Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. board, and a 12-in. The flooring pieces should be removed from the packaging to allow the ambient conditions to equalize the wood. Because pinless meters scan the woods surface and cover a larger area than pin-type meters, they provide a more thorough picture of the woods moisture content. "Mold requires moisture to survive, so protecting lumber and wood structures from moisture will prevent mold growth. Drying teak hardwood from a humid climate, for use outdoors in a much drier European climate? Next, check the moisture of new floorboards. %PDF-1.2 % That doesnt make much sense to me. I would love to be able to give you the perfect answer but unfortunately, there isnt one. Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. I checked it with my new moisture meter and had a reading of between 8-13.5%. You can Google moisture content of wood necessary to support fungal growth and see for yourself. I am not aware of a standard moisture content for packaging food or any other product. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. If that is the case you need to remove the flooring and examine the subfloor. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. The electrical current will then move from pin to pin and measure the resistance encountered. 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. And it's important to keep in mind that a glued-up panel behaves basically as one wide piece of lumber. 2. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. Fresh cut trees can have a wood moisture content over 200%, while completely dried wood will have a wood moisture content of 0%. Will the reading be accurate? This means your crawl space humidity goes up by about 22 degrees. So, i had one installed a few weeks after we met. This chart highlights the ideal levels of moisture in wood at various temperatures and relative humidity (RH) levels: In this chart, you can see a small highlighted section. Most of it will dissipate. In your area, wood that has been in an environment to a duration of time would be between 6-11%. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. 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. Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. Notches at the end of the joist should be no deeper than 1/4 the depth. This article is really helpful. It depends on the size of the project, but anytime you put a waterborne urethane on the wood you are adding moisture to your project. These are typical readings for exterior wood. . Does Brick Veneer Cracking Mean Foundation Problems? The three main sources of moisture: Condensation, Foundation wall transfer, and leaks. Thanks. Thank you for sharing such valuable information. water leaked over the edge. Wagner has a free app called WoodH2O to help you determine the proper moisture levels based on consistent humidity and temperature. Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. 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. I know the rule of thumb is 1 year of dry time per inch of thickness of wood. 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. Heres how it works. You can use our free APP called WoodH2O to help you decide on the best moisture content. Thank you. 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. They were installed over existing plywood subfloor. I have a couple questions. The ASTM D4442 standard determines the accuracy of wood moisture meters. Once wood is dried below about 28% WMC, water is not available to support decay, unless the wood is exposed to liquid water. The water eventually came out a electric outlet located three inches off the floor. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? Why and how can I say this? Eventually, this internal moisture will evaporate by itself. Moisture was around 25% when milled, and the ends were sealed. The other question is what should the moisture content be on treated lumber that will be for the framing of the deck? What is the optimal MC of the fir stock for construction of the windows? 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. Most are reading are between 13-15%. Thank you. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. Subsequently the woodgrain has reflected in the previously mirror-finish, only on the new panels and we suspect moisture content issues in the wood before it was varnished. Replaced the subfloor, which is . Readings can be elevated if there is a stud directly behind the sheetrock. This document describes the meaning and use of readings from a wood moisture meter. In your blog I read that furniture for outdoor is dried to a MC between 9 and 14%. Hello and thanks for writing in. 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. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. I suspect the moisture was the culprit? So if I understood the article right and not sure that I did. Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. Though on occasion, they are made of 2x10s and tripled for additional . how do I determine the mc standard for this material, is it the same as wood or has its own specifications, 2. ie SW=Starting weight, TW=Target weight, using T%=Target percentage My calculation ( T% X SW = TW). They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. The Las Vegas EMC of wood or lumber ranges from 4.0% to 8.5%. Wood Moisture Content (WMC) is often used as an indicator of decay problems in houses. The containers that we have received so far have arrived wet and mouldy. Many thanks for your advice, really appreciate it! A company sealed off the foundation vents and removed all the insulation from the crawlspace with the humidifier mitigating the moisture from the leaks. https://www.wagnermeters.com/wood-moisture-meters/. I have used spar urethane as a finish on a few other 12 to 18 MC (semi-wet) log projects that turned out wonderfully. The table had a 1 3/4 X 3 1/2 thick boarder with mitred corners and biscuited. I do not have a hygrometer or a moisture meter as I am a hobbyist. There is over three foot of block above grade around the entire house. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. If youre wondering how wood can have a 200% moisture content, heres how that works. Percent moisture content in wood is the ratio of the weight of water compared to the overall weight of a piece of wood. What are Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood? The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. Ideally, you want to check the EMC in the area you will be working on your slab, along with the area it will live in. Just across the threshold to a white oak floor installed in ~1914 and the MC is 15%->16%. 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. We dont know if we still should be having a commercial drying process? He, of course, said that type of product is insufficient. 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! This method uses the oven-dry method and then compares the results to those obtained using a moisture meter. Squeaks from subfloors The floor installer is often the 'first cab off the rank' when there is a squeaking floor and the problem may Do these levels seen appropriate considering the recent rainfall. Oh no! One type of wood moisture meter. Yes, it is possible to have a moisture content reading of 99.9%. Please help with T%, I have seen where 30% moisture loss by weight is a good rule of thumb to shoot for. this is an interesting read I landed upon as I was searching for MC in wood items. Does it have another common name? What should be the approximate Highest MC to prevent wood problems to include finishes? 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. 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? Your table may have been a little too high in moisture, hence the crack as it dried slightly in the drier environment. I live on the fl coast so what should the moisture level be? I have about 3,000 sqft on my first floor and this was relatively consistent throughout. For more information, see our article comparing Pinless Moisture Meters vs. Pin Meters. There is no balancing layer on the reverse of the panels which might obstrust breathing of the panel. It was such a good read. Being that we live in Central Florida, 40 miles North of Tampa and using this chart page 5 ( https://research.cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/wpe/files/2016/08/Equilibrium-Moisture-Content-of-Exterior-Wood-in-the-US.pdf) were it states EMC for wood exposed outside for our area of 12.5 to 14.0 when I put the moisture meter to the wood it should be in those ranges if going to be used outside? We also have an Orion 950 moisture meter that will automatically give you EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) and other useful statistics. What You Should Know About Septic Systems, Interior Slab Foundation Settlement: Evaluations and Cost of Repair. Condensation present on the . I hope this helps. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. 2. I was thinking 10% MC would be ok but after reading your article Im not sure. Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. Take the readings in at least 20 spots per 1,000 square feet of flooring and average the results. While oven-dry testing, if followed correctly, offers accurate results, there are a few drawbacks: These three drawbacks mean that oven-dry testing usually isnt the option of choice for hobbyists who work with wood. Typical moisture content for furniture in a home is 6-9%. The solution seems to be drying the wood longer & bettter, to a lower measured MC. The interior was 3/4 BW the tables dimensions were 40x 70 . Sagging or Uneven Floors Solutions. info@rlcengineering.com This will stop the wet/dry cycle that exists every year, in every ventilated crawl space containing A/C ductwork in the SE United States, over their lifetime. 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 . I had engineered hard wood installed and it is curling at the joints. The rim joist and floor joist sit right on the block. Stopping the moisture is much cheaper and easier than repairing the structure. One sheet of plywood is 25% next to a 2X4 truss reading 17-27%. What wood do you recommend that does not have a high oil/water content? Every home's foundation repair needs are different based on soil type, type of foundation problem, and climate. My plan is to make a wall-mounted headboard out of angle iron and these boards (boards will not be joined). Hardwood flooring needs to acclimate at least 2 weeks, in service conditions, before it is installed. Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. Both slab-on-ground and suspended concrete floors for wet areas: are deemed impervious when steel trowel finished or polished. 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. 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. Moisture levels in your crawl space that go beyond 70% lead to mold growth and health concerns. Normal moisture content of wood ranges from 7% to 19%. The National Association of Home Builders Green Home Building Guidelines for solid strip flooring and wide-width flooring are as follows: summary Wood flooring installers typically want the moisture content of their wood to be between 6% to 9%. Want this question answered? WMC of framing members in a crawl space will usually be lowest in late winter and highest in late summer. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! 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%. I live in coastal South Carolina .we are definitely afraid of mold formation. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. I hope that helps. Do you have a suggestion? wood using pins while the MDF uses pinless? Typical humidity levels inside a home is between 40 to 50%. Hi, we live in a coastal area, had a recent water leak, and a hard wood floor MC is measuring about 25% the water did not contact this area directly. Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! board will move 3 times the amount as a 4-in. Box 1437 I-joists are strong, lightweight, "I" shaped engineered wood structural members that meet demanding performance standards. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. If the wood is covered by a material like MDF or other, do we take 2x the measurements? : Mold & Fungus In the Crawlspace. 25-30 - Actual, and often extensive, damage is evident when readings reach this level. However, this range will vary slightly according to the geographic region because of varying RH levels. Thanks. Most interior wood is in this range. Thanks Mark, The EMC outside and the wood should be the same. thanks so much in advance. Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache? As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. Check joints and bottom plates as moisture can get trapped here. Some wood you buy from a lumber store can be higher than 14% but typically range between 12-14%. Two weeks is sufficient for softwood. Kiln-dried timber should be kept dry. I am presently drying it to around 8%-10% and then rotary polishing it, but I am facing the issue of burrs on the edges. Thanks!!! Hi Larry, So a friend of mine has some pine and oak blabs at MC levels of (oak 11.5%) and Pine 13-14%. Using wood with a moisture content above 14% isnt recommended because it may have detrimental long-term effects on the construction. During the summer months in the northeast region, wood subfloors and floor joists often measure 19. I would have thought that if the floor gave a 99.9% water saturation reading, it would have had to have been noticeably wet. Hello, Paul here. Treatment levels for timber and timber-based materials used under tiles in wet areas where the waterproofing membrane cannot easily be inspected or maintained should be: H1.2 for timber floor joists and wall framing around showers; H3 (CCA treated) for plywood. Engineering & Inspection Services, Licensed PE - Alabama & Tennessee, JADE Engineering & Inspection | 5405 Whitesburg Dr. However, the wood species and the thickness or size of the wood may also factor in. I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. The optimal humidity in a home is generally 35%-55% and anything under 20% is actually considered unhealthy, as it dries out the skin. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. I had a quick looked around the crawl space and didnt notice any structure damage. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. RH where they were built is about 29-30%. for a mere $4900. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. we are getting hardwoods from our Uk Suppliers and accoya coming in at 2% and once we use the timber we are reading 0% we have tested the reader and its accurate even joinery grade sapele wood and Tulip wood coming in at 0% we cover these in 3 coats of sikkens paint and sometimes we get jobs where we are having to go back as our joinery is moving and we are guessing its because of these moisture levels and had never checked previously. I recently received a call from a Realtor who is selling a home. 24 and 26 framing studs should measure 19% moisture content or less. . 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. Softwoods typically have higher moisture content than hardwoods. Because of the different materials involved, they will react differently to high heat, thus giving you an un-even plywood surface. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. Specifically in the first 3-4 on one side of the door is 11%, then drops to ~8%. Knowing were all the piers are, I can stand on top and feel a small hump in the floors. When wood is subjected to an environment that is higher in humidity, it will swell or expand. When it comes to the moisture content of plywood or dimensional lumber, an MC of 17% to 19% reduces the overall strength of plywood, and an MC of 20% or more reduces the strength of dimensional lumber (i.e., lumber cut to certain predefined sizes, such as 2x4s). Signs Of Moisture In Basement. Im planning on using some of it to build a new front door for the house and was wondering what MC I should be shooting for. "R. It is best to replace the particle board subfloor. Then placing his pin meter on the screws. Ev Larry: I recently had my annual termite inspection. All houses now use perimeter foundation so outside contact temperature stays at about 55 F all year. Here is a link to our moisture meters, thermo-hygrometer, and Smart Logger. Pinless moisture meters are even easier to use. Treated wood is typically still wet when its delivered to the job site. We just had a hydrometer installed in the crawlspace and it is reading 38% as of today. Wall Corners-Perpendicular within 1/4" in 10'. The MC varies from 7% 13.5% around the exterior door on dry days and 10%-16% during rains. . This is expensive and its ridiculous. 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. Too wet and you get fuzzing. can be laid with falls and set downs. Which do you recommend? The new wood was brought in in bundles ~2 x 2 x 6 and left that way to acclimate for ~2 weeks. 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. 28% and above Readings in this range are often accompanied by decay damage. Limit the length of notches to 1/3 of the joist's depth. i used my dremel with a shaping bit about 1/8 in to cut vertical slits or vents about an inch deep and a couple of inches tall into the bottom 24 and have kept a commercial floor blower on the wood several hours a day for more than a week yet, the number is not going down. Ideally Ill wait until reaching final drying but sometimes I need to use wood before that point. The company they hired measured 47% in the wood and declares that this must be ripped out and replaced. BD-2100 Pin Meter. Should I remove more foam to be sure. It seems to me the supplier is drying the Teak to 14% because that is what is needed in Indonesia. (Itd effectively seal the cavity under the vanity, so once the trim is back on, i dont think itll dry out much more.) My first question is how to determine the MC of eng wood flooring which composite of different species layer, face and different species to form plywood core. 800-347-7260 Fax. I have removed the 1 3/4 edge and resawn to take out the splinter (1/4) re bicuited . Its always a good idea to check with the manufacturer of the finish also. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. My house was built in 1927. Substrates must be protected by: This must be done before attempting to dry out the wood. Keep monitoring it. If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. 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. Any suggestions to this being possible to correct? The thinner veneers wont have much bearing on the reading. 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. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. I not sure if this is normal, related to the re-shim or need to install a crawl space dehumidifier to slow the progression? The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. Hope that helps. What is the acceptable water/moisture content in cassia bark?- in south east asia. Kiln-dried wood usually shows a moisture reading of 10% on the outside and then 25% on the inside. You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. Condensation on the inside of a windowpane. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. You should be ok as long as the moisture content does not get worse (higher). Thanks Phil. Higher values could mean a wet or saturated material. 1. in Indonesia there are a lot of raw materials consisting of natural fibers, such as: pandanus, water hyacinth, rattan etc. 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.
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