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. You can Google moisture content of wood necessary to support fungal growth and see for yourself. As the humidity increases, the MC increases, causing the wood to expand. 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. I would have thought that if the floor gave a 99.9% water saturation reading, it would have had to have been noticeably wet. Here is a link to our new line of meters: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. Eventually, this internal moisture will evaporate by itself. Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. 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. The plywood setting is .57. Screwed 2x4s parallel into the joists as added support. I just bought a live edge slab of Cherry from a local sawmill that was kiln dried. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists? Surface molds may develop. If he is using a high-quality product from companies such as Delmhorst, they provide a slide hammer pin attachment, and they need to use insulated-shaft pins. The ASTM D4442 standard determines the accuracy of wood moisture meters. The other was for a $100 retail gift card. In other words, the water weighs more than the wood fibers. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. A moisture content reading of 25% is borderline to support mold. Different joinery (currently using pocket holes)? I wanted to talk to someone at Wagner about moisture guages and is there a dealer near Chattanooga, TN. 2. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. 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. So chart would indicate around 9%. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. 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. 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. Where are you located? Insert the pins into the surface of the wood you want to test. Even with lower temperatures, the ideal range for wood keeps relative humidity between 55% and 75%. 1. 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. 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%. "Mold requires moisture to survive, so protecting lumber and wood structures from moisture will prevent mold growth. 1= z@ Outdoor temp is 99*F. Is this normal? Were looking to replace the floor in an old (unheated) hay barn with treated tongue & Groove 26 flooring and need to know if the advertised 19% MC will be ok and not shrink too much. So what do you think is the ideal moisture% I should dry them to before rotary polishing them? While the surface of the floor might feel dry, there could be higher moisture inside. Does it have another common name? My question is microwaving twice turned bowls what would be the general rule of thumb for a target by weight. (He didnt cite a figure.) Joist spans may not be on the minds of most do-it-yourselfers, but joist spans are everywhere: above our heads in the ceiling joists and below our feet as flooring joists. I live in coastal South Carolina .we are definitely afraid of mold formation. It seems to me the supplier is drying the Teak to 14% because that is what is needed in Indonesia. The wood looks awful, and the staining the did is even worse. What are Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood? Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. Walking on Joists Before all accessories and floor decking are installed, I-joists are unstable and can roll over if walked on, leading to injuries. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). 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. There are areas where organic growth was very active to cause deep, black discolorization. Based on common guidelines or recommendations, the acceptable moisture levels for wood are as follows: Wood objects used indoors: 6-8% Wood flooring: 6-9% Construction: 9-14% Keep in mind that a wood's acceptable moisture level will depend primarily on how it will be finally used and the average RH where it will be finally used. Now the fungus goes dormant. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. During the summer months in the northeast region, wood subfloors and floor joists often measure 19. For boundary materials, the values vary depending on the physical properties of what you are . Request Answer. 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. For wide-width solid flooring (3 or wider), there should be no more than a 2% difference in moisture content between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials. All houses now use perimeter foundation so outside contact temperature stays at about 55 F all year. The company they hired measured 47% in the wood and declares that this must be ripped out and replaced. "R. Since the cold weather has come on, the organic growth has gone dormant, but a contractor noticed joists with distinctive moisture content where there are definitive separations between dry and wet looking wood. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. The other question is what should the moisture content be on treated lumber that will be for the framing of the deck? Then placing his pin meter on the screws. This weight difference is then used to calculate the woods original moisture content. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. 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. You can determine the correct percent moisture content by using our free app called WoodH2O. The more specific way to know would be to measure the relative humidity and temperature in your homes air and then plug the numbers into a calculator like this https://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/equilibrium.php This will tell you what the MC% should be based on your specific environment. Here's a good rule of thumb: Notches should be no deeper than 1/6 the depth of the joist. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. Elaine. in other hardwood areas that wasnt close to the water, was measuring about 16-19%. I had a quick looked around the crawl space and didnt notice any structure damage. Soil is almost always damp. We will be having a deck built off my woodshop. I have seen home built in the dead of winter, covered in snow, and still dry out enough for a successful home build. 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? Limit the length of notches to 1/3 of the joist's depth. Moisture was around 25% when milled, and the ends were sealed. Question: Just to make sure that you get accurate moisture measurements, has your moisture meter been checked for calibration? The joist span tables start with 26 lumber and it goes all the way up to 212. Example: 1.2mm Hickory wear layer 9mm thick plywood compose of 7 layers, 2 layers acacia, 4 layers of Eucalyptus\2 layers Acacia and one layer Poplar. Houses with timber-framed floors can be at risk of having poor underfloor ventilation. My meter tells me anything above 12% is wet but I cannot find any source of leaking or signs of water. Drying equipment removed 3 days ago. 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. Indoor humidity is around 50%, indoor temps around 70 degrees. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? Thank you so much for your time and expertise. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. If so, then you'll want to know. What can we do to get the row products closer in moisture content, we are currently using fans, We are in northern lower Michigan I am the general contractor for the house, and want to avoid any problems, would love to talk to you on the phone, my number is 9894647248, Mark Skiba, This is a great site about moisture content. You should be ok as long as the moisture content does not get worse (higher). I will get further testing from those not involved. Stopping the moisture is much cheaper and easier than repairing the structure. Hello Larry I am from Bangladesh. Replaced the subfloor, which is . The excess moisture source must be immediately corrected, and the situation carefully monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. 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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. Oiling the surface does not control the moisture in the wood. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. 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 may have missed this already but I have a few quick questions. Headers, columns, and joists are rotting. Heres how it works. 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. 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. Your table may have been a little too high in moisture, hence the crack as it dried slightly in the drier environment. 1 4 I would love to be able to give you the perfect answer but unfortunately, there isnt one. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. The purpose of the vapor barrier is to keep moisture away from materials that expand and contract. So, i had one installed a few weeks after we met. The humidity in the room is currently 40! Cut out a portion (approx 1/2" I think) from the top of the floor joists. . 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. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. 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. 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. Two questions I need a reliable, easy to use meter that can cover all species as I now have a portable mill and that can be used for treated. I installed a sump pump and 6 mil vapor barrier, but the barrier is not sealed around piers and the ground is moist under the barrier all year. There was a board that cracked along a glue line. Observed water leaking along seams of several sheets of original plywood in attic. Any suggestions .thanks. The electrical current will then move from pin to pin and measure the resistance encountered. I gladly obliged. When questioned, he said because Room is under 200 sq feet it is not a problem. 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. 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? i also drilled into the wood every few inches, several inches deep with a typical drill bit. Water Level Survey: Are You Smarter Than an Egyptian? When determining the acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring before installation, the NWFA states that the flooring professional should establish a baseline for acclimation. From a strictly static MC%, 16-20% MC for long duration is going to promote mold growth. I am building a farm style dining table with pecan 2 thick X 8-0 long boards. Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. 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%. 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 next question is almost the same as before, if we have various kinds of wood, such as March wood, mango wood, pine. 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? The definitions section of the IICRC S500 current edition describes dry-standard: "a reasonable approximation of the moisture content or level of a material prior to a water intrusion," drying goal: the target moisture content or moisture level in a material to be achieved at the end of the drying process established by the restorer. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. Learn how your comment data is processed. A termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. Timber logs & Lumber into India company remained actively involved in harvesting and sale of Hardwood logs of Indian origin. For more information, see our article comparing Pinless Moisture Meters vs. Pin Meters. P.O. So, to sum up, Moisture in crawlspaces is bad. Should I wait? I want to use it to build a table and will be moving it to the location where I will work on it shortly. If any of these conditions occur, tell your installer right away. Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. Installers should also measure the moisture in wood subfloors and concrete slabs as they can also affect wood flooring. 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. What is an FHA Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Homes? 7. board, and a 12-in. Live in Tn. I had it milled into 2.25 slabs and I stacked it on a deck area. The builder's warranty representative came out and measured the moisture levels with a moisture meter. Thanks in advance for your input! A wood moisture content of 47% is too high. A subfloor needs to be clean, dry, level and structurally sound. Its always a good idea to check with the manufacturer of the finish also. meter readings of up to 2.0% and in-slab relative humidity (RH) below 75%. I checked it with my new moisture meter and had a reading of between 8-13.5%. 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. guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. Hug the ones you love when you see them! The air vents stay closed year round. This means the weight of the water exceeds the weight of the wood by itself. (Itd effectively seal the cavity under the vanity, so once the trim is back on, i dont think itll dry out much more.)