Like all wood materials, I-joists are susceptible to moisture. 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? It is a 2-3 feet wide wet area that drains to a line connected to the city system. My plan is to make a wall-mounted headboard out of angle iron and these boards (boards will not be joined). Furniture maker Lonnie Bird weighs in, I dont want the wood to shrink after I use it because the wood will warp or split.. Any suggestions .thanks. Thank you for the helpful article. The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. That is still quite a wide range. During my visit, I crawled to the four main corners of the crawl space and probed the floor system with an electronic moisture meter during this traverse. The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . 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. Under the floor. However, kiln drying is used to speed up the process. The ideal moisture content will depend on the humidity indoors. 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? If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. 12% is good for softwoods, but again, it depends on the relative humidity and temperature where the finished product will be kept. can be insulated and heated (insulation is mandatory if heated) require careful planning and . 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. Its never constant. 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. can be laid with falls and set downs. A contractor is measuring sill plates by driving 2 SS Screws into the wood about 1-1/2 or so inches. Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. Thank you, In wood products manufacturing, 6-8% is pretty much the norm, at least in North America. It is possible, in some species, to have a moisture content higher than 100 percent. The acceptable moisture levels in basement walls and floors will depend on many factors. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. I am building a farm style dining table with pecan 2 thick X 8-0 long boards. In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. Typically, allow about 3 weeks for hardwood to acclimate in the environment. Wood Moisture Content is the weight of water in a piece of wood expressed as a percentage of oven dry weight of wood. Sorry, that time of year. 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. 1. 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. The excess moisture source must be immediately corrected, and the situation carefully monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. Does coating wood with oil stabilize the moisture content in wood? Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. Do you have a suggestion? For more information, see our article comparing Pinless Moisture Meters vs. Pin Meters. It is best to allow the wood to equilibrate to the room environment. Wagner has a free app called WoodH2O to help you determine the proper moisture levels based on consistent humidity and temperature. /U (li7":-JOBHO,9UY) /P 65492 >> endobj 14 0 obj << /S /GoTo /D [ 15 0 R /Fit ] >> endobj 27 0 obj << /S 45 /T 91 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 28 0 R >> stream Many timber-framed floor problems can be traced to moisture levels, excessive loads or borer. https://www.wagnermeters.com/wood-moisture-meters/. 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. Hello, Paul here. Wood in buildings usually has a wood moisture content of 5% to 15%. 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%. Will the reading be accurate? 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? ( 55 days transit by sea) What should be the moisture content while loading in Containers? He added that plastic sheet ground covering that his company laid over my crawl space had been moved in spots and that I no longer had full coverage. Its still there and causing stains and scaring inexperienced home inspectors who frighten buyers, but its dormant. 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. Subfloor material such as plywood or OSB should measure between 10 and 14% moisture content. The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. The builder's warranty representative came out and measured the moisture levels with a moisture meter. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you need further clarification http://www.nwfa.org is an excellent source. The joist span tables start with 26 lumber and it goes all the way up to 212. Or perhaps I should advise them to buy Wagner meters, for better accuracy ;-). I wanted to know if is there any standard which specifies the acceptable range of moisture content for wood used in packaging industry like pine wood. Now the fungus goes dormant. With a degree in Computer Systems, Larry is involved in both hardware and software development of wood moisture measurement solutions. we are presently constructing a new timber frame residence on ocean front in BC, Canada. 7. Pin-type meters use penetrating electrodes and measure the woods moisture content using electrical resistance. Just across the threshold to a white oak floor installed in ~1914 and the MC is 15%->16%. Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. Thanks for the email. Logs, siding, shiplap, and T&G must be kiln-dried to stop the wood from shrinking or pulling apart. The table had a 1 3/4 X 3 1/2 thick boarder with mitred corners and biscuited. I get some water seepage through an exterior wall at basement floor level as a result of heavy rain. The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). 10 14% moisture content is too high. The crawl space must be a minimum of 18" to the bottom of the floor joists, and the soil in the crawl space covered with a heavy duty plastic moisture barrier, and sealed at the seams. Would the screws skew the measurements? Check joints and bottom plates as moisture can get trapped here. 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. Free Webinar The What, Why, and How of Wood Moisture Testing. Thank you. For instance, the subfloor may appear to be dry on the surface, but still have elevated moisture within the panels. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. Hope that helps. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! Thank You. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. It will continue to absorb and release moisture until it comes into balance with the surrounding air. I am planning an under-house excursion tomorrow. The plywood setting is .57. Screwed 2x4s parallel into the joists as added support. We dont know if we still should be having a commercial drying process? 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. Whats an acceptable moisture level for a brick wall in a house? My question is regarding finishing. What would one expect to read in plywood subfloor and old growth pine floor joist? Good moisture content for hardwoods is 6% to 9% moisture. With regard to mold growing on your furniture, I would have to defer you back to the shipping company as they have more experience dealing with these types of issues. I used my Wagner meter and it Measured in the 10% area. Be notified when an answer is posted. This summer I milled several 1.25 boards from a fir log that had been cut around 10 years ago. Outdoor temp is 99*F. Is this normal? We are manufacturer of eng wood flooring. Keep monitoring it. Let's repeat that again. The NWFA recommends testing wood subfloor moisture in at least 20 locations per 1,000 sq. board, and a 12-in. This means that wood intended for interior use in this location should not only be dried to around 6% but should be kept at this moisture content both before and during the manufacturing process. The boards should be no wider than 6 inches and installed on a 45-degree angle. 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. Drying teak hardwood from a humid climate, for use outdoors in a much drier European climate? However, a general rule of thumb is that the basement's humidity level is not over 30 - 50 percent. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found. Last reviewed: 12 Sep 2021 Last published: 12 Sep 2021. 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%. Moisture contents in wood floor joists in houses with moisture problems are exceeding the 20% maximum level for air dried lumber. My last Wagner was appropriated by the individual who appropriated other tools out of my old sho. Top 5 Causes of Cracks in Brick Veneer Homes. You can hardly see the humps except the first pier that popped up . These WMC readings are usually provided by pest control operators, and are included in the termite letter (form CL-100 Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report). How Timber Reacts To Moisture. Indoor humidity is around 50%, indoor temps around 70 degrees. Having performed multiple (>500) soil moisture and density Sieve and Proctor, so I am well versed in moisture calculations (both add and subtract). Your ideal MC will also depend on the outdoor humidity levels. Why You Should Use Relative Humidity (RH) Testing, Flooring, Millwork, Furniture & Cabinet Manufacturers, How to Choose a Moisture Measurement System for Your Sawmill Buying Guide, Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content, Free Download 5 Ways Pinless Moisture Meters Save You Time and Money. The Las Vegas EMC of wood or lumber ranges from 4.0% to 8.5%. 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. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? Can I get a away with this? Grain orientation matters As the humidity decreases, the MC decreases, causing the wood to shrink. Fungus loves wet wood. My house was built in 1927. 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. Also, if the leak was bad enough, it will be necessary to have a contractor make sure the strength of the subfloor isnt compromised. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. And it's important to keep in mind that a glued-up panel behaves basically as one wide piece of lumber. Cracks in Concrete Slabs: Should I Be Concerned? The normal outside equilibration moisture content (EMC) for Indiana is anywhere from 13% to 16%. I live in Charlotte, NC. z .XWb*QGF^v4MQ`_dRw{\;\'03Uhx-SeJlc!m\8X^,Z/hU5Ewdzz:`nZ!(7reWD4X. Moisture content of 11.5% for the oak is a little high for furniture grade hardwoods. Am I possibly getting false positives? Headers, columns, and joists are rotting. 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. This type of floor-leveling is DIY-friendly and costs approximately $1.50 per square foot when applied 1/8-inch thick. I gladly obliged. Sometimes moving the air around is enough to remove moisture and dry surfaces. The failure in your case sounds as though the piece was exposed to a rapid loss of already low ambient moisture, causing the cracking in the piece. The purpose of the vapor barrier is to keep moisture away from materials that expand and contract. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. The interior was 3/4 BW the tables dimensions were 40x 70 . After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. 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. Ideally, it should be between 7% and 9%. He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. With a Wagner L606, I am getting MC readings 12%->15.5% . Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache?
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acceptable moisture levels in floor joists