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For joists where the rot infestation has been thoroughly dealt with: it is acceptable to leave the joist as it is. Or perhaps I should advise them to buy Wagner meters, for better accuracy ;-). One sheet of plywood is 25% next to a 2X4 truss reading 17-27%. In the most serious cases, entire joists may need to be removed, but many times they can be "sistered," or attached to another supporting joist for additional strength. Thanks Phil. I am based in The Netherlands. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. Generally the entire floor is dry. Your email address will not be published. The sink vanity is made from typical laminated particle board, and Ive been trying to dry it in place using a dehumidifier and sealing the area off. Subtract the width of your floor joist from your floor's length: 120" 1.5" = 118.5". This is expensive and its ridiculous. We will be having a deck built off my woodshop. It was such a good read. 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). Yes, it is possible to have a moisture content reading of 99.9%. So if I understood the article right and not sure that I did. So chart would indicate around 9%. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. The moisture content of wooden substructure members is routinely being disclosed in the closing process of real estate transactions. Please help with T%, I have seen where 30% moisture loss by weight is a good rule of thumb to shoot for. In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. i cored out a small section of the bottom beam (3 inches wide) all the way down to the foundation. 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. When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! Since water conducts electricity and wood doesnt, the dryness of the wood can be determined by the amount of resistance to an electrical current. Any thoughts as to what the issue was with the first install so we dont have the same issue again next year after we go through a new install? Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, https://research.cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/wpe/files/2016/08/Equilibrium-Moisture-Content-of-Exterior-Wood-in-the-US.pdf, https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-950-smart/, http://www.csgnetwork.com/emctablecalc.html, https://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/equilibrium.php, https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-910-deep/, 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, Restoration Expert Says Moisture Management Critical to Health of Any House or Building, Correct Moisture Content: Critical to Your Woodworking Projects, Mckinleyville Middle Schoolers Learning about Wood Moisture Content, Ambient Data Loggers: Peace of Mind in a Box for Wood Flooring Installers, 5 Things Not to Do When Measuring Moisture in Wood Flooring, Alabama Wood Crafters Share Wood Woes When Overlooking a Moisture Meter. 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. Should it be less? If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. 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. There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. 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. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. There is only so much moisture a piece of wood can give up, over time, before a failure occurs. 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. Make sure theyre aligned with the grain and not across it. You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. I have a couple questions. Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. how do I determine the mc standard for this material, is it the same as wood or has its own specifications, 2. Im in Milwaukee, wi if that matters. This makes pinless moisture meters perfect for measuring the moisture content of things like expensive hardwood floors. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. (864) 506-4701, South Carolina Residential Construction Standards, http://www.rlcengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RLC-Engineering-1.png. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. We are shipping some acacia chopping board to colorado ( US) with moisture ranges from 10-14% while shipping from India but once product received all get cracked . 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. However, many building materials may have been dried down to about 15% moisture content. So, is it really this wet or is our meter over-reading? Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? I live in Atascadero CA and had a coastal red oak tree cut down this past summer. Box 1088, Roseburg, OR 97470 Tel. Any suggestions .thanks. 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. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. Mobeen, If a wooden sample gains moisture, then the sample will increase in size. 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. 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. Knowing were all the piers are, I can stand on top and feel a small hump in the floors. Insert the pins into the surface of the wood you want to test. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. Jerry, From a moisture standpoint, water in the basement can over time absorb into your subfloor. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. Thanks! Any opinions. We have a free app called WoodH2O for Android or iPhone. I had several of the varnished decorative hardwood laminated ply panels replaced in the lounge on an air conditioned luxury yacht. Add an answer. Avoid unnecessary moisture exposure of all wood components by enclosing the frame against adverse weather as soon as feasible. I am having a section of our 3.25 Maple hardwood floor replaced. A contractor is measuring sill plates by driving 2 SS Screws into the wood about 1-1/2 or so inches. 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. 2. You can hardly see the humps except the first pier that popped up . Great info! z .XWb*QGF^v4MQ`_dRw{\;\'03Uhx-SeJlc!m\8X^,Z/hU5Ewdzz:`nZ!(7reWD4X. 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. The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. 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. I have built two table tops (douglas fir) that have both suffered major cracking in their final location. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. If the subfloor is not acceptable, it can often be overlaid with 1/2 -inch plywood. The table had a 1 3/4 X 3 1/2 thick boarder with mitred corners and biscuited. board, and a 12-in. 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. I am not aware of a standard moisture content for packaging food or any other product. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? 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. The lumber was recently milled, although the tree had been cut months, years ago. These include warping, cracking, buckling, diminished wood strength, corrosion of fasteners, and even fungal growth. 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 built the tables in west Texas, but their final home is in Colorado. Am I possibly getting false positives? I live in Charlotte, NC. Specifically in the first 3-4 on one side of the door is 11%, then drops to ~8%. However, the wood species and the thickness or size of the wood may also factor in. 2013-10-14 03:14:29. If the middle is wet, you may experience cracking/splitting if dried too fast. What wood do you recommend that does not have a high oil/water content? In general, 12% moisture or above is too wet to install flooring. However, this time I was planning to use oil based poly rather than the spar urethane to reduce the amount of yellowing. 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. h26P0Pw/+Q0L)66 It is also possible to have moisture content readings over 100%. Its still there and causing stains and scaring inexperienced home inspectors who frighten buyers, but its dormant. As a general rule, with geographic exceptions, wood flooring performs best when the interior environment is controlled to stay within an RH range of 30% to 50% and a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. 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. 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. Joists that sit below end matched joints must be at least 35mm thick. Here is a link to a calculator and table: http://www.csgnetwork.com/emctablecalc.html. I live in coastal South Carolina .we are definitely afraid of mold formation. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. You can now understand the meaning of moisture content 5.5%, 15 g/m2/24 hours, and relative humidity 75% with these facts. 800-347-7260 Fax. 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. Engineering & Inspection Services, Licensed PE - Alabama & Tennessee, JADE Engineering & Inspection | 5405 Whitesburg Dr. Prior to the flooring installation, make sure your subfloor has not experienced leaks or other water damage. Also, there is a risk of mold. This app will tell you the percent moisture content that a given temperature and humidity will equilibrate to. Moisture was around 25% when milled, and the ends were sealed. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. Cracks in Concrete Slabs: Should I Be Concerned? Does coating wood with oil stabilize the moisture content in wood? Typical humidity levels inside a home is between 40 to 50%. A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. Second, would the same pine slab, would it be okay to use for a side table or Kitchen island. This author has found decay fungi in floor joists at moisture levels of 20% to 25%. There are water stains on the particle board floor, but the flooring felt completely dry a few minutes after the reading was taken (I didnt see the reading being taken), the floor looks dry in the plumbers photo, the particle board flooring is not noticeably swollen, and it certainly has no flaking or other signs of disintegration or lessening to its structural integrity. Two weeks is sufficient for softwood. SE, Huntsville, AL 35802. The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. Freshly cut wood has a lot of moisture in it. 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. I had a pin meter but found I had to put the pins in the ends or try to find an area that wouldnt be seen, so Im thinking a pinless might be better. 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. Will the reading be accurate? The Las Vegas EMC of wood or lumber ranges from 4.0% to 8.5%. (He didnt cite a figure.) First of all, it's normal for a below-grade concrete block wall in contact with the soil to have a high moisture content. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. 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. Are the measurements of all wood the same? Leicester, NC 28748 . We will be building fir windows. For example, from 25% to 45% or from 45% to 65%. Just press the scanning plate against the woods surface, turn on the meter, and receive the reading. I used my Wagner meter and it Measured in the 10% area. We dont know if we still should be having a commercial drying process? Summers are hot and dry while winters can be cool. Live in Tn. 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. We had boards that were also cracking/splitting and other places where small pinholes were showing up. The cause that may produce this will be discussed in the section "Biodeteration of flood". of water/day/1000 sq. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. all concrete) is framed and sheetrocked (though not mudded or sealed in any way) is then the studs are tested for humidity, what would be a reasonable level here in Seattle, living approximately 100 yards Puget Sound? 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). It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. Everyone who works with wood needs to understand how wood interacts with moisture in the environment. In your area, wood that has been in an environment to a duration of time would be between 6-11%.