acceptable moisture levels in floor joists

The moisture content of wooden substructure members is routinely being disclosed in the closing process of real estate transactions. %PDF-1.5 % However, many building materials may have been dried down to about 15% moisture content. These mold spores land on the wet wood and take root. I would have thought that if the floor gave a 99.9% water saturation reading, it would have had to have been noticeably wet. We havent gone any further since the condition was found so close to us purchasing the home. Thank you for your very informative knowledge about all of the items on this page. water leaked over the edge. The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). I requested the treated lumber be brought in a few weeks prior to build, stickered and put under cover to acclimate and dry it. The interior home conditions are, AC running at 68-70*F. Exterior wall condition 104*F as checked with an IR thermometer of East wall not in the sun. I did not find any information on Matumi. Generally the entire floor is dry. As far as the oil finish, the manufacturer of the oil will specify the correct moisture content for an application. This week, I notice the next pier on the same beam is starting to push up, warping the floor. Hello I moved into my new home in June of 2018. The interior wood moisture level should be 12% or lower before painting. Standard moisture contents for hardwoods are 6% 9% MC. I will get further testing from those not involved. ft., based on a standard AStM F-1869 (Calcium Chloride) test, or 80% rh, based on AStM F-2170. for a mere $4900. From a strictly static MC%, 16-20% MC for long duration is going to promote mold growth. Some wood you buy from a lumber store can be higher than 14% but typically range between 12-14%. Sorry, that time of year. Thanks for the reply. If decay or WMC readings over 28% are present, find and fix the sources of liquid water quickly. 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. Moisture content of 11.5% for the oak is a little high for furniture grade hardwoods. There are areas where organic growth was very active to cause deep, black discolorization. Oiling the surface does not control the moisture in the wood. This means a very absorbent wood can retain more water, weight wise, the weight of the wood itself. Squeaks from subfloors The floor installer is often the 'first cab off the rank' when there is a squeaking floor and the problem may "R. Also, the glue manufacturer should ideally give you some specifications for max and min moisture content. Keep indoor humidity low. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. (Itd effectively seal the cavity under the vanity, so once the trim is back on, i dont think itll dry out much more.) This pinless meter is accurate, Ive got 2 other pin moisture meters and all 3 of them read within only 1-3% difference as checked on wood structures. This should be stuck into your wooden subfloor. The engineered wood floor appears ok. We had boards that were also cracking/splitting and other places where small pinholes were showing up. The substructure may show decayed areas, ranging from small to very large, of rotten floor joist, sills, and . As it dries, you should expect slight changes in width and length. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. 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. I really appreciate your treatise on this matter. This makes pinless moisture meters perfect for measuring the moisture content of things like expensive hardwood floors. Kiln-dried wood usually shows a moisture reading of 10% on the outside and then 25% on the inside. Moisture content (MC) in raw slabs can take additional time to reach its Equilibrium Moisture Content. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. Many thanks for your advice, really appreciate it! It is best to allow the wood to equilibrate to the room environment. 1. in Indonesia there are a lot of raw materials consisting of natural fibers, such as: pandanus, water hyacinth, rattan etc. I not sure if this is normal, related to the re-shim or need to install a crawl space dehumidifier to slow the progression? You can now understand the meaning of moisture content 5.5%, 15 g/m2/24 hours, and relative humidity 75% with these facts. Please commenr? One type of wood moisture meter. The SG setting is on the card that comes with the meter. When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! During the summer months in the northeast region, wood subfloors and floor joists often measure 19. Want this question answered? This can be a problem once installed in furniture or a floor. About how long do you think we should allow the new wood to acclimate in the end use environment before installing it? As the humidity decreases, the MC decreases, causing the wood to shrink. Notches at the end of the joist should be no deeper than 1/4 the depth. A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. When I purchase it its soaking wet and Ive always given it a few weeks, stickered and covered for at least 2 weeks, sometimes up to a month, to get it down to around 17-19%. What is a Proper Structural Engineering Inspection? Copyright - RLC Engineering, LLC. A dehumidifier in the crawlspace will help but can be expensive. I have built two table tops (douglas fir) that have both suffered major cracking in their final location. 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. That doesnt make much sense to me. Thank you. The installer should then check the moisture content of multiple boards and average the results. I am shipping teakwood furniture from Indonesia to California. Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. Utilize the chart on following page to record the environmental readings at the time of installation. Thanks for the article, really appreciate the info! 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? The floor immediately felt stronger. Please provide us with regular updates. 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. this is an interesting read I landed upon as I was searching for MC in wood items. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found. Just press the scanning plate against the woods surface, turn on the meter, and receive the reading. The purpose of acclimating is to allow the flooring to equalize to the surrounding conditions, no matter how large the room is. 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 . You mentioned it was installed just 3 days after it was delivered. I have removed the 1 3/4 edge and resawn to take out the splinter (1/4) re bicuited . These home inspectors are insecure and inexperienced. A contractor is measuring sill plates by driving 2 SS Screws into the wood about 1-1/2 or so inches. I recommend one of our Orion models: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. Here is a link to our new line of meters: https://www.wagnermeters.com/moisture-meters/. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. (As a percentage) Basically the chimney breast (in bedroom and downstairs room) has been measured with a digital moisture meter and states 'OL' on the display, the surrounding walls measure between 0.4% and 1.2%. There is only so much moisture a piece of wood can give up, over time, before a failure occurs. (EMC) than other pieces of wood, depending on its location. As with plywood subfloors, if there is movement or squeaks, refasten the subfloor to the joists and set protruding fasteners into the subfloor. Hi, we live in a coastal area, had a recent water leak, and a hard wood floor MC is measuring about 25% the water did not contact this area directly. What do you recommend the reader to be at before insulation and drywall on new construction? 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. Avoid unnecessary moisture exposure of all wood components by enclosing the frame against adverse weather as soon as feasible. These are slabs roughly 2 thick. 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. The water eventually came out a electric outlet located three inches off the floor. Hello Folks, I am new to wood turning and do not have a ready supply of dry/seasoned (my wood is green) wood. I called them back out in August of 2019 because after installing a humidifier and in the prime of humid season, the floors were showing no signs of improvement. Cracks in Concrete Slabs: Should I Be Concerned? Great article! Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). 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. Check joints and bottom plates as moisture can get trapped here. I removed an of the foam insulation. Before installing plywood underlayment, ensure that the existing flooring is thoroughly vacuumed, free from debris, and stripped of wax. Great article, thanks for the info. Thank You. The company they hired measured 47% in the wood and declares that this must be ripped out and replaced. Be sure to acclimate the wood to desired EMC of the interior environment before you use it. You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. 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). This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. First, test the moisture level of the subfloor. Larry: I recently had my annual termite inspection. One of his own service guys said foundation caps needed to be replaced. Wall Corners-Perpendicular within 1/4" in 10'. You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. Do you see any dangers of using poly with a MC of around 12, or am I risking adhesion failure especially if the wood does end up shrinking dimensionally? Hope this helps. Thats why I think the wood is either not dried to 14%, or it has picked up too much humidity after drying. 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. This summer I milled several 1.25 boards from a fir log that had been cut around 10 years ago. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! 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. If any of these conditions occur, tell your installer right away. In general, all wood products will swell with an increase in moisture content and shrink with a decrease in moisture content. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. One sheet of plywood is 25% next to a 2X4 truss reading 17-27%. The fir windows and exterior doors will be affected by the the exterior and interior RH. 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. 0 WM=8DBaHh10tIKR/OH}X5Kpt'_]4Mfg9@w8~ n$R I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. Does Brick Veneer Cracking Mean Foundation Problems? In your area, wood that has been in an environment to a duration of time would be between 6-11%. This means the weight of the water exceeds the weight of the wood by itself. Timber logs & Lumber into India company remained actively involved in harvesting and sale of Hardwood logs of Indian origin. The Building Code states that houses must be built so that a 50-year flood will not enter the building. Box 1437 Live in Tn. Thats a big difference. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. Prior to the flooring installation, make sure your subfloor has not experienced leaks or other water damage. I have been testing the bottom stud/sill board of an exterior wall on a slab of an old house that exposed in order to put a floor in. I also applied Boracare (boron) that has stopped minor beetle damage. Everyone who works with wood needs to understand how wood interacts with moisture in the environment. The difference is the moisture meters measurement error. to keep the moisture content below 20 percent. Its always a good idea to check with the manufacturer of the finish also. Colorado is cold and dry. https://www.wagnermeters.com/wood-moisture-meters/. Both slab-on-ground and suspended concrete floors for wet areas: are deemed impervious when steel trowel finished or polished. Failure to do this will result in warping, cracking, and other problems after the construction of the wood product. Different joinery (currently using pocket holes)? As lumber dries, it may split, cup and warp. Fungus loves wet wood. It is best to obtain a wood moisture content that will match the environment. I have about 3,000 sqft on my first floor and this was relatively consistent throughout. I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. However, the company who maintains the dehumidifier said he tested some of the joist which he said only registered 10 on his device. 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%. A good moisture content is between 6 9% for Colorado. I dialed the 800 number for Wagner meters and all I got was two sales pitches for a Life alert type device. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. i want to make a headboard from it. The boards should be no wider than 6 inches and installed on a 45-degree angle. I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. Just across the threshold to a white oak floor installed in ~1914 and the MC is 15%->16%. Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? Its still there and causing stains and scaring inexperienced home inspectors who frighten buyers, but its dormant. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. Remove Moisture From The Air - If your crawl space has a lot of ventilation, you should be able to set up a large fan in the opening of the crawl space and leave it to run for 10 to 12 hours. 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. Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! Im in Milwaukee, wi if that matters. 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. We dont know if we still should be having a commercial drying process? 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. To avoid this problem, wood flooring should never be stored where environmental conditions are uncontrolled, such as garages and exterior patios. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. -XF% This is expensive and its ridiculous. 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. I think mine is +-3% Is it possible being near the door just means greater humidity and there isnt actually a leak? You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. The wood has been kiln dried and packed in corrugate. It is not uncommon for wood to expand or contract as much as a 1/8 per foot of width, so maintaining a stable environment is important. The conversion puts the adjusted MC between 9.5 -> 12%. Like all wood materials, I-joists are susceptible to moisture. 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. I have 1 1/2 thick cherry boards that I had milled from a tree in my yard last fall. Best, Kyle. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. 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. 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. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. The process is time-consuming but produces accurate results if followed correctly. For instance, the subfloor may appear to be dry on the surface, but still have elevated moisture within the panels. I would also consider the environment where the table will live. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. I have a black walnut slabbed up that has been air drying outside for 2 yrs. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it picks up or loses moisture based on the ambient conditions. On a hot, humid summer day, the air venting into the crawl space could be as much as 75% relative humidity and 85 degrees. You mentioned the humidity outside is 55%. Its not growing or feeding on the wood. We also ship to other European countries, for dryer country like Spain the EMC could be between 12 and 14. Limit the length of notches to 1/3 of the joist's depth. Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. Any time water can be absorbed into a material such as wood, drywall etc, its always a good idea to check for excessive moisture, especially if you suspect a leak. I would not recommend re-drying finished plywood. The manufacturer of the oil-based poly should have a specification on the maximum allowable moisture content of the wood. Oh no! A floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. Very simple and understandable. It will be there for a few months before I begin working on it. What should be the approximate Highest MC to prevent wood problems to include finishes? However, it Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . Had fans and dehumidifer running for 17 days starting 2 days after leak. 17 and the flooring is at 6 to 7. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. How to test moisture /water content in cassia bark? The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. What are acceptable ranges of moisture for composite materials like MDF and Plywood, for indoor furniture use? Because wood shrinks and warps as it dries, woodworkers want it to be pre-shrunk before they use it. The excess moisture source must be immediately corrected, and the situation carefully monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. This is based on a chart in Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. The ideal moisture content for hardwoods is between 6% and about 9%, depending on the ambient conditions around the wood. I have one question with regards to pinless moisture meters and wallboard/Sheetrock. 10 14% moisture content is too high. Pinless moisture meters are even easier to use. The normal outside equilibration moisture content (EMC) for Indiana is anywhere from 13% to 16%. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. of the average flooring moisture content that is being laid). Am i looking at mold if i dont rip the floor out? Congratulations on your new furniture. In general, 12% moisture or above is too wet to install flooring. Timber framing needs to be dried to acceptable moisture content levels as stipulated in NZS 3602:2003 Timber and wood-based products for use in building. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. 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. It is important to have the same temperature and humidity during those 2 weeks that will be maintained after installation. My question is regarding finishing. 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. (He didnt cite a figure.) The acceptable moisture content in wood depends on two factors: These two factors make it difficult to say anything specific about acceptable wood moisture content. The plywood setting is .57. 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. This must be done before attempting to dry out the wood. Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. 1. 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). 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. 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. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! 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 cause that may produce this will be discussed in the section "Biodeteration of flood". Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. If the wood would really arrive with a MC of 14%, we would not have any problems. Before installing carpet, you will need to dry the subfloor first. Back to top. This app will tell you the percent moisture content that a given temperature and humidity will equilibrate to. Hello Enjoyed the article. 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. With a degree in Computer Systems, Larry is involved in both hardware and software development of wood moisture measurement solutions. Does that seem normal. Being that we live in Central Florida, 40 miles North of Tampa and using this chart page 5 ( https://research.cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/wpe/files/2016/08/Equilibrium-Moisture-Content-of-Exterior-Wood-in-the-US.pdf) were it states EMC for wood exposed outside for our area of 12.5 to 14.0 when I put the moisture meter to the wood it should be in those ranges if going to be used outside? Be notified when an answer is posted. For example, from 25% to 45% or from 45% to 65%. I suspect the moisture was the culprit? Please give us a call at (800) 634-9961 or email info@wagnermeters.com, if youd prefer. What is the acceptable moisture level for plywood? 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. Floor joists transfer loads to the vertical beams of the house. can be laid with falls and set downs. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? 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. I built the tables in west Texas, but their final home is in Colorado. 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. Many timber-framed floor problems can be traced to moisture levels, excessive loads or borer. Continue reading MC in the home. somewhere. 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. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. 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. 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. Most interior wood is in this range. They are currently nearing equilibrium (around 12 MC) and are stored within the house. 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. If an interior location has an average RH of 40-52%, wood placed there will have an average EMC of 8-9%. Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. For boundary materials, the values vary depending on the physical properties of what you are . Are the measurements of all wood the same? Floor joists are generally 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches in width, with 8 or 10 inches as the most common sizes. The three main sources of moisture: Condensation, Foundation wall transfer, and leaks. It is also possible high moisture has entered the container during the trip to Europe. The house was not in the flood area however they did receive 20 inches of rain. After you remove the old flooring, you'll need to ensure the subfloor is properly prepared before laying the new vinyl, hardwood or laminate flooring. We have had very bad cracking in sheetrock and floors.

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