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The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has a chart that indicates the moisture content of wood at any given combination of temperature and humidity. Because the moisture content of wood is equal to the weight of the water in the wood divided by the weight of the wood without the water, its possible for the moisture content to exceed 100%. Notice that the EMC of the in-use location is the same as the MC: So, using this chart, we know that in an area of the country where the RH inside a home or office is anywhere from 26-32%, both the EMC of the in-use location and the wood moisture content kept in that location will be 6%. Thanks for any help you can provide! I have seen home built in the dead of winter, covered in snow, and still dry out enough for a successful home build. The levels were between 20 and 23%. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. I have a couple questions. But the table will be inside? Specifically in the first 3-4 on one side of the door is 11%, then drops to ~8%. Because ventilated crawl spaces throughout the Southeast United States allow high humidity and fungus spores to enter the enclosed space beneath the home. 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. The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. If decay or WMC readings over 28% are present, find and fix the sources of liquid water quickly. Typical humidity levels inside a home is between 40 to 50%. Thank You. Not using the correct procedure. Does that seem normal. Please commenr? 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. Ive been following your in depth blog on moisture meters for around 1 year now. Wall Construction Flat-or no more than 3/8" in 8' (bulge) But none of the contractors abide by the framing codes, nor do the city officials. 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. Higher values could mean a wet or saturated material. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). I never obtained a moisture reading above 16%. Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. A company sealed off the foundation vents and removed all the insulation from the crawlspace with the humidifier mitigating the moisture from the leaks. What humidity content should cedar be at for proper gluing. Thank you. Furniture maker Lonnie Bird weighs in, I dont want the wood to shrink after I use it because the wood will warp or split.. %PDF-1.5 % Ceilings account for 35%, walls - 25% and windows 25%. I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). Crawl Space Inspections: Once a Year Keeps the Contractors Away! 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? What You Should Know About Septic Systems, Interior Slab Foundation Settlement: Evaluations and Cost of Repair. To avoid this problem, wood flooring should never be stored where environmental conditions are uncontrolled, such as garages and exterior patios. The electrical current will then move from pin to pin and measure the resistance encountered. This is all very helpful information, thanks! 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. Spruce isnt a hardwood so Im assuming I could get away with a shorter dry time. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. 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. 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. Wonder if they are trying to cover themselves. Make sure theyre aligned with the grain and not across it. The substructure may show decayed areas, ranging from small to very large, of rotten floor joist, sills, and . 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. The builder's warranty representative came out and measured the moisture levels with a moisture meter. After my inspection I wrote the following report: As per your request, I visited the subject residence today to evaluate mold or fungus growth on the floor joists. For example, if you were to have an EMC of 14%, then you would measure the woods moisture content and make sure its at 14%. Or perhaps I should advise them to buy Wagner meters, for better accuracy ;-). 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. The crawl space must be a minimum of 18" to the bottom of the floor joists, and the soil in the crawl space covered with a heavy duty plastic moisture barrier, and sealed at the seams. I am planning an under-house excursion tomorrow. Great article, thanks for the info. Remove Moisture From The Air - If your crawl space has a lot of ventilation, you should be able to set up a large fan in the opening of the crawl space and leave it to run for 10 to 12 hours. I may have missed this already but I have a few quick questions. A high reading in one area indicates a problem that must be corrected. The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). h_k0 r ?c|@+wpF=M^r? ( BzPxgA9P{j]s 3r\WQu\@U.Jy'h{>dccy. 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. 15% is too high, at least for hardwoods. Do these levels seen appropriate considering the recent rainfall. The moisture content of wooden substructure members is routinely being disclosed in the closing process of real estate transactions. 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. My plan is to make a wall-mounted headboard out of angle iron and these boards (boards will not be joined). Most are reading are between 13-15%. )IS0i 1P *V? U? You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. I had engineered hard wood installed and it is curling at the joints. 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. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. A general rule of thumb for the coastal regions of FL would be 11-13%MC. My question is microwaving twice turned bowls what would be the general rule of thumb for a target by weight. The inspector said his meter reading taken from my basement on subflooring/joists/framing was too high. Because wood shrinks and warps as it dries, woodworkers want it to be pre-shrunk before they use it. Before installing plywood underlayment, ensure that the existing flooring is thoroughly vacuumed, free from debris, and stripped of wax. 24 and 26 framing studs should measure 19% moisture content or less. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. Waterproof membrane . I had a water leak under my crawl space which has 3 inches of foam insulation applied to the underside of the sub floor. Even at this, the estimate would be the high end of MC% prior to shipment, but only rough estimate. Every home's foundation repair needs are different based on soil type, type of foundation problem, and climate. Too wet and you get fuzzing. I live in michigan (humid summer, long cold winter). Thanks for the article, really appreciate the info! 2. Second, would the same pine slab, would it be okay to use for a side table or Kitchen island. First, test the moisture level of the subfloor. When I purchase it its soaking wet and Ive always given it a few weeks, stickered and covered for at least 2 weeks, sometimes up to a month, to get it down to around 17-19%. My question for you is, now that it is stained, can I still get an accurate MC? I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. 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 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. I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. Last reviewed: 12 Sep 2021 Last published: 12 Sep 2021. how do I determine the mc standard for this material, is it the same as wood or has its own specifications, 2. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. You must be careful with a thick slab once you cut it. Thanks. If you know such International or Amercan or any other standard please let me know. Because ventilated crawl spaces throughout the Southeast United States allow high humidity and fungus spores to enter the enclosed space beneath the home. I get some water seepage through an exterior wall at basement floor level as a result of heavy rain. So what do you think is the ideal moisture% I should dry them to before rotary polishing them? So the question is are those burrs or fuzzing on the edges?, Wed love to have you give us a call to discuss which moisture meter is best for you. Even with lower temperatures, the ideal range for wood keeps relative humidity between 55% and 75%. The Las Vegas EMC of wood or lumber ranges from 4.0% to 8.5%. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! What is an FHA Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Homes? at one spot, its 40%. Thanks for the question. Phil, what are you making with the cedar, and in what type of environment will it be? We are manufacturer of eng wood flooring. h26P0Pw/+Q0L)66 Many timber-framed floor problems can be traced to moisture levels, excessive loads or borer. The ideal moisture content will depend on the humidity indoors. Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. Mold growth can be limited if the MC of wood can be kept below 20%. 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. And would it be normal for the MC to vary from board-to-board and one end of a board to the other? A dehumidifier in the crawlspace will help but can be expensive. Thanks in advance for your input! Most types of wood species will mold above 25% moisture content, including pine. There are joists that display splitting. 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! It seems to me the supplier is drying the Teak to 14% because that is what is needed in Indonesia. Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! 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. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. If youre wondering how wood can have a 200% moisture content, heres how that works. Notches at the end of the joist should be no deeper than 1/4 the depth. One note is that we did have some fungus growth in our crawlspace during the construction phase prior to the crawlspace being sealed and had the contractor come and spray and clean the floor joists and subflooring where applicable. Hello, I am renovating my kitchen and installing hardwood floors. Does it have another common name? I gladly obliged. 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? Wood Moisture Content (WMC) is often used as an indicator of decay problems in houses. What % does it have to get down to before it would be usable to make a table top ? Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. It is best to replace the particle board subfloor. Colorado is cold and dry. Wood is hygroscopic. It was such a good read. I would think it would vary depending on the contents. Good luck. Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . 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. Sorry, that time of year. I removed an of the foam insulation. That is way beyond fibre-saturation. i cored out a small section of the bottom beam (3 inches wide) all the way down to the foundation. The ASTM D4442 standard determines the accuracy of wood moisture meters. The floor installer put the floors down without allowing the boards to acclimate. 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%. 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. Standard construction studs such as 24 and 26s are typically dried to 19% moisture content before they are installed. If any of these conditions occur, tell your installer right away. Screwed 2x4s parallel into the joists as added support. Simply put, the post offers some useful information. 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. In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. Keep monitoring it. i did not waterproof the outside of the curb (kerdi), so the wood got wet. 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. Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. 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. The company they hired measured 47% in the wood and declares that this must be ripped out and replaced. A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. WMC of framing members in a crawl space will usually be lowest in late winter and highest in late summer. This will drastically speed up the drying process. When wood is subjected to an environment that is higher in humidity, it will swell or expand. Down pour of rain onto underlayment of attached garage. Here's a good rule of thumb: Notches should be no deeper than 1/6 the depth of the joist. The air vents stay closed year round. It does the same for wood, and is especially hard on softwoods, such as pine or fir. This is expensive and its ridiculous. 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. 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. Very simple and understandable. Then placing his pin meter on the screws. 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 suggested replacing my dehumidifier (Sears brand, bucket collection) which has been inoperable this past year. Hello Brian, I am a moisture meter expert, not a woodworking expert but from your description, the problem points to the conditions, not the wood or joinery. Add an answer. Since your subfloor may be concrete or wood, you should make sure you choose a meter that is specially designed for the specific element you are testing.