This method uses the oven-dry method and then compares the results to those obtained using a moisture meter. However, it The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. A subfloor needs to be clean, dry, level and structurally sound. 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. Thank you for the helpful article. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. I wanted to talk to someone at Wagner about moisture guages and is there a dealer near Chattanooga, TN. We have had on/off rain and humidity 80-90% range. Its more important to understand that the wood is kiln-dried down to a certain bell-shaped range of MCs. Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. The same study showed a 40% loss in joint strength and concluded that a 20% MC may significantly compromise shear resistance of exterior walls. Meanwhile, the reference scale can be used to provide qualitative moisture assessments in other building materials. 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. 7. Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! Since water conducts electricity and wood doesnt, the dryness of the wood can be determined by the amount of resistance to an electrical current. They delivered the wood one day, and began to stain and install it over the next two days, finishing on the 6th day. Wood exposed to air with a RH of about 90% will reach a Wood Moisture Content of about 20%. Thank you for sharing such valuable information. Replaced the subfloor, which is . It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. Yes, the wood can still be read for MC with a stain on it. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. Eventually, this internal moisture will evaporate by itself. Ev We dont know if we still should be having a commercial drying process? We have started to import teak outdoor furniture from Indonesia into Europe. Box 1437 Treated wood is typically still wet when its delivered to the job site. A floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. As a general guideline, an emission rate of 1.4 kg/100m (3 lbs/1000 ft) or less is considered acceptable for most floor coverings. 24 and 26 framing studs should measure 19% moisture content or less. I want to use it to build a table and will be moving it to the location where I will work on it shortly. I-Joist - APA - The Engineered Wood Association - APAwood.org Should I remove more foam to be sure. Is this accurate? 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. This can lead to rising damp, dry rot, timber decay, fungal growth and borer. This would depend on the expectations of the person receiving the product in India, how large of diameter the logs are, and some average estimate of what the conditions would be inside the container during the 55 days. This week, I notice the next pier on the same beam is starting to push up, warping the floor. i am baffled. Hug the ones you love when you see them! What is an FHA Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Homes? Joists that sit below end matched joints must be at least 35mm thick. 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. A11 - Substrate Testing - Floor Covering Reference Manual . of water/day/1000 sq. Had fans and dehumidifer running for 17 days starting 2 days after leak. Hello, I am renovating my kitchen and installing hardwood floors. The normal outside equilibration moisture content (EMC) for Indiana is anywhere from 13% to 16%. Prior to the re-shim, the pier in the area that floods in the spring could be felt pushing up the floor, meaning the beam is warping and been monitoring it. Fix & Replace Damaged Floor Joists - How to Sister a Joist We are manufacturer of eng wood flooring. Here is a link to a moisture meter I recommend: https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-910-deep/. Moisture levels in your crawl space that go beyond 70% lead to mold growth and health concerns. 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. How to test moisture /water content in cassia bark? Furniture grade wood is typically dried to a target of 6%-9%. I live in michigan (humid summer, long cold winter). I know the rule of thumb is 1 year of dry time per inch of thickness of wood. Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. Most types of wood species will mold above 25% moisture content, including pine. Why You Should Test for Moisture Before Installing Flooring Floor Joist Calculator 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. What % does it have to get down to before it would be usable to make a table top ? Typically, allow about 3 weeks for hardwood to acclimate in the environment. All that needs to be done at this home is to close-up the foundation vents during every air conditioning season and make sure the ground cover vapor barrier is spread completely over the underlying ground surface. Percent moisture content in wood is the ratio of the weight of water compared to the overall weight of a piece of wood. Will the reading be accurate? As the airs RH increases, so does the moisture content of any wood exposed to the air. 10 14% moisture content is too high. Question: Just to make sure that you get accurate moisture measurements, has your moisture meter been checked for calibration? Retain this information with your records. 0 WM=8DBaHh10tIKR/OH}X5Kpt'_]4Mfg9@w8~ n$R can be laid with falls and set downs. Thanks for the article, really appreciate the info! A Guide to Subfloors Used Under Wood Flooring If an interior location has an average RH of 40-52%, wood placed there will have an average EMC of 8-9%. Wood shrinks or swells as its moisture content changes, but only when water is taken up or given off from the cell walls. It is best to allow the wood to equilibrate to the room environment. Concrete floors. The wood and varnish appear otherwise pristine, uncracked and not bubbled or clouded in any way. While oven-dry testing, if followed correctly, offers accurate results, there are a few drawbacks: These three drawbacks mean that oven-dry testing usually isnt the option of choice for hobbyists who work with wood. Simply put, the post offers some useful information. Oiling the surface does not control the moisture in the wood. To do so: Make two vertical cuts through the joist a safe distance away from each end of the rotten section. What Are The Acceptable Moisture Levels In Wood Flooring? ft., and averaging the results. Good luck. 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. When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! I am based in The Netherlands. Copyright - RLC Engineering, LLC. The fastest way to test the moisture content of wood is to use a moisture meter. I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. And it really helps to pay an HVAC contractor to better seal and insulate the A/C ducts so they dont leak cold air!!! we had a problem with our shower curb. Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists? Required fields are marked *. A contractor is measuring sill plates by driving 2 SS Screws into the wood about 1-1/2 or so inches. These are typical readings for exterior wood. But this wetness is only surficial. I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. Check joints and bottom plates as moisture can get trapped here. Wood is used to clean model railroad tracks. Hi and good day , I would like to find out what r the right temperature readings for workable wood slabs in South Africa specially Matumi wood slabs. Ive been following your in depth blog on moisture meters for around 1 year now. Interior walls non-insulated at around 7-8% mc. That is still quite a wide range. 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. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. Wood Moisture Content (WMC) is often used as an indicator of decay problems in houses. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. Effects of Moisture on I-Joists and LVL - Roseburg After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. I dialed the 800 number for Wagner meters and all I got was two sales pitches for a Life alert type device. What is an acceptable crawl space wood moisture content? . The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. This is the standard in the construction industry. How To Control Crawl Space Moisture + Humidity What is the acceptable moisture level for plywood? I hope that helps. 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. Thanks for any help you can provide! The cause that may produce this will be discussed in the section "Biodeteration of flood". I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. These mold spores land on the wet wood and take root. He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. hellow! Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? Set the meter to the species that makes up the bulk, in this case, the plywood. 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? My builder and flooring contractor asked for me to give the hardwoods a season to acclimate and they would surely move back together in june/july time frame. Including some high-end species like Rosewood, ebony, Mahogany, White Cedar, Bija Sal, Walnut, Gmelina, etc. The SG setting is on the card that comes with the meter. -25% moisture content in a VENTED crawl space. It is best to replace the particle board subfloor. Crawl Space Moisture and Hardwood Flooring - Stover's Liquidation The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. When wood is subjected to an environment that is higher in humidity, it will swell or expand. Other than causing structural damage, too much water can result in mold growth. Generally the entire floor is dry. The difference is the moisture meters measurement error. the concrete was completely dry, no standing water. I suggested replacing my dehumidifier (Sears brand, bucket collection) which has been inoperable this past year. The reading was sky high in the pan and up two tiles high on the wall. Thanks for the email. For a wooden subfloor you will need to use a 2-pronged moisture meter. The floor immediately felt stronger. Moisture meter reading - DoItYourself.com Community Forums Elaine. Keep monitoring it. My house was built in 1927. Under the floor - Consumer NZ We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. If you know such International or Amercan or any other standard please let me know. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. https://www.wagnermeters.com/wood-moisture-meters/. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. At that point in time, we did not have a conditioned house. Larry: I recently had my annual termite inspection. One of his own service guys said foundation caps needed to be replaced. Also, there is a risk of mold. endstream endobj 79 0 obj <>stream Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. summary Acceptable wood moisture readings on a meter normally range from 6% to 8% for woodworking. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. First time this has happened (splitting that is). The installer should then check the moisture content of multiple boards and average the results. tolerances for floors/walls - Structural Inspections - InterNACHI Forum "Mold requires moisture to survive, so protecting lumber and wood structures from moisture will prevent mold growth. They are currently nearing equilibrium (around 12 MC) and are stored within the house. Thank you, In wood products manufacturing, 6-8% is pretty much the norm, at least in North America. If any of these conditions occur, tell your installer right away. My meter tells me anything above 12% is wet but I cannot find any source of leaking or signs of water. summary Wood must always be allowed to acclimate or come into balance with the RH of the end-use location. Cut in the spring and stacked and dried them over the summer. Cheers, Howard Pruden in Edmonton, Alberta where its cold and dry. Why and how can I say this? 1. Whats an acceptable moisture level for a brick wall in a house? Over a year ago, I re-shim all the piers with metal shims. Prior to the flooring installation, make sure your subfloor has not experienced leaks or other water damage. Please commenr? Do you agree with this? Building Performance Series No. I am planning an under-house excursion tomorrow. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. What wood do you recommend that does not have a high oil/water content? Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. 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. When exposed to a constant RH, the moisture content of wood or lumber will come to equilibrium with its environment, resulting in an EMC for that species of a wood-based composite. This makes pinless moisture meters perfect for measuring the moisture content of things like expensive hardwood floors. If a board reads 100% (Difficult to measure accurately) then the weight of the water equals the weight of that wood. Having performed multiple (>500) soil moisture and density Sieve and Proctor, so I am well versed in moisture calculations (both add and subtract). If low WMC readings were obtained during the winter, and other signs of high moisture levels are present, obtain additional readings during the summer. Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. I did not find any information on Matumi. 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. This article is really helpful. 1. in Indonesia there are a lot of raw materials consisting of natural fibers, such as: pandanus, water hyacinth, rattan etc. 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. We will be building fir windows. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. Its mc is 11- 12% . As far as the oil finish, the manufacturer of the oil will specify the correct moisture content for an application. Live in Tn. Guidance on exposure limits | BRANZ Brilliant article. guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. If the middle is wet, you may experience cracking/splitting if dried too fast. During my visit, I crawled to the four main corners of the crawl space and probed the floor system with an electronic moisture meter during this traverse. The levels were between 20 and 23%. Thanks for the the information, very detailed and useful. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. 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. 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. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. 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. 3.Vacuum and/or Wipe Excess Moisture. Although, in this example, the moisture content of the timber rarely goes above 17%, it is not uncommon for winter moisture contents, in pitched roofs, to peak above 25%. The conversion puts the adjusted MC between 9.5 -> 12%. Does Brick Veneer Cracking Mean Foundation Problems? Fungus loves wet wood. Beam and joist subfloor | BUILD 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. 2013-10-14 03:14:29. Soil is almost always damp. Do you have a suggestion? 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? One of the beauties of spar is that it allows the wood to move quite a bit, while still retaining good adhesion. 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. There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. i want to make a headboard from it. You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. Using wood with a moisture content above 14% isnt recommended because it may have detrimental long-term effects on the construction. 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. . Should I wait for the slabs to be within that 6-9% to cut and glue? 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. Moisture content of 11.5% for the oak is a little high for furniture grade hardwoods. Is it possible to get a 99.9% moisture reading (using a Cassain GM-200 hydrometer) on a particle board floor which looks and feels completely dry? 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. As this moisture condenses on the floor system, it wets the wood. 2. Thank you for your very informative knowledge about all of the items on this page. Keep indoor humidity low. Please help with T%, I have seen where 30% moisture loss by weight is a good rule of thumb to shoot for. If youre wondering how wood can have a 200% moisture content, heres how that works. This is for furniture-grade hardwoods. 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. Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. They are returning to remove one plank and take it back to see what they can do to meet my satisfaction. The substructure may show decayed areas, ranging from small to very large, of rotten floor joist, sills, and . Studies have shown, however, that mold growth can occur on wood at moisture content levels above 15 to 18 percent, and corrosion of metal fasteners in treated wood can occur when moisture content exceeds 18 to 20 percent. 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. It is a 2-3 feet wide wet area that drains to a line connected to the city system. This document describes the meaning and use of readings from a wood moisture meter. Great article, thanks for the info. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Chris. But the table will be inside? Too dry and you get chipping out of the wood. This is based on a chart in Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. Seattles EMC ranges from 12.2% to 16.5%. Whats an acceptable moisture level for a brick wall in a house Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. With the WoodH2O-app I could deduct the EMC for The Netherlands would be between 15 and 16. Thanks for the question. The angle iron will prevent much warping, and I do plan on finishing all sides (and ends). The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. It is also a good idea to use a moisture meter after the three weeks just to make sure. This will drastically speed up the drying process. Wiki User. . About 5/16 penetration into the wood measures 8% using pins only. I-joists are comprised of top and bottom flanges, which resist bending, united with webs, which provide outstanding shear resistance. In March of this year I had new white oak 2 flooring installed. Congratulations on your new furniture. What Are Safe Moisture Levels for Hardwood Floors? - Delmhorst I would love to be able to give you the perfect answer but unfortunately, there isnt one. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. Unnecessary Panic!: Mold & Fungus In the Crawlspace Foundation Underpinning Repair: Unnecessary? Hello Larry I am from Bangladesh. Turn on the meter. As the humidity decreases, the MC decreases, causing the wood to shrink. Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache? Now the fungus goes dormant. 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. How to Level a Floor - Lowes