Grain orientation matters 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. z .XWb*QGF^v4MQ`_dRw{\;\'03Uhx-SeJlc!m\8X^,Z/hU5Ewdzz:`nZ!(7reWD4X. Writing all the way from Australia, Steven. One of the beauties of spar is that it allows the wood to move quite a bit, while still retaining good adhesion. These home inspectors are insecure and inexperienced. 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. Wide-spread and often extensive moisture damage occurs in residences across the state of South Carolina and elsewhere in the Southeast due to the regions warm, humid climate. Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. For boundary materials, the values vary depending on the physical properties of what you are . Most of it will dissipate. Sagging or Uneven Floors Solutions. Whats the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Engineering Inspection? The three main sources of moisture: Condensation, Foundation wall transfer, and leaks. 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. Perhaps there is something different about the East and West walls. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Interior walls non-insulated at around 7-8% mc. At that point in time, we did not have a conditioned house. The optimal humidity in a home is generally 35%-55% and anything under 20% is actually considered unhealthy, as it dries out the skin. What do you recommend? Here's a good rule of thumb: Notches should be no deeper than 1/6 the depth of the joist. The reading was sky high in the pan and up two tiles high on the wall. I was able to get the MC down to 15%. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. Most floor joists are single or double, and most often made with 2x6s or 2x8s. I found your moisture levels column through a search for good wood for low humidity. Not only did the aggressive notching doom this joist, it affected the structural integrity of the floor system above. Hardwood flooring needs to acclimate at least 2 weeks, in service conditions, before it is installed. I suspect the screws may be skewing the measurements. 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. I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. i want to make a headboard from it. You can use our free APP called WoodH2O to help you decide on the best moisture content. Thank you. Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . This app will tell you the percent moisture content that a given temperature and humidity will equilibrate to. 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. Thanks. 2-1/4", the moisture content between the flooring planks and the subfloor should not exceed 2%. As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. As the airs RH increases, so does the moisture content of any wood exposed to the air. Have I been wrong? Percent moisture content in wood is the ratio of the weight of water compared to the overall weight of a piece of wood. If the wood is covered by a material like MDF or other, do we take 2x the measurements? If the middle is wet, you may experience cracking/splitting if dried too fast. Home Moisture Meters Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content. Hello, I am renovating my kitchen and installing hardwood floors. The interior was 3/4 BW the tables dimensions were 40x 70 . 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. If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. A mold or mildew odor or appearance on surfaces. A termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. Lay the panels perpendicular to floor joists, allowing 1/4 inch of space between panels and the wall. 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. Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. I am not sure if this is pressure treated wood given its an exterior wall and if that affects what these numbers are. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. These include warping, cracking, buckling, diminished wood strength, corrosion of fasteners, and even fungal growth. Make sure theyre aligned with the grain and not across it. The other question is what should the moisture content be on treated lumber that will be for the framing of the deck? My meter tells me anything above 12% is wet but I cannot find any source of leaking or signs of water. I used my Wagner meter and it Measured in the 10% area. One sheet of plywood is 25% next to a 2X4 truss reading 17-27%. All Rights Reserved. WME? Sorry that this is so long-winded and I thank you in advance if you are willing to address this question for me. . I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. 2nd question, will lacquer on surface of flooring affect the reading. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. 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. 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? Outdoor temp is 99*F. Is this normal? Actually floors account for 15% of building heat loss depending on construction. Mobeen, If a wooden sample gains moisture, then the sample will increase in size. endstream endobj 80 0 obj <>stream I would think it would vary depending on the contents. . It is also a good idea to use a moisture meter after the three weeks just to make sure. Since your subfloor may be concrete or wood, you should make sure you choose a meter that is specially designed for the specific element you are testing. Any suggestions .thanks. What do you recommend the reader to be at before insulation and drywall on new construction? Logs, siding, shiplap, and T&G must be kiln-dried to stop the wood from shrinking or pulling apart. Acclimation is the process for conditioning the moisture content of wood flooring to the environment where it will be installed. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. 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. 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. The wood sample being tested is dried in a special oven or kiln and its weight periodically checked. The ASTM D4442 standard determines the accuracy of wood moisture meters. Based on common guidelines or recommendations, the acceptable moisture levels for wood are as follows: Keep in mind that a woods acceptable moisture level will depend primarily on how it will be finally used and the average RH where it will be finally used. Repair is often required when WMC readings are in this range. (EMC) than other pieces of wood, depending on its location. As long as the moisture content does not exceed those readings you should be ok. within two percentage points of the EMC where the wood is going to be used. With a degree in Computer Systems, Larry is involved in both hardware and software development of wood moisture measurement solutions. If the subfloor is not acceptable, it can often be overlaid with 1/2 -inch plywood. 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. Good moisture content for hardwoods is 6% to 9% moisture. Here is a link to our moisture meters, thermo-hygrometer, and Smart Logger. Im not sure I can really answer this question. Your email address will not be published. It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. What is a Proper Structural Engineering Inspection? Whether youre a woodworker making cabinets, a wood flooring professional installing hardwood floors, or if you use wood in construction, wood moisture content (MC) should be always on your mind. A 212 joist of the same species and quality can span nearly 25'. Remember that the meter assumes it is reading timber. I read your article and really like it. The fir windows and exterior doors will be affected by the the exterior and interior RH. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. If after the inspection we find that your sagging floor joists need support or your home's foundation needs repair we may recommend using IntelliJack, JES Helical Piers, or JES Push Piers. Am I possibly getting false positives? During the increased average temperatures of spring and summer, timber moisture content reduces to more acceptable levels. Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. the curb is built with 3 2/4s stacked on each other. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! Subfloor material such as plywood or OSB should measure between 10 and 14% moisture content. I have a couple questions. Had fans and dehumidifer running for 17 days starting 2 days after leak. 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. Your ideal MC will also depend on the outdoor humidity levels. The house was not in the flood area however they did receive 20 inches of rain. I have one question with regards to pinless moisture meters and wallboard/Sheetrock. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. Hello Enjoyed the article. Required fields are marked *. I really need to know as I am getting so many different opinions Thanks. Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. 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. The angle iron will prevent much warping, and I do plan on finishing all sides (and ends). I have some black walnut and cherry that Ive milled and want to make some charcuterie, cheese, bread boardsetc with, would the 6 8% dryness apply to this or what would you recommend? We really cant overstress the importance of taking plenty of moisture readings. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. There are joists that display splitting. Too dry and you get chipping out of the wood. summary Acceptable wood moisture readings on a meter normally range from 6% to 8% for woodworking. It gains or loses water moisture as the relative humidity (RH) of the surrounding air changes. Wood freshly cut or kiln-dried is always interacting with environmental moisture. It will be there for a few months before I begin working on it. Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. 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. Higher values could mean a wet or saturated material. The containers that we have received so far have arrived wet and mouldy. Wood moisture content between 0% and about 28% is dependent upon the relative humidity (RH) of the air. The best way to do this is to use an accurate moisture meter. To make sure the wood is properly dried, he always uses a moisture meter before working with it. Down pour of rain onto underlayment of attached garage. Treated wood is typically still wet when its delivered to the job site. Position plywood panels at a 2-inch offset from the structural subfloor seams. Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. 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. Other signs of high moisture readings include surface mold, evidence of water flows in the crawl space, evidence of water stains or evaporation from foundation walls and columns, evidence of condensation on ducts and evidence of water drops impacting the soil under ducts. 11 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 15 /H [ 1017 209 ] /L 26721 /E 14333 /N 2 /T 26383 >> endobj xref 11 18 0000000016 00000 n 0000000724 00000 n 0000000820 00000 n 0000000963 00000 n 0000001226 00000 n 0000001393 00000 n 0000001566 00000 n 0000001771 00000 n 0000002827 00000 n 0000002934 00000 n 0000004271 00000 n 0000005322 00000 n 0000005517 00000 n 0000007871 00000 n 0000007949 00000 n 0000009756 00000 n 0000001017 00000 n 0000001206 00000 n trailer << /Size 29 /Info 10 0 R /Encrypt 13 0 R /Root 12 0 R /Prev 26373 /ID[<2277e06d91c56aa37caf41071ab29f47><2277e06d91c56aa37caf41071ab29f47>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 12 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 9 0 R /PageMode /UseThumbs /OpenAction 14 0 R >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Filter /Standard /V 1 /R 2 /O (D+K\r,s\n?$+%{Nhjp-!) The plywood setting is .57. 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. I have about 3,000 sqft on my first floor and this was relatively consistent throughout. board will move 3 times the amount as a 4-in. The acceptable moisture levels in a crawl space are between 30% and 50%, with under 55% being the ideal. 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. (He didnt cite a figure.) Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. Turn on the meter. The purpose of the vapor barrier is to keep moisture away from materials that expand and contract. Thank you, In wood products manufacturing, 6-8% is pretty much the norm, at least in North America.
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