Anyone who works with wood must know its moisture content. i want to make a headboard from it. Readings can be elevated if there is a stud directly behind the sheetrock. Thanks. The average RH in most homes and offices in the U.S. except for coastal regions and dry areas like the desert Southwest is between 30% and 40%. If you want, just give me a call at 800-634-9961, ext 225. I am planning an under-house excursion tomorrow. I so appreciate your treatise on this issue. We replaced the dishwasher and the plywood subfloor dried up. Im on a grade-level concrete slab, and the water made its way over (under the tiles) to my sink vanity. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. As it dries, you should expect slight changes in width and length. Obviously, if the user fails to do this, the reading wont be accurate. Yes, hardwoods such as cherry and walnut should be between 6 and 8% moisture content. I am happy to assist but some critical questions must be addressed first. (He didnt cite a figure.) Hi Ron We need an expert locally to diagnose what went wrong with our bamboo floors. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. The plumbing was improperly installed with the wrong cement to fit the pipes and could have been leaking from anywhere between 5-29 years while absorbing into the ground. However, this time I was planning to use oil based poly rather than the spar urethane to reduce the amount of yellowing. A high reading in one area indicates a problem that must be corrected. A moisture meter typically has a thin probe that can be inserted into the material to be tested or pressed directly against its surface. Any suggestions .thanks. This gives you a comparison point for future referenceallowing you to more reliably identify moisture-compromised materials. Since the "wet zone" readings of 20% were limited to a certain area and the wood does not feel soft or spongy I am hopeful that we can fix . Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? Hi Ron, Great post. Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists? As with any wood product, the environment where the finished product will Live will determine the correct moisture content. Furniture maker Lonnie Bird weighs in, I dont want the wood to shrink after I use it because the wood will warp or split.. 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%. Gareth, Im not sure that the 23% MC reading is accurate; it sounds pretty high, but nonetheless, it appears as if you dont have a problem, but if you have concerns about possible mold, I suggest you also contact NORMI, https://www.normi.org and see if they can help you locate a certified inspector near you. Softwoods typically have higher moisture content than hardwoods. Mold starts growing if the moisture contents reaches about 25% moisture content. When wood is subjected to an environment that is higher in humidity, it will swell or expand. Different materials will have physical properties that make them react differently when tested with a moisture meter. I found your website at just the right time. Prepare a set number of holes to a depth of 40% of the slab's thicknessat least three holes for the first 1,000 sq. Your email address will not be published. This article is really helpful. Is your electrical outlet that is 3 inches above the floor inside the house? Simply pull moisture content (MC) describes the weight of water in a material relative to theweight of that material when bone d . Another issue of these types of meters is their inability to allow the user to fine tune meters settings for wood species. What Do These Moisture Meter Readings Mean? - Wagner Meters How to Prevent and Troubleshoot Core Moisture - PassageMaker This will hopefully save you lots of time searching different resources and tell you what values require intervention in order to stop dampness from spreading before it becomes challenging and incurable. 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. Depending on the finished hardwoods width, the hardwood floorings moisture content must be within 2-4% of the subfloor moisture level. As far as the oil finish, the manufacturer of the oil will specify the correct moisture content for an application. 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. Moisture Meters - A Complete Guide - RS Components Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? I not sure if this is normal, related to the re-shim or need to install a crawl space dehumidifier to slow the progression? Normal moisture meter reading on masonry Masonry refers to the building of structures using stones or bricks and a boundary material such as mortar or concrete. Pinless moisture meters are sensitive to variations in wood density (also known as specific gravity). They said if i wanted to spend the money, a humidifier would help keep the humidity inside the house more consistent throughout the year. There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. We have had an abnormally wet spring and part of summer. Do you have a suggestion? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. What Are Safe Moisture Levels in Walls? - Delmhorst In their warehouse, and perhaps partly also in the container. 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. (The EMC of air is equal to the moisture content the wood will attain when stored indefinitely at a particular humidity level. 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? Our Orion 950 Smart Pinless Wood Moisture Meter is the best in the industry and trusted by professionals. What is the SG setting? Since water conducts electricity and wood doesnt, the dryness of the wood can be determined by the amount of resistance to an electrical current. I get some water seepage through an exterior wall at basement floor level as a result of heavy rain. The interior was 3/4 BW the tables dimensions were 40x 70 . From agriculture, to lumber manufacturing, to water damage restoration, to construction, there are many applications that rely heavily on moisture testing to produce optimal end results. As we have already mentioned on different occasions, all the values that we have discussed so far in this article are for dedicated moisture meters. As the name implies, pin-type moisture meters have 2 or more pins that penetrate material. The most common settings are for softwood, hardwood, masonry, and drywall. 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. I checked it with my new moisture meter and had a reading of between 8-13.5%. There are a few ways to check moisture meter accuracy, including: Need more help with how to understand moisture meter readings?
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