Wagner has a free app called WoodH2O to help you determine the proper moisture levels based on consistent humidity and temperature. They were installed over existing plywood subfloor. These are slabs roughly 2 thick. 28% and above Readings in this range are often accompanied by decay damage. I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. z .XWb*QGF^v4MQ`_dRw{\;\'03Uhx-SeJlc!m\8X^,Z/hU5Ewdzz:`nZ!(7reWD4X. This method uses the oven-dry method and then compares the results to those obtained using a moisture meter. somewhere. 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). 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. Crawl Space Inspections: Once a Year Keeps the Contractors Away! 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. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. Step 1: Check the Floor. 25-30 - Actual, and often extensive, damage is evident when readings reach this level. Down pour of rain onto underlayment of attached garage. For joists where the rot infestation has been thoroughly dealt with: it is acceptable to leave the joist as it is. Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. Thanks. Thanks for any help you can provide! h26P0Pw/+Q0L)66 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. Check joints and bottom plates as moisture can get trapped here. The acceptable moisture levels in a crawl space are between 30% and 50%, with under 55% being the ideal. As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found. Thank you for the helpful article. Where are you located? 18 years ago the moist content (MC) of the beams and joist was 24% in an area of the crawl space that floods in spring. Hello and thanks for writing in. That is way beyond fibre-saturation. 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. Grain orientation matters What are acceptable ranges of moisture for composite materials like MDF and Plywood, for indoor furniture use? Was told thats not done. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. Which do you recommend? Would the screws skew the measurements? Any opinions. The moisture content of wooden substructure members is routinely being disclosed in the closing process of real estate transactions. You can hardly see the humps except the first pier that popped up . Your email address will not be published. A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. Both slab-on-ground and suspended concrete floors for wet areas: are deemed impervious when steel trowel finished or polished. Thanks for the email. The lumber was recently milled, although the tree had been cut months, years ago. Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? During the summer months in the northeast region, wood subfloors and floor joists often measure 19. With a Wagner L606, I am getting MC readings 12%->15.5% . The maximum subfloor moisture level for solid strip flooring or wide-width solid flooring is either 12% or 13%, depending on the manufacturer. A subfloor needs to be clean, dry, level and structurally sound. At that point in time, we did not have a conditioned house. Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? Joists that sit below end matched joints must be at least 35mm thick. 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 next sheet is 21.5% adjacent to 2X4. my question is, is there a possibility that the wood will shrink because of the weather condition?the wood that we used for the door frames and bidding is beechwood. Cracks in Concrete Slabs: Should I Be Concerned? Which Orion moisture meter model would you suggest for my application? Second, would the same pine slab, would it be okay to use for a side table or Kitchen island. 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. This will drastically speed up the drying process. What is the acceptable water/moisture content in cassia bark?- in south east asia. The shipping time is approximately 45 day in a 40 container to the west coast . I would have thought that if the floor gave a 99.9% water saturation reading, it would have had to have been noticeably wet. Let's repeat that again. 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? i want to make a headboard from it. What do you recommend? It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. You are correct, furniture grade hardwood is typically dried between 6 to 9%. I was thinking 10% MC would be ok but after reading your article Im not sure. The next question is almost the same as before, if we have various kinds of wood, such as March wood, mango wood, pine. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has a chart that indicates the moisture content of wood at any given combination of temperature and humidity. >V@Ica4R%f%l&/R*liDqx/nB*?1MH}Su>VeyZ3?>vMLqcwY^U. Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. 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? of water/day/1000 sq. Should it be less? Hope that helps. . 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. Structural Repairs Dont Have to Be a Nightmare! This type of floor-leveling is DIY-friendly and costs approximately $1.50 per square foot when applied 1/8-inch thick. Can carpet be reinstalled? The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . They said if i wanted to spend the money, a humidifier would help keep the humidity inside the house more consistent throughout the year. That doesnt make much sense to me. Take the readings in at least 20 spots per 1,000 square feet of flooring and average the results. Interior walls non-insulated at around 7-8% mc. summary Wood must always be allowed to acclimate or come into balance with the RH of the end-use location. Squeaks from subfloors The floor installer is often the 'first cab off the rank' when there is a squeaking floor and the problem may 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 door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. (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%. I did not find any information on Matumi. I hope this helps. Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache? "R. Decay fungi need liquid water to grow. Mobeen, If a wooden sample gains moisture, then the sample will increase in size. 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. Im trying to find specs on treated lumber for NC. Thank you. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! I not sure if this is normal, related to the re-shim or need to install a crawl space dehumidifier to slow the progression? A floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. If you know such International or Amercan or any other standard please let me know. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. Such readings should alert the homeowner to look for a source of excess moisture. The cedar I have is now at 12-16%. Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. 2nd question, will lacquer on surface of flooring affect the reading. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. One type of wood moisture meter. Heres how it works. . This is the standard in the construction industry. If the middle is wet, you may experience cracking/splitting if dried too fast. Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. RH where they were built is about 29-30%. We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. Im planning on using some of it to build a new front door for the house and was wondering what MC I should be shooting for. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. Larry: I recently had my annual termite inspection. The purpose of the vapor barrier is to keep moisture away from materials that expand and contract. Cut out a portion (approx 1/2" I think) from the top of the floor joists. So the question is are those burrs or fuzzing on the edges?, Wed love to have you give us a call to discuss which moisture meter is best for you. %PDF-1.5 % 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. board. 16% - 20%- Readings in this range indicate a possible elevated level of wood moisture. The solution seems to be drying the wood longer & bettter, to a lower measured MC. Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. Kiln-dried timber should be kept dry. 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. 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. Thanks. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. Were in northern Indiana, humid summers long cold winters. What is a Proper Structural Engineering Inspection? Does it have another common name? 15% is too high, at least for hardwoods. . You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. Some wood you buy from a lumber store can be higher than 14% but typically range between 12-14%. This can be a problem once installed in furniture or a floor. Engineering & Inspection Services, Licensed PE - Alabama & Tennessee, JADE Engineering & Inspection | 5405 Whitesburg Dr. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. Accuaracy is of course more important.. I suspect the moisture was the culprit? Colorado is cold and dry. In general, all wood products will swell with an increase in moisture content and shrink with a decrease in moisture content. i am baffled. Here is a link to our moisture meters, thermo-hygrometer, and Smart Logger. 0 WM=8DBaHh10tIKR/OH}X5Kpt'_]4Mfg9@w8~ n$R Thanks. Good luck. Many thanks for your advice, really appreciate it! You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. Different joinery (currently using pocket holes)? Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? In the Midwest, the EMC of wood or lumber in Des Moines, Iowa, ranges from 12.4% to 14.9%. I would also consider the environment where the table will live. Seattles EMC ranges from 12.2% to 16.5%. The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. Thanks for the article, really appreciate the info! We also ship to other European countries, for dryer country like Spain the EMC could be between 12 and 14. If the water leak was bad enough, dry rot can occur causing possible structural integrity issues. Wood is hygroscopic. Hi, in MN where extreme temperatures are very hard on homes. Jerry, From a moisture standpoint, water in the basement can over time absorb into your subfloor. These are typical readings for exterior wood. Moisture levels in your crawl space that go beyond 70% lead to mold growth and health concerns. Im down to ~13-19% MC near floor level, based on a cheapo moisture meters readings. 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. 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. I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). It does the same for wood, and is especially hard on softwoods, such as pine or fir. 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? Thanks for the question. Free Webinar The What, Why, and How of Wood Moisture Testing. The humidity in the room is currently 40! The other thing to consider is examining how water is entering your crawl space. Yes, the wood can still be read for MC with a stain on it. Once the wood samples weight stops changing, its weight is compared to what it was before the drying process began. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. Signs Of Moisture In Basement. Typical moisture content for furniture in a home is 6-9%. 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. My builder and flooring contractor asked for me to give the hardwoods a season to acclimate and they would surely move back together in june/july time frame. Hello Enjoyed the article. My thought is maybe to get one of your meter for greater accuracy? 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. There is no balancing layer on the reverse of the panels which might obstrust breathing of the panel. They are now saying that they will replace whatever boards are bad and resand and finish the floors, however Im concerned that there is an underlying issue that will resurface here? Because ventilated crawl spaces throughout the Southeast United States allow high humidity and fungus spores to enter the enclosed space beneath the home. 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. Not using the correct procedure. 10 14% moisture content is too high. The wood joists are not soaked wet, its just a light film of moisture on the wood members. The home inspector failed to report all the sewage stains on the plastic and organic growth on some of the joists have which had been exposed to moisture the whole time even though the dehumidifier has been mitigating the plumbing leaks. My question is microwaving twice turned bowls what would be the general rule of thumb for a target by weight. Download a free version of NZS 3602:2003. Any advice would be appreciated. hj0Ed=h].J-)_q},jR3$\ eH"wCk)E)J8 If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. I requested the treated lumber be brought in a few weeks prior to build, stickered and put under cover to acclimate and dry it. (864) 506-4701, South Carolina Residential Construction Standards, http://www.rlcengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RLC-Engineering-1.png. thanks so much in advance. I am not familiar with the particular moisture meter the plumber was using, but assuming it is correct, that moisture content is way too high to install new flooring. Does Brick Veneer Cracking Mean Foundation Problems? This summer I milled several 1.25 boards from a fir log that had been cut around 10 years ago. 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. Damn those shop classes I didnt take. One of his own service guys said foundation caps needed to be replaced. Its hard to gauge anything off of a cheapo meter, but if and I mean if, we were to assume it was reading effectively, the numbers are too high. Thank you. 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 .
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