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. Home Moisture Meters Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content. We also have an Orion 950 moisture meter that will automatically give you EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) and other useful statistics. Next, check the moisture of new floorboards. Subtract the width of your floor joist from your floor's length: 120" 1.5" = 118.5". You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. I had several of the varnished decorative hardwood laminated ply panels replaced in the lounge on an air conditioned luxury yacht. 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. The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. z .XWb*QGF^v4MQ`_dRw{\;\'03Uhx-SeJlc!m\8X^,Z/hU5Ewdzz:`nZ!(7reWD4X. If an interior location has an average RH of 40-52%, wood placed there will have an average EMC of 8-9%. This building was constructed around 1966 and this little space appears very dry, in spite of a recent leak from an nearby hot water tank. I never obtained a moisture reading above 16%. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. the curb is built with 3 2/4s stacked on each other. somewhere. Great article, thanks for the info. Some of the unfinished wood you see on the market has been kiln-dried to reduce its water moisture content to around 8% so that it wont suffer from moisture-related defects like warping and buckling. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. 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. Also, if the leak was bad enough, it will be necessary to have a contractor make sure the strength of the subfloor isnt compromised. What do you recommend the reader to be at before insulation and drywall on new construction? I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. A moisture meter will help verify. 1 4 Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. I live in Charlotte, NC. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. However, a general rule of thumb is that the basement's humidity level is not over 30 - 50 percent. Please give us a call at (800) 634-9961 or email info@wagnermeters.com, if youd prefer. A good moisture content is between 6 9% for Colorado. As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. Different wood? Thank you. If your subfloor is a wood product, make sure the reading is less than 20% on the moisture meter. 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%. Treated wood is typically still wet when its delivered to the job site. i want to make a headboard from it. What would be the recommended MC for doors of my new building(under construction)? 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. The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. Outdoor temp is 99*F. Is this normal? SE, Huntsville, AL 35802. They are returning to remove one plank and take it back to see what they can do to meet my satisfaction. Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! It will be there for a few months before I begin working on it. ie SW=Starting weight, TW=Target weight, using T%=Target percentage My calculation ( T% X SW = TW). We will be having a deck built off my woodshop. Concrete floors. Kiln-dried timber should be kept dry. What is a Proper Structural Engineering Inspection? The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. 15% is too high, at least for hardwoods. Or perhaps I should advise them to buy Wagner meters, for better accuracy ;-). The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. I recently received a call from a Realtor who is selling a home. Bird, who runs the School of Fine Woodworking outside Knoxville, Tennessee, says he knows wood shrinks seasonally but wants to minimize the shrinkage and expansion by drying the wood to a moisture content of about 8%. Ive been following your in depth blog on moisture meters for around 1 year now. Your contractor may use something called a moisture meter to see what the approach should be for joist damage, or it may be more obvious based on the appearance of the wood. Foundation Underpinning Repair: Unnecessary? And it's important to keep in mind that a glued-up panel behaves basically as one wide piece of lumber. 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. The subfloor registered from 12% to 17% . Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. Thanks!!! I am based in The Netherlands. For a wooden subfloor you will need to use a 2-pronged moisture meter. 12% is good for softwoods, but again, it depends on the relative humidity and temperature where the finished product will be kept. You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. . Hello Folks, I am new to wood turning and do not have a ready supply of dry/seasoned (my wood is green) wood. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. 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. 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. Mold growth can be limited if the MC of wood can be kept below 20%. Now the fungus goes dormant. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? i dont understand how the bottom beam looks like swiss cheese from all the holes ive drilled and has had a commercial blower on it for days yet the number is still high despite there being no visible water to keep the wood wet. Floor joists come in dimensional lumber lengths from 8 to 16 feet or more. Typical moisture content for furniture in a home is 6-9%. Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? Thank you for your very informative knowledge about all of the items on this page. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. A moisture content that is too high will also slow the cure of the SLu and can affect the subsequent floor finish. Wide-spread and often extensive moisture damage occurs in residences across the state of South Carolina and elsewhere in the Southeast due to the regions warm, humid climate. Dryer wood produces more resistance than wetter wood. The floor immediately felt stronger. Oiling the surface does not control the moisture in the wood. Indoor humidity is around 50%, indoor temps around 70 degrees. If a board reads 100% (Difficult to measure accurately) then the weight of the water equals the weight of that wood. Surface molds may develop. Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. . I have seen home built in the dead of winter, covered in snow, and still dry out enough for a successful home build. Position plywood panels at a 2-inch offset from the structural subfloor seams. Hello I moved into my new home in June of 2018. Working with some slabs of spruce. 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. 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. These are typical readings for exterior wood. The plumber said that the floor has an elevated moisture reading and took a photo showing the 99.9% (maximum reading) on the meter while the meter was on the floor. Notches at the end of the joist should be no deeper than 1/4 the depth. I took readings of the moisture of the sub floor at the edges of the wall and it ranged from 5 to 16, problem is i cant take it in the middle of the floor unless i rip the floor out. A dry reading will be 16% MC (Moisture Content) or below. 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. 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. A 212 joist of the same species and quality can span nearly 25'. Not using the correct procedure. Do you agree with this? However, the wood species and the thickness or size of the wood may also factor in. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. There are areas where organic growth was very active to cause deep, black discolorization. I would like to load eucalyptus and pine wood logs to India . I found your moisture levels column through a search for good wood for low humidity. We have a free App called WoodH2O that will tell you the moisture content given certain temperature and humidity conditions. 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. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. From a strictly static MC%, 16-20% MC for long duration is going to promote mold growth. Though on occasion, they are made of 2x10s and tripled for additional . Hello Enjoyed the article. Here is a link to our website for more information: https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-950-smart/. Below 12% Readings in this range are common to kiln or oven dried woods and furniture grades of wood, and represent dry conditions. So, when looking at the relative humidity of the space, spaces left above 70% RH for extended periods will also promote mold growth. New roof first week of November. 3. -ThA?> =v\0r5#v ,J\Byt)%*?I!PT`FdCE N a^1IMm[?x>7RFH +=\ If youre wondering how wood can have a 200% moisture content, heres how that works. Perhaps better drainage around your house will do the trick or treat. 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. 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. 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. Brilliant article. Thanks for the question. Everyone who works with wood needs to understand how wood interacts with moisture in the environment. Wood freshly cut or kiln-dried is always interacting with environmental moisture. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? There is no balancing layer on the reverse of the panels which might obstrust breathing of the panel. 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. Even with lower temperatures, the ideal range for wood keeps relative humidity between 55% and 75%. This pinless meter is accurate, Ive got 2 other pin moisture meters and all 3 of them read within only 1-3% difference as checked on wood structures. When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! I know the rule of thumb is 1 year of dry time per inch of thickness of wood. We dont know if we still have leaks? Before installing plywood underlayment, ensure that the existing flooring is thoroughly vacuumed, free from debris, and stripped of wax. Thank You. Should I wait? This should be stuck into your wooden subfloor. After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. There are joists that display splitting. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. I called them back out in August of 2019 because after installing a humidifier and in the prime of humid season, the floors were showing no signs of improvement. 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. Simply put, the post offers some useful information. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. The joist span tables start with 26 lumber and it goes all the way up to 212. 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. moisture meter testing a floor joist In this image we measure a reading of 37% in this floor joist. info@rlcengineering.com I used my Wagner meter and it Measured in the 10% area. 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. Whats the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Engineering Inspection? We are very arid where the tops were built so I figured the tables would be just fine knowing that it is arid where they were goingbut that doesnt seem to be the case. The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. moisture will typically measure 7-10%. Thank you for the helpful article. You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. Wood Moisture Content is the weight of water in a piece of wood expressed as a percentage of oven dry weight of wood. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. If the humidity is a constant 76% then the wood will equilibrate between 14 and 15% moisture content. However, this range will vary slightly according to the geographic region because of varying RH levels. 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%. . Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. I have a question. provide a good substrate for a wide range of wet area finishes. Finally the question I have is I-used your Wood H2O app and the humidity here (outside) is 55% and the temperature is near 70 (inside)am I correct that 10% is what Is the acceptable moisture of the wood should be for furniture building? 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. 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? Will the reading be accurate? h26P0Pw/+Q0L)66 I have a question, I have moisture in the crawl space, we insulated the crawl with closed cell, cannot get the osb subfloor below. This can be a problem once installed in furniture or a floor. My house is 24 years old. The floor installer put the floors down without allowing the boards to acclimate. Yes, it is possible to have a moisture content reading of 99.9%. Room size, L-shaped, is 21.5 x 12.5 and leg of L is 8.5 x 11. Thats a big difference. (864) 506-4701, South Carolina Residential Construction Standards, http://www.rlcengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RLC-Engineering-1.png. 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. Knowing were all the piers are, I can stand on top and feel a small hump in the floors. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. 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! Condensation present on the . During the summer months in the northeast region, wood subfloors and floor joists often measure 19. Moisture content (MC) in raw slabs can take additional time to reach its Equilibrium Moisture Content. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! Congratulations on your new furniture. The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. 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. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. Subfloor material such as plywood or OSB should measure between 10 and 14% moisture content. 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. If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. Do you have any recommendations on how to prevent mold from getting on the wood? 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?? for a mere $4900. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. Using wood with a moisture content above 14% isnt recommended because it may have detrimental long-term effects on the construction. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. Remove Moisture From The Air - If your crawl space has a lot of ventilation, you should be able to set up a large fan in the opening of the crawl space and leave it to run for 10 to 12 hours. Back to top. Ev So, to sum up, Moisture in crawlspaces is bad. 11 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 15 /H [ 1017 209 ] /L 26721 /E 14333 /N 2 /T 26383 >> endobj xref 11 18 0000000016 00000 n 0000000724 00000 n 0000000820 00000 n 0000000963 00000 n 0000001226 00000 n 0000001393 00000 n 0000001566 00000 n 0000001771 00000 n 0000002827 00000 n 0000002934 00000 n 0000004271 00000 n 0000005322 00000 n 0000005517 00000 n 0000007871 00000 n 0000007949 00000 n 0000009756 00000 n 0000001017 00000 n 0000001206 00000 n trailer << /Size 29 /Info 10 0 R /Encrypt 13 0 R /Root 12 0 R /Prev 26373 /ID[<2277e06d91c56aa37caf41071ab29f47><2277e06d91c56aa37caf41071ab29f47>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 12 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 9 0 R /PageMode /UseThumbs /OpenAction 14 0 R >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Filter /Standard /V 1 /R 2 /O (D+K\r,s\n?$+%{Nhjp-!) There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. board, and a 12-in. The electrical current will then move from pin to pin and measure the resistance encountered. Including some high-end species like Rosewood, ebony, Mahogany, White Cedar, Bija Sal, Walnut, Gmelina, etc. They were installed over existing plywood subfloor. What is the optimal MC of the fir stock for construction of the windows? Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. Since Im drying them outside, being in AK I would like to work with them if possible before the long moist winter. Once wood is dried below about 28% WMC, water is not available to support decay, unless the wood is exposed to liquid water. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). First time this has happened (splitting that is). Headers, columns, and joists are rotting. Looking back at pictures of the build process, they brought the hardwood bundles into my home in late October of 2017 and installed them 3 days later. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. 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. we are presently constructing a new timber frame residence on ocean front in BC, Canada. A termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. Substructures with WMC in this range may show decay or rot in floor joist, sills, and subflooring. Copyright - RLC Engineering, LLC. For boundary materials, the values vary depending on the physical properties of what you are . Wood exposed to air with a RH of about 90% will reach a Wood Moisture Content of about 20%. The containers that we have received so far have arrived wet and mouldy. I cant speak for other pinless meters but our Wagner meters are not sensitive to the temperatures you indicated. The interior wood moisture level should be 12% or lower before painting. About 5/16 penetration into the wood measures 8% using pins only. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify. As the airs RH increases, so does the moisture content of any wood exposed to the air. 1= z@ 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. First, test the moisture level of the subfloor. The NWFA recommends testing wood subfloor moisture in at least 20 locations per 1,000 sq. The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. 1. Most are reading are between 13-15%.
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