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. A moisture content reading of 25% is borderline to support mold. So, i had one installed a few weeks after we met. I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. %PDF-1.2 % My thought is maybe to get one of your meter for greater accuracy? 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. This author has found decay fungi in floor joists at moisture levels of 20% to 25%. The reading was sky high in the pan and up two tiles high on the wall. If you want, just give me a call at 800-634-9961, ext 225. Also, please feel free to provide us with the number that you called so we can make sure that all of our phone numbers are printed/posted accurately! https://www.wagnermeters.com/wood-moisture-meters/. To make sure the wood is properly dried, he always uses a moisture meter before working with it. Three years ago, the floor sank in a heavy traffic area and an engineer told me Masonite was used to shim and had compressed. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! Even with lower temperatures, the ideal range for wood keeps relative humidity between 55% and 75%. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. 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. 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. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. Ideally Ill wait until reaching final drying but sometimes I need to use wood before that point. Are the measurements of all wood the same? The shipping time is approximately 45 day in a 40 container to the west coast . Thank you so much for your time and expertise. A 10% moisture content reading means that 10% of a wood samples weight is due to water in the wood. The optimal humidity in a home is generally 35%-55% and anything under 20% is actually considered unhealthy, as it dries out the skin. The wood looks awful, and the staining the did is even worse. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. 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 floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. meter readings of up to 2.0% and in-slab relative humidity (RH) below 75%. I was able to get the MC down to 15%. You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. 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. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. 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. However, a general rule of thumb is that the basement's humidity level is not over 30 - 50 percent. 16% 20% Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. Please give us a call at (800) 634-9961 or email info@wagnermeters.com, if youd prefer. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. Hello I moved into my new home in June of 2018. This water may come from condensation, roof leaks, plumbing leaks, or contact with the soil. Box 1437 Hello Larry I am from Bangladesh. Hi Larry, just finished a black Walnut dining room table back in November. However, and unless otherwise permitted by a flooring product manufacturer, the following maximum moisture emission levels over a 24 hour period are permissible for the following floor coverings types: Having performed multiple (>500) soil moisture and density Sieve and Proctor, so I am well versed in moisture calculations (both add and subtract). 2. Turn on the meter. A consistent humidity level of 70 percent will require wood to be about 13 percent moisture content. 78 0 obj <>stream What is the acceptable moisture level for plywood? I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. On a hot, humid summer day, the air venting into the crawl space could be as much as 75% relative humidity and 85 degrees. Its hard to gauge anything off of a cheapo meter, but if and I mean if, we were to assume it was reading effectively, the numbers are too high. Well, tile, bricks, and stones are known to have a low water-holding capacity and therefore should be dry. can be insulated and heated (insulation is mandatory if heated) require careful planning and . hello I been getting very sick in my home so I had my manger do a mold and moisture test which came back high level of moisture levels which a contractor wants to take the sub floor up and 2 to 4 inches of the wall but my apartment manger is not releasing to report and hes is saying the spore test didnt pick up any mold spore question is it safe for me and my family to be in the home with high level of moisture in the restroom which the floor have been really soft for over 9 months now as well as the kids bedroom where a pipe burst. Cracks in Concrete Slabs: Should I Be Concerned? Does that seem normal. 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. As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. Many timber-framed floor problems can be traced to moisture levels, excessive loads or borer. The new wood was brought in in bundles ~2 x 2 x 6 and left that way to acclimate for ~2 weeks. While the surface of the floor might feel dry, there could be higher moisture inside. I suggested replacing my dehumidifier (Sears brand, bucket collection) which has been inoperable this past year. The levels were between 20 and 23%. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. 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. Thanks. The normal moisture content of wood (or EMC) varies from 7%-19% depending on the RH in the air. There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. There is no balancing layer on the reverse of the panels which might obstrust breathing of the panel. The next sheet is 21.5% adjacent to 2X4. My house is 24 years old. Or perhaps I should advise them to buy Wagner meters, for better accuracy ;-). The moisture content of freshly cut wood is typically somewhere between 40-200%. One of the beauties of spar is that it allows the wood to move quite a bit, while still retaining good adhesion. Keep monitoring it. 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 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. 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. I get some water seepage through an exterior wall at basement floor level as a result of heavy rain. Post and beam constructions don't have to be kiln-dried but should be air-dried. Please commenr? The plywood setting is .57. 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. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has a chart that indicates the moisture content of wood at any given combination of temperature and humidity. The next question is almost the same as before, if we have various kinds of wood, such as March wood, mango wood, pine. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? Logs, siding, shiplap, and T&G must be kiln-dried to stop the wood from shrinking or pulling apart. After my inspection I wrote the following report: As per your request, I visited the subject residence today to evaluate mold or fungus growth on the floor joists. thanks so much in advance. Be sure to acclimate the wood to desired EMC of the interior environment before you use it. Great article! 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). About how long do you think we should allow the new wood to acclimate in the end use environment before installing it? . Your table may have been a little too high in moisture, hence the crack as it dried slightly in the drier environment. Once the wood samples weight stops changing, its weight is compared to what it was before the drying process began. 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 . Great article, thanks for the info. As far as the oil finish, the manufacturer of the oil will specify the correct moisture content for an application. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. Most interior wood is in this range. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. 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 the wood is covered by a material like MDF or other, do we take 2x the measurements? The acceptable moisture levels in basement walls and floors will depend on many factors. Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! Thanks for the the information, very detailed and useful. Ive been following your in depth blog on moisture meters for around 1 year now. Divide that difference by the sum of the on-center spacing of the floor joists: 118.5" / 16" = 7.40625. And would it be normal for the MC to vary from board-to-board and one end of a board to the other? Would you be able to say anything about the optimal MC range for this specific situation? I wanted to talk to someone at Wagner about moisture guages and is there a dealer near Chattanooga, TN. The angle iron will prevent much warping, and I do plan on finishing all sides (and ends). Because the moisture content of wood is equal to the weight of the water in the wood divided by the weight of the wood without the water, its possible for the moisture content to exceed 100%. This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. Leicester, NC 28748 Its never constant. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. This type of floor-leveling is DIY-friendly and costs approximately $1.50 per square foot when applied 1/8-inch thick. I would like to load eucalyptus and pine wood logs to India . Do NOT install the flooring planks until these moisture content levels are achieved. The wood and varnish appear otherwise pristine, uncracked and not bubbled or clouded in any way. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. -ThA?> =v\0r5#v ,J\Byt)%*?I!PT`FdCE N a^1IMm[?x>7RFH +=\ moisture meter testing a floor joist In this image we measure a reading of 37% in this floor joist. I did not find any information on Matumi. Installers should also measure the moisture in wood subfloors and concrete slabs as they can also affect wood flooring. Oiling the surface does not control the moisture in the wood. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! The MC varies from 7% 13.5% around the exterior door on dry days and 10%-16% during rains. Here is a link to our new line of meters: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. What would be the recommended MC for doors of my new building(under construction)? Thanks! Do you have a suggestion? The SG setting is on the card that comes with the meter. Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . Not only did the aggressive notching doom this joist, it affected the structural integrity of the floor system above. I am not familiar with the particular moisture meter the plumber was using, but assuming it is correct, that moisture content is way too high to install new flooring. 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. Ev The EMC in the recommended temperature/humidity range coincides with the 6% to 9% range used by most flooring manufacturers during the manufacturing and shipping process. Make sure theyre aligned with the grain and not across it. You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. It is impossible for me to tell you what the percentage of furniture should be, but if you know the EMC in the area it will be kept, you can check the MC continuously until you reach its EMC. Should it be less? water leaked over the edge. The moisture content overall is almost always below 20%. i am baffled. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. This weight difference is then used to calculate the woods original moisture content. Thanks for any help you can provide! If low WMC readings were obtained during the winter, and other signs of high moisture levels are present, obtain additional readings during the summer. Pinless moisture meters are even easier to use. Including some high-end species like Rosewood, ebony, Mahogany, White Cedar, Bija Sal, Walnut, Gmelina, etc. Damn those shop classes I didnt take. Free Webinar The What, Why, and How of Wood Moisture Testing. Thank you. Yes, it is possible to have a moisture content reading of 99.9%. Typical moisture content for furniture in a home is 6-9%. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. After reading your article and following comments, my question is : How much does the finish of a wood project for indoor use affect the moisture content? Different joinery (currently using pocket holes)? Very educational! I would also consider the environment where the table will live. Floor joists are generally 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches in width, with 8 or 10 inches as the most common sizes. Thanks Mark, The EMC outside and the wood should be the same. Engineering & Inspection Services, Licensed PE - Alabama & Tennessee, JADE Engineering & Inspection | 5405 Whitesburg Dr. I buy many Artificial Trees for our Stores, which has Wood Stems/Barks, mainly produced in China & Shipped to UAE. The same study showed a 40% loss in joint strength and concluded that a 20% MC may significantly compromise shear resistance of exterior walls. Top 5 Causes of Cracks in Brick Veneer Homes. Question: Just to make sure that you get accurate moisture measurements, has your moisture meter been checked for calibration? 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. Higher values could mean a wet or saturated material. Currently reading a 12.5%. Good luck. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. primer, the moisture vapor transmissions rate (MVtr) from the substrate should not be in excess of 5 lbs. the concrete was completely dry, no standing water. Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. I am based in The Netherlands. 12% is good for softwoods, but again, it depends on the relative humidity and temperature where the finished product will be kept. Waterproof membrane . Utilize the chart on following page to record the environmental readings at the time of installation. 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?? 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. Furniture maker Lonnie Bird weighs in, I dont want the wood to shrink after I use it because the wood will warp or split.. Live in Tn. Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. 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. If the conditions are too wet, dehumidify, and if they are too dry, humidify.