I found your website at just the right time. 800-347-7260 Fax. 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. The SG setting is on the card that comes with the meter. 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. I dont know what to believe except the company who installed the vapor and dehumidifier said the vapor barrier needs to be changed out because of all the sewage and drainage stains after the plumbing is fixed. 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. This is a perfectly normal moisture content and one that will not support fungal growth. About how long do you think we should allow the new wood to acclimate in the end use environment before installing it? These home inspectors are insecure and inexperienced. Retain this information with your records. He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. Ideally Ill wait until reaching final drying but sometimes I need to use wood before that point. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. The builder's warranty representative came out and measured the moisture levels with a moisture meter. Box 1088, Roseburg, OR 97470 Tel. provide a good substrate for a wide range of wet area finishes. This water may come from condensation, roof leaks, plumbing leaks, or contact with the soil. Hello I moved into my new home in June of 2018. Why Do So Many Homes Have Cracks in Their Brick Veneer? The normal outside equilibration moisture content (EMC) for Indiana is anywhere from 13% to 16%. Floor joists transfer loads to the vertical beams of the house. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. To establish a baseline for wood flooring acclimation, the installer will need to calculate the optimal moisture level of the wood by dividing the regions high season and low season EMC. Wiki User. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. Floor joists come in dimensional lumber lengths from 8 to 16 feet or more. My house is 24 years old. The MC varies from 7% 13.5% around the exterior door on dry days and 10%-16% during rains. meter readings of up to 2.0% and in-slab relative humidity (RH) below 75%. )IS0i 1P *V? U? What is an FHA Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Homes? I manufacture ice cream sticks and disposable wooden cutlery from European Baltic birch wood in India. In all cases, determining the acceptable moisture level of wood requires the use of an extremely accurate moisture meter. During the increased average temperatures of spring and summer, timber moisture content reduces to more acceptable levels. 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. How long will it take to get to the ideal moisture reading and is it better to be stored in a garage or inside a house? The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. If you know such International or Amercan or any other standard please let me know. What are Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood? We just had a hydrometer installed in the crawlspace and it is reading 38% as of today. The air vents stay closed year round. Wood Moisture Content (WMC) is often used as an indicator of decay problems in houses. Treated wood is typically still wet when its delivered to the job site. 25-30 - Actual, and often extensive, damage is evident when readings reach this level. we had a problem with our shower curb. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. 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. The new wood was brought in in bundles ~2 x 2 x 6 and left that way to acclimate for ~2 weeks. We found the problem and the leak was resolve quickly! Had fans and dehumidifer running for 17 days starting 2 days after leak. 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. 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. Sorry that this is so long-winded and I thank you in advance if you are willing to address this question for me. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. Wall Construction Flat-or no more than 3/8" in 8' (bulge) But none of the contractors abide by the framing codes, nor do the city officials. 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. We dont know if we still have leaks? 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? Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! Additional care is necessary if laying parallel to the joists and sheet subfloors can sag between the joist. ft., and averaging the results. Working with some slabs of spruce. A 212 joist of the same species and quality can span nearly 25'. I would think at least fixing your dehumidifier is a must. If the moisture content of the product is well outside the range of optimal MC, the wood flooring should not be accepted because it will lead to shrinkage, bowing, cupping, and other physical problems. Which Orion moisture meter model would you suggest for my application? . Turn on the meter. We are manufacturer of eng wood flooring. 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. Eventually, this internal moisture will evaporate by itself. I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. There are two main ways of measuring wood moisture content: oven-dry testing and moisture meter testing. Pinless meters are non-penetrating and read the moisture content via a non-damaging electromagnetic sensor that scans the wood. . 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. This app will tell you the percent moisture content that a given temperature and humidity will equilibrate to. The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! As the humidity decreases, the MC decreases, causing the wood to shrink. I just bought a live edge slab of Cherry from a local sawmill that was kiln dried. Thanks for the reply. 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%. The ceiling in the bedroom above the chimney breast shows signs of damp however doesn't feel damp/moist. Accuaracy is of course more important.. This is for furniture-grade hardwoods. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? There is only so much moisture a piece of wood can give up, over time, before a failure occurs. how do I determine the mc standard for this material, is it the same as wood or has its own specifications, 2. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. It gains or loses water moisture as the relative humidity (RH) of the surrounding air changes. 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. Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? 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. Yes, the wood can still be read for MC with a stain on it. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. Do you have a suggestion? Most types of wood species will mold above 25% moisture content, including pine. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. I think mine is +-3% Is it possible being near the door just means greater humidity and there isnt actually a leak? I am building a farm style dining table with pecan 2 thick X 8-0 long boards. Phil, what are you making with the cedar, and in what type of environment will it be? 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 home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. They were installed over existing plywood subfloor. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. 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. 7. If so, then you'll want to know. I-joists are comprised of top and bottom flanges, which resist bending, united with webs, which provide outstanding shear resistance. Perhaps there is something different about the East and West walls. Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! We have had on/off rain and humidity 80-90% range. 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. Again, the correct moisture content will depend on the surrounding conditions. 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%. A dry reading will be 16% MC (Moisture Content) or below. The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. For solid strip flooring (less than 3 wide) there should be no more than a 4% difference in moisture content between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials. In March of this year I had new white oak 2 flooring installed. We have a free app called WoodH2O for Android or iPhone. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. Softwoods typically have higher moisture content than hardwoods. Moisture content (MC) in raw slabs can take additional time to reach its Equilibrium 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 recommend one of our Orion models: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. 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. Your ideal MC will also depend on the outdoor humidity levels. 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 this moisture condenses on the floor system, it wets the wood. When questioned, he said because Room is under 200 sq feet it is not a problem. 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. 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. Thank you for your very informative knowledge about all of the items on this page. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? The levels were between 20 and 23%. Wall Corners-Perpendicular within 1/4" in 10'. Because ventilated crawl spaces throughout the Southeast United States allow high humidity and fungus spores to enter the enclosed space beneath the home. You mentioned it was installed just 3 days after it was delivered. Wood freshly cut or kiln-dried is always interacting with environmental moisture. Even at this, the estimate would be the high end of MC% prior to shipment, but only rough estimate. endstream endobj 81 0 obj <>stream The ASTM D4442 standard determines the accuracy of wood moisture meters. . summary Wood must always be allowed to acclimate or come into balance with the RH of the end-use location. With the WoodH2O-app I could deduct the EMC for The Netherlands would be between 15 and 16. One sheet of plywood is 25% next to a 2X4 truss reading 17-27%. The inspector said his meter reading taken from my basement on subflooring/joists/framing was too high. Water was coming out of this outlet and onto the floor? Most floor joists are single or double, and most often made with 2x6s or 2x8s. I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. One type of wood moisture meter. Standard moisture contents for hardwoods are 6% 9% MC. The wood and varnish appear otherwise pristine, uncracked and not bubbled or clouded in any way. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found. Condensation present on the . endstream endobj 80 0 obj <>stream Thanks Mark, The EMC outside and the wood should be the same. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. hj0Ed=h].J-)_q},jR3$\ eH"wCk)E)J8 Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. 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. Add 1 to this value and round up the answer to the next whole number: 7.40625 + 1 = 8.40625 9 floor joists. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. 10 14% moisture content is too high. look forward to your comments. 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. 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. Floors should be: level within a 3mm deviation per 1m for floors up to 6m across (measured at the furthest points across the full width of the floor) a maximum of 20mm out of level for floors over 6m across flat within a 5mm deviation, measured using a 2m straight edge with equal offsets. Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . The moisture content of freshly cut wood is typically somewhere between 40-200%. I will get further testing from those not involved. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. The purpose of the vapor barrier is to keep moisture away from materials that expand and contract. The water eventually came out a electric outlet located three inches off the floor. WME? My meter tells me anything above 12% is wet but I cannot find any source of leaking or signs of water. Were so sorry for the inconvenience. Whats the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Engineering Inspection? In your area, wood that has been in an environment to a duration of time would be between 6-11%. Also, if the leak was bad enough, it will be necessary to have a contractor make sure the strength of the subfloor isnt compromised. i cored out a small section of the bottom beam (3 inches wide) all the way down to the foundation. Since Im drying them outside, being in AK I would like to work with them if possible before the long moist winter. And it really helps to pay an HVAC contractor to better seal and insulate the A/C ducts so they dont leak cold air!!! You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. Were in northern Indiana, humid summers long cold winters. Seattles EMC ranges from 12.2% to 16.5%. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. Drying equipment removed 3 days ago. The purpose of acclimating is to allow the flooring to equalize to the surrounding conditions, no matter how large the room is. 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. I removed an of the foam insulation. I dont know what type of floor you have, but if it gets wet enough, about 25% moisture content or higher, mold can grow. Ideally, it should be between 7% and 9%. Request Answer. Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! A 10% moisture content reading means that 10% of a wood samples weight is due to water in the wood. I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). (He didnt cite a figure.) I cant speak for the home inspector who has raised concerns, or what his experience level is, but I can assure you that the floor joists beneath this home are no different than 90% of the floor joists I have inspected over the past three decades. Do NOT install the flooring planks until these moisture content levels are achieved. Wood is hygroscopic. of water/day/1000 sq. Grain orientation matters They said if i wanted to spend the money, a humidifier would help keep the humidity inside the house more consistent throughout the year. I have a couple questions. If this is confusing, dont worry. 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. A high reading in one area indicates a problem that must be corrected. 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 . But the table will be inside? They are currently nearing equilibrium (around 12 MC) and are stored within the house. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. What You Should Know About Septic Systems, Interior Slab Foundation Settlement: Evaluations and Cost of Repair. What % does it have to get down to before it would be usable to make a table top ? And would it be normal for the MC to vary from board-to-board and one end of a board to the other? Here current humidity is 76%. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. As lumber dries, it may split, cup and warp. 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. Engineering & Inspection Services, Licensed PE - Alabama & Tennessee, JADE Engineering & Inspection | 5405 Whitesburg Dr. Was told thats not done. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. Substructures with WMC in this range may show decay or rot in floor joist, sills, and subflooring. This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. I may have missed this already but I have a few quick questions. Do you have any recommendations on how to prevent mold from getting on the wood? 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. Reaching these moisture content levels does not mean mold growth or corrosion . 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. Toilet overflowed and moisture meter is reading 30% in worst area. However, this range will vary slightly according to the geographic region because of varying RH levels. 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?? Required fields are marked *. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. However, a general rule of thumb is that the basement's humidity level is not over 30 - 50 percent. Why and how can I say this? So chart would indicate around 9%. Thats why I think the wood is either not dried to 14%, or it has picked up too much humidity after drying. If humidity levels in the crawlspace with all these measures taken place is above 60% the joist and the subfloor will have a high MC reading.
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