Repair is often required when WMC readings are in this range. Eventually, this internal moisture will evaporate by itself. 12% is good for softwoods, but again, it depends on the relative humidity and temperature where the finished product will be kept. So please help us to know what should be required moisture level in Acacia board in final product if we need to restrict wood movement at Colorado . Keep indoor humidity low. A moisture content reading of 25% is borderline to support mold. Thanks for the reply. It is best to replace the particle board subfloor. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. 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. Position plywood panels at a 2-inch offset from the structural subfloor seams. Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. The builder's warranty representative came out and measured the moisture levels with a moisture meter. If the humidity is a constant 76% then the wood will equilibrate between 14 and 15% moisture content. 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. Were so sorry for the inconvenience. Great article! And would it be normal for the MC to vary from board-to-board and one end of a board to the other? Thanks Mark, The EMC outside and the wood should be the same. Yes, the wood can still be read for MC with a stain on it. Moisture contents in wood floor joists in houses with moisture problems are exceeding the 20% maximum level for air dried lumber. When you do this, you not only ensure that the entire batch is okay on average, but youre also far likelier to catch boards that are statistical outliers and could cause problems. If decay or WMC readings over 28% are present, find and fix the sources of liquid water quickly. 2-1/4", the moisture content between the flooring planks and the subfloor should not exceed 2%. Do these levels seen appropriate considering the recent rainfall. 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. SE, Huntsville, AL 35802. For severely rotten joists though, you're going to want to remove the rotten section. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. for a mere $4900. We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. Good luck. 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!. Box 1437 For example, from 25% to 45% or from 45% to 65%. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. During the summer, moisture content readings above . So what do you think is the ideal moisture% I should dry them to before rotary polishing them? "R. As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. And it's important to keep in mind that a glued-up panel behaves basically as one wide piece of lumber. From a strictly static MC%, 16-20% MC for long duration is going to promote mold growth. Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. The Building Code states that houses must be built so that a 50-year flood will not enter the building. Do you have a suggestion? 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. I recommend one of our Orion models: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. Then placing his pin meter on the screws. Like all wood materials, I-joists are susceptible to moisture. 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. Yes, it is possible to have a moisture content reading of 99.9%. The angle iron will prevent much warping, and I do plan on finishing all sides (and ends). These are slabs roughly 2 thick. That is still quite a wide range. I-joists are comprised of top and bottom flanges, which resist bending, united with webs, which provide outstanding shear resistance. Truss Uplift: Who Would Have Ever Thunk It? 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! Its more important to understand that the wood is kiln-dried down to a certain bell-shaped range of MCs. If your subfloor is a wood product, make sure the reading is less than 20% on the moisture meter. I have a question. Moisture contents of 12 to 17% is ok. You dont want to see any subfloor reach about 25% which is where mold will start to grow. Im on a grade-level concrete slab, and the water made its way over (under the tiles) to my sink vanity. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. The manufacturer of the oil-based poly should have a specification on the maximum allowable moisture content of the wood. Cut out a portion (approx 1/2" I think) from the top of the floor joists. Thanks for the the information, very detailed and useful. There are joists that display splitting. As the humidity increases, the MC increases, causing the wood to expand. 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. Does that seem normal. Here is a link to our website for more information: https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-950-smart/. Should I remove more foam to be sure. A moisture content that is too high will also slow the cure of the SLu and can affect the subsequent floor finish. You can hardly see the humps except the first pier that popped up . moisture meter testing a floor joist In this image we measure a reading of 37% in this floor joist. What should be the approximate Highest MC to prevent wood problems to include finishes? Whats an acceptable moisture level for a brick wall in a house? On truss/joist spacing of 16" (406mm) o/c or less, the industry standard for single- panel subflooring is nominal 5/8" (19/32", 15.1 mm) CD Exposure 1 Plywood subfloor panels ( CD Exposure 1) or 23/32" OSB Exposure 1 subfloor panels, 4' x 8' sheets. 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. When determining the acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring before installation, the NWFA states that the flooring professional should establish a baseline for acclimation. This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. These include warping, cracking, buckling, diminished wood strength, corrosion of fasteners, and even fungal growth. A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. Headers, columns, and joists are rotting. 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. Floor joists come in dimensional lumber lengths from 8 to 16 feet or more. Are the measurements of all wood the same? A moisture content of less than 20% indicates that your joists and beams do not have the necessary moisture content for mold or fungus to survive. We also have an Orion 950 moisture meter that will automatically give you EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) and other useful statistics. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. Timber framing needs to be dried to acceptable moisture content levels as stipulated in NZS 3602:2003 Timber and wood-based products for use in building. 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. The fastest way to test the moisture content of wood is to use a moisture meter. Standard construction studs such as 24 and 26s are typically dried to 19% moisture content before they are installed. In all cases, determining the acceptable moisture level of wood requires the use of an extremely accurate moisture meter. What do you recommend the reader to be at before insulation and drywall on new construction? I wanted to know if is there any standard which specifies the acceptable range of moisture content for wood used in packaging industry like pine wood. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. endstream endobj 81 0 obj <>stream Should I wait for the slabs to be within that 6-9% to cut and glue? Room size, L-shaped, is 21.5 x 12.5 and leg of L is 8.5 x 11. I know the rule of thumb is 1 year of dry time per inch of thickness of wood. If a board reads 100% (Difficult to measure accurately) then the weight of the water equals the weight of that wood. As a result, the normal moisture meter reading for these materials in between 0.5% and 1%. To do so: Make two vertical cuts through the joist a safe distance away from each end of the rotten section. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. Continue reading MC in the home. If you know such International or Amercan or any other standard please let me know. We had boards that were also cracking/splitting and other places where small pinholes were showing up. I gladly obliged. A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. Why and how can I say this? It is not uncommon for wood to expand or contract as much as a 1/8 per foot of width, so maintaining a stable environment is important. If an interior location has an average RH of 40-52%, wood placed there will have an average EMC of 8-9%. However, the wood species and the thickness or size of the wood may also factor in. We dont know if we still have leaks? If humidity levels in the crawlspace with all these measures taken place is above 60% the joist and the subfloor will have a high MC reading. Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. primer, the moisture vapor transmissions rate (MVtr) from the substrate should not be in excess of 5 lbs. I requested the treated lumber be brought in a few weeks prior to build, stickered and put under cover to acclimate and dry it. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. Houses with timber-framed floors can be at risk of having poor underfloor ventilation. If low WMC readings were obtained during the winter, and other signs of high moisture levels are present, obtain additional readings during the summer. 16% - 20%- Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. I wanted to talk to someone at Wagner about moisture guages and is there a dealer near Chattanooga, TN. The levels were between 20 and 23%. Floor joists are generally 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches in width, with 8 or 10 inches as the most common sizes. 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. I have Suar wood from Indonesia and want use to indoor furniture, how range the Moisture Content allowance for this wood. Meanwhile, the reference scale can be used to provide qualitative moisture assessments in other building materials. He added that plastic sheet ground covering that his company laid over my crawl space had been moved in spots and that I no longer had full coverage. Good moisture content for hardwoods is 6% to 9% moisture. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. Can carpet be reinstalled? 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. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. The plumbing was improperly installed with the wrong cement to fit the pipes and could have been leaking from anywhere between 5-29 years while absorbing into the ground. However, kiln drying is used to speed up the process. 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. Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. A high reading in one area indicates a problem that must be corrected. My question for you is: after a smallish unheated underground space (similar to a basement, i.e. We just had a hydrometer installed in the crawlspace and it is reading 38% as of today. How Timber Reacts To Moisture. According to Dr. Eugene Wengert, professor and specialist in wood processing at the University of Wisconsin-Madisons Department of Forestry, wood should be dried to a water MC thats within two percentage points of the EMC where the wood is going to be used. Thanks Phil. The cedar I have is now at 12-16%. 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. the concrete was completely dry, no standing water. 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. For a wooden subfloor you will need to use a 2-pronged moisture meter. I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. can be insulated and heated (insulation is mandatory if heated) require careful planning and . Effects of Moisture on I-Joists and LVL April 2007 P.O. 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. 800-347-7260 Fax. I would think it would vary depending on the contents. All houses now use perimeter foundation so outside contact temperature stays at about 55 F all year. 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. 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. Even at this, the estimate would be the high end of MC% prior to shipment, but only rough estimate. Learn how your comment data is processed. Waterproof membrane . What is the optimal MC of the fir stock for construction of the windows? provide a good substrate for a wide range of wet area finishes. I live in upstate South Carolina. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. The optimal humidity in a home is generally 35%-55% and anything under 20% is actually considered unhealthy, as it dries out the skin. We have had on/off rain and humidity 80-90% range. Good luck. Moisture content (MC) in raw slabs can take additional time to reach its Equilibrium Moisture Content. The photo shows a floor that is out of level over four or so boards adjacent to the external wall. ft., based on a standard AStM F-1869 (Calcium Chloride) test, or 80% rh, based on AStM F-2170. I have one question with regards to pinless moisture meters and wallboard/Sheetrock. Also, there is a risk of mold. The NWFA recommends testing wood subfloor moisture in at least 20 locations per 1,000 sq. 17 and the flooring is at 6 to 7. What would be the recommended MC for doors of my new building(under construction)? 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 had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). If that is the case you need to remove the flooring and examine the subfloor. Would you be able to say anything about the optimal MC range for this specific situation? Notches at the end of the joist should be no deeper than 1/4 the depth. I found your website at just the right time. Each piece of lumber is unique and carries physical characteristics that may include the following: knots, warping, shrinkage, swelling and/or splitting. Yes, our moisture meters read MDF. With a degree in Computer Systems, Larry is involved in both hardware and software development of wood moisture measurement solutions. Acclimation is the process for conditioning the moisture content of wood flooring to the environment where it will be installed. My question is regarding finishing. Very educational! . Thanks. Many thanks for your advice, really appreciate it! Remember that the meter assumes it is reading timber. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? Hello and thanks for writing in. Hi Larry, just finished a black Walnut dining room table back in November. Down pour of rain onto underlayment of attached garage. The rim joist and floor joist sit right on the block. Sagging or Uneven Floors Solutions. I live in michigan (humid summer, long cold winter). We have started to import teak outdoor furniture from Indonesia into Europe. Prior to the flooring installation, make sure your subfloor has not experienced leaks or other water damage. Please help with T%, I have seen where 30% moisture loss by weight is a good rule of thumb to shoot for. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. I would not recommend re-drying finished plywood. our question is do we need to replace the floor to avoid fungal problems? h_k0 r ?c|@+wpF=M^r? ( BzPxgA9P{j]s 3r\WQu\@U.Jy'h{>dccy. Here is a good source for mold and wood: 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..206760.0..0.100.1475.25j10.1..gws-wiz..0..0j0i131.PkfEQYRef9I. Here is a link to our new line of meters: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. Moisture content of 11.5% for the oak is a little high for furniture grade hardwoods. 78 0 obj <>stream The thinner veneers wont have much bearing on the reading. The supplier says they dry the wood to an MC of 14%, which is according to them the standard for outdoor furniture. We have had an abnormally wet spring and part of summer. I recently received a call from a Realtor who is selling a home. Logs, siding, shiplap, and T&G must be kiln-dried to stop the wood from shrinking or pulling apart. This must be done before attempting to dry out the wood. We will be building fir windows. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. Hello Larry I am from Bangladesh. Chris. This is the standard in the construction industry. One type of wood moisture meter. Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. 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. What is an FHA Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Homes? The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). Wood is a hygroscopic material that contains water, even after it is cut from a tree. 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. 10? . What You Should Know About Septic Systems, Interior Slab Foundation Settlement: Evaluations and Cost of Repair. I am not aware of a standard moisture content for packaging food or any other product. 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. A general rule of thumb for the coastal regions of FL would be 11-13%MC. I hope this helps. I cant speak for other pinless meters but our Wagner meters are not sensitive to the temperatures you indicated. We have a free App called WoodH2O that will tell you the moisture content given certain temperature and humidity conditions. 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. Working with some slabs of spruce. Thanks for the question. Wood used indoors will eventually stabilize at 8-14% moisture content; outdoors at 12-18%. Its never constant. 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. For instance, the subfloor may appear to be dry on the surface, but still have elevated moisture within the panels. The moisture content of freshly cut wood is typically somewhere between 40-200%. Turn on the meter. You must be careful with a thick slab once you cut it. Wiki User. That doesnt make much sense to me. Copyright - RLC Engineering, LLC. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. Water Level Survey: Are You Smarter Than an Egyptian? Production, storage, delivery and construction and in-use conditions that will prevent exposure to external or internal moisture or conditions that would allow the moisture content to exceed 18% at any time: Untreated Douglas fir: Framing in a low-risk building and meeting the requirements of B2/AS1 paragraph 3.2.2.2: Where there is a risk of . Hello! The cause that may produce this will be discussed in the section "Biodeteration of flood". we are presently constructing a new timber frame residence on ocean front in BC, Canada. 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. 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. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? One of the beauties of spar is that it allows the wood to move quite a bit, while still retaining good adhesion. I have removed the 1 3/4 edge and resawn to take out the splinter (1/4) re bicuited . h26P0Pw/+Q0L)66 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? 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. He, of course, said that type of product is insufficient. First, test the moisture level of the subfloor. 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 so appreciate your treatise on this issue. the curb is built with 3 2/4s stacked on each other. As far as the oil finish, the manufacturer of the oil will specify the correct moisture content for an application. I dialed the 800 number for Wagner meters and all I got was two sales pitches for a Life alert type device. Most are reading are between 13-15%. How to test moisture /water content in cassia bark? Below 12% Readings in this range are common to kiln or oven dried woods and furniture grades of wood, and represent dry conditions. 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. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. Here's a good rule of thumb: Notches should be no deeper than 1/6 the depth of the joist. Surface molds may develop. What are acceptable ranges of moisture for composite materials like MDF and Plywood, for indoor furniture use? . Top 5 Causes of Cracks in Brick Veneer Homes. 1. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has a chart that indicates the moisture content of wood at any given combination of temperature and humidity. Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. Do you agree with this? ft., and averaging the results. Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. The SG setting is on the card that comes with the meter. The moisture content overall is almost always below 20%. 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.

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