in wood items. 10? The fir windows and exterior doors will be affected by the the exterior and interior RH. -ThA?> =v\0r5#v ,J\Byt)%*?I!PT`FdCE N a^1IMm[?x>7RFH +=\ info@rlcengineering.com The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. 20% 28% Readings in this range indicate that conditions are border-line for decay. 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. These include warping, cracking, buckling, diminished wood strength, corrosion of fasteners, and even fungal growth. I have been testing the bottom stud/sill board of an exterior wall on a slab of an old house that exposed in order to put a floor in. As far as the oil finish, the manufacturer of the oil will specify the correct moisture content for an application. There are two main ways of measuring wood moisture content: oven-dry testing and moisture meter testing. However, the company who maintains the dehumidifier said he tested some of the joist which he said only registered 10 on his device. These are typical readings for exterior wood. Wood moisture content between 0% and about 28% is dependent upon the relative humidity (RH) of the air. If you need further clarification http://www.nwfa.org is an excellent source. The EMC in the recommended temperature/humidity range coincides with the 6% to 9% range used by most flooring manufacturers during the manufacturing and shipping process. I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. In all cases, determining the acceptable moisture level of wood requires the use of an extremely accurate moisture meter. The floor installer put the floors down without allowing the boards to acclimate. hello I been getting very sick in my home so I had my manger do a mold and moisture test which came back high level of moisture levels which a contractor wants to take the sub floor up and 2 to 4 inches of the wall but my apartment manger is not releasing to report and hes is saying the spore test didnt pick up any mold spore question is it safe for me and my family to be in the home with high level of moisture in the restroom which the floor have been really soft for over 9 months now as well as the kids bedroom where a pipe burst. summary Wood must always be allowed to acclimate or come into balance with the RH of the end-use location. Floors-1/2" in 12' or 3/16" in 4'. It does the same for wood, and is especially hard on softwoods, such as pine or fir. I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. Wall Corners-Perpendicular within 1/4" in 10'. This only occurs when wood changes moisture content below the fibre saturation point. If the water leak was bad enough, dry rot can occur causing possible structural integrity issues. Also, there is a risk of mold. 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. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. The definitions section of the IICRC S500 current edition describes dry-standard: "a reasonable approximation of the moisture content or level of a material prior to a water intrusion," drying goal: the target moisture content or moisture level in a material to be achieved at the end of the drying process established by the restorer. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). our question is do we need to replace the floor to avoid fungal problems? Do you agree with this? we are getting hardwoods from our Uk Suppliers and accoya coming in at 2% and once we use the timber we are reading 0% we have tested the reader and its accurate even joinery grade sapele wood and Tulip wood coming in at 0% we cover these in 3 coats of sikkens paint and sometimes we get jobs where we are having to go back as our joinery is moving and we are guessing its because of these moisture levels and had never checked previously. As with plywood subfloors, if there is movement or squeaks, refasten the subfloor to the joists and set protruding fasteners into the subfloor. 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. Just across the threshold to a white oak floor installed in ~1914 and the MC is 15%->16%. 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. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. . I was thinking 10% MC would be ok but after reading your article Im not sure.
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