What do you recommend the reader to be at before insulation and drywall on new construction? I built the tables in west Texas, but their final home is in Colorado. Just press the scanning plate against the woods surface, turn on the meter, and receive the reading. In an air conditioned house the wood floor. Observed water leaking along seams of several sheets of original plywood in attic. Room size, L-shaped, is 21.5 x 12.5 and leg of L is 8.5 x 11. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. Box 1088, Roseburg, OR 97470 Tel. Im in Milwaukee, wi if that matters. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. And it really helps to pay an HVAC contractor to better seal and insulate the A/C ducts so they dont leak cold air!!! 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. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. 18 years ago the moist content (MC) of the beams and joist was 24% in an area of the crawl space that floods in spring. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. 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. Also, there is a risk of mold. Therefore, in order to avoid post-construction problems, a woodworker building a cabinet for this particular interior environment would need to dry his wood to a moisture content of 8- 9% beforehand and then keep it that dry during the construction process. Thanks for any help you can provide! So, to sum up, Moisture in crawlspaces is bad. Each piece of lumber is unique and carries physical characteristics that may include the following: knots, warping, shrinkage, swelling and/or splitting. If the subfloor is not acceptable, it can often be overlaid with 1/2 -inch plywood. 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. However, a general rule of thumb is that the basement's humidity level is not over 30 - 50 percent. I dont know what type of floor you have, but if it gets wet enough, about 25% moisture content or higher, mold can grow. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. Should it be less? I live in Charlotte, NC. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. I have one question with regards to pinless moisture meters and wallboard/Sheetrock. 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. Thanks for the question. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. From a strictly static MC%, 16-20% MC for long duration is going to promote mold growth. Phil, what are you making with the cedar, and in what type of environment will it be? Water was coming out of this outlet and onto the floor? I-joists are comprised of top and bottom flanges, which resist bending, united with webs, which provide outstanding shear resistance. The house was not in the flood area however they did receive 20 inches of rain. The installer should then check the moisture content of multiple boards and average the results. There are two main ways of measuring wood moisture content: oven-dry testing and moisture meter testing. We also have an Orion 950 moisture meter that will automatically give you EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) and other useful statistics. In contrast, Las Vegas in the drier Southwest has much lower EMC percentages than most other U.S. cities. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. Which do you recommend? Every home's foundation repair needs are different based on soil type, type of foundation problem, and climate. 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. board. I have about 3,000 sqft on my first floor and this was relatively consistent throughout. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? 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. The size of the lumber used for floor joists is the single greatest determining factor in terms of how far a joist can span. Failure to allow the wood to acclimate or come into balance with the RH at its end-use location could result in any number of moisture-related problems after the wood product is constructed. The substructure may show decayed areas, ranging from small to very large, of rotten floor joist, sills, and . The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. Moisture levels in your crawl space that go beyond 70% lead to mold growth and health concerns. Furniture maker Lonnie Bird weighs in, I dont want the wood to shrink after I use it because the wood will warp or split.. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. Leicester, NC 28748 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. 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. Should I remove more foam to be sure. I live in upstate South Carolina. Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . There are areas where organic growth was very active to cause deep, black discolorization. Meanwhile, the reference scale can be used to provide qualitative moisture assessments in other building materials. 541-679-2612 www.Roseburg.com. 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%. 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. guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. I have a couple questions. Very educational! Understanding the effects moisture has on timber, as well as acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring, will keep your timber floor looking pristine throughout its lifetime. Cheers, Howard Pruden in Edmonton, Alberta where its cold and dry. Why You Should Use Relative Humidity (RH) Testing, Flooring, Millwork, Furniture & Cabinet Manufacturers, How to Choose a Moisture Measurement System for Your Sawmill Buying Guide, Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content, Free Download 5 Ways Pinless Moisture Meters Save You Time and Money. During the increased average temperatures of spring and summer, timber moisture content reduces to more acceptable levels. Drying teak hardwood from a humid climate, for use outdoors in a much drier European climate? The wood has been kiln dried and packed in corrugate. -ThA?> =v\0r5#v ,J\Byt)%*?I!PT`FdCE N a^1IMm[?x>7RFH +=\ The ASTM D4442 standard determines the accuracy of wood moisture meters. Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. Very simple and understandable. . He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. We have a free App called WoodH2O that will tell you the moisture content given certain temperature and humidity conditions. Best of luck with your project. If a wooden sample has moisture content range of 2-6% only and if it has moisture content of 9 or 10% then what does this mean?? 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. These mold spores land on the wet wood and take root. To avoid this problem, wood flooring should never be stored where environmental conditions are uncontrolled, such as garages and exterior patios. What is the acceptable water/moisture content in cassia bark?- in south east asia. 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? 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!. Hi Larry, So a friend of mine has some pine and oak blabs at MC levels of (oak 11.5%) and Pine 13-14%. 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You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. The difference between the wood subfloor and the hardwood flooring shouldn't exceed 4% for solid strip hardwood . Whats the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Engineering Inspection? ( 55 days transit by sea) What should be the moisture content while loading in Containers? Wonder if they are trying to cover themselves. /U (li7":-JOBHO,9UY) /P 65492 >> endobj 14 0 obj << /S /GoTo /D [ 15 0 R /Fit ] >> endobj 27 0 obj << /S 45 /T 91 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 28 0 R >> stream Before installing carpet, you will need to dry the subfloor first. 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. The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. 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. Be sure to acclimate the wood to desired EMC of the interior environment before you use it. In fact, according to M. Steven Doggett, Ph.D. LEED AP, the founder of Built Environments, Inc., wood moisture content as high as 15% can cause corrosion of metal fasteners and at 16% may lead to fungal growth. Your reading of 12.5% tells me it is workable. The Building Code states that houses must be built so that a 50-year flood will not enter the building. The next question is almost the same as before, if we have various kinds of wood, such as March wood, mango wood, pine. However, the ideal humidity range in some climates may be higher or lower. Joists that sit below end matched joints must be at least 35mm thick. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. 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. 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. 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. If that is the case you need to remove the flooring and examine the subfloor. Currently the RH is 76%, the residence RH will be set at around 35%. -XF% The manufacturer of the oil-based poly should have a specification on the maximum allowable moisture content of the wood. For most areas of the United States, acceptable moisture levels of wood and lumber can be in the range of 9% to 14% for exterior wood or for building envelope components within constructed assemblies. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. However, this time I was planning to use oil based poly rather than the spar urethane to reduce the amount of yellowing. Post and beam constructions don't have to be kiln-dried but should be air-dried. Different joinery (currently using pocket holes)? The subfloor registered from 12% to 17% . Does Brick Veneer Cracking Mean Foundation Problems? I have seen home built in the dead of winter, covered in snow, and still dry out enough for a successful home build. I recently received a call from a Realtor who is selling a home. Floor joists transfer loads to the vertical beams of the house. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? As stated, fungal spores are beneath the home because they are in the air we breathe-the same air that gets circulated beneath the home. Specifically in the first 3-4 on one side of the door is 11%, then drops to ~8%. Simply put, the post offers some useful information. These WMC readings are usually provided by pest control operators, and are included in the termite letter (form CL-100 Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report). This type of floor-leveling is DIY-friendly and costs approximately $1.50 per square foot when applied 1/8-inch thick. Alternatively, you could set up a crawl space dehumidifier and draw the . Not only did the aggressive notching doom this joist, it affected the structural integrity of the floor system above. The same study showed a 40% loss in joint strength and concluded that a 20% MC may significantly compromise shear resistance of exterior walls. in other hardwood areas that wasnt close to the water, was measuring about 16-19%. I would love to be able to give you the perfect answer but unfortunately, there isnt one. Higher values could mean a wet or saturated material. 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. I cant speak for other pinless meters but our Wagner meters are not sensitive to the temperatures you indicated. provide a good substrate for a wide range of wet area finishes. Since water conducts electricity and wood doesnt, the dryness of the wood can be determined by the amount of resistance to an electrical current. 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). They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. I may have missed this already but I have a few quick questions. The wood looks awful, and the staining the did is even worse. 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. 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 . 28% and above Readings in this range are often accompanied by decay damage. Thank you for the helpful article. This makes pinless moisture meters perfect for measuring the moisture content of things like expensive hardwood floors. This is expensive and its ridiculous. A consistent humidity level of 70 percent will require wood to be about 13 percent moisture content. Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. 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. Kiln-dried timber should be kept dry. To achieve this, Acceptable Solution E2/AS1 says that, on near-level sites, the floor level must be no less than 150 mm above the crown of the road or the lowest point of the boundary. You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. Unless something is so out of whack shimming in back of the sheetrock won't suffice it's OK here. Any suggestions .thanks. 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. The inspector said his meter reading taken from my basement on subflooring/joists/framing was too high. So, is it really this wet or is our meter over-reading? You mentioned the humidity outside is 55%. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. We have started to import teak outdoor furniture from Indonesia into Europe. If the water leak was bad enough, dry rot can occur causing possible structural integrity issues. Continue reading MC in the home. . Pinless meters are non-penetrating and read the moisture content via a non-damaging electromagnetic sensor that scans the wood. Under the floor. Effects of Moisture on I-Joists and LVL April 2007 P.O. Too wet and you get fuzzing. Should I wait? For example, if the moisture content of the delivered wood is 12% and the optimal MC is 6%, then physical problems will occur during the acclimation process. The moisture content of wooden substructure members is routinely being disclosed in the closing process of real estate transactions. Most floor joists are single or double, and most often made with 2x6s or 2x8s. Any advice would be appreciated. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. I do not have a hygrometer or a moisture meter as I am a hobbyist. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. Can carpet be reinstalled? (He didnt cite a figure.) Thanks. WMC of framing members in a crawl space will usually be lowest in late winter and highest in late summer. Wall Corners-Perpendicular within 1/4" in 10'. I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. This pin-type moisture meter is one of Delmhorst's most popular models. 2. The Las Vegas EMC of wood or lumber ranges from 4.0% to 8.5%. I hope this helps. for a mere $4900. I had a water leak under my crawl space which has 3 inches of foam insulation applied to the underside of the sub floor. 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. The floor installer put the floors down without allowing the boards to acclimate. Thanks. In all cases, determining the acceptable moisture level of wood requires the use of an extremely accurate moisture meter. I have 1 1/2 thick cherry boards that I had milled from a tree in my yard last fall. It is best to obtain a wood moisture content that will match the environment. I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. Substrates must be protected by: Below a 17% MC of wood, virtually no microbial growth will occur on even the most susceptible materials. Here is a link to a moisture meter I recommend: https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-910-deep/. 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%. Heres how it works. But the table will be inside? Using wood with a moisture content above 14% isnt recommended because it may have detrimental long-term effects on the construction. The builder's warranty representative came out and measured the moisture levels with a moisture meter. Even at this, the estimate would be the high end of MC% prior to shipment, but only rough estimate. . 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 article is really helpful. How Timber Reacts To Moisture. Avoid unnecessary moisture exposure of all wood components by enclosing the frame against adverse weather as soon as feasible. Wood moisture content is always varying. However, this range will vary slightly according to the geographic region because of varying RH levels. The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). . board will move 3 times the amount as a 4-in. Thank you. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? 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. Thank you for the well described article. Lay the panels perpendicular to floor joists, allowing 1/4 inch of space between panels and the wall. Kiln-dried wood usually shows a moisture reading of 10% on the outside and then 25% on the inside. Please provide us with regular updates. 2. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. However, kiln drying is used to speed up the process. Wiki User. The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. As lumber dries, it may split, cup and warp. The joist span tables start with 26 lumber and it goes all the way up to 212. We built our home from ground up and have a sealed crawl space dehumidifiers, etc In January of 2019, we had our builder and hardwood floor contractor come out because our hardwoods were starting to separate a lot. 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. Chris. Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! Step 1: Check the Floor. Limit the length of notches to 1/3 of the joist's depth. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. Two weeks is sufficient for softwood. All Rights Reserved. My last Wagner was appropriated by the individual who appropriated other tools out of my old sho. The wood sample being tested is dried in a special oven or kiln and its weight periodically checked. There is only so much moisture a piece of wood can give up, over time, before a failure occurs. The other was for a $100 retail gift card. 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. Want this question answered? 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. 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. The best way to do this is to use an accurate moisture meter. i also drilled into the wood every few inches, several inches deep with a typical drill bit. Headers, columns, and joists are rotting. 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.