acceptable moisture levels in floor joists acceptable moisture levels in floor joists

Before installing carpet, you will need to dry the subfloor first. Two weeks is sufficient for softwood. can be insulated and heated (insulation is mandatory if heated) require careful planning and . Hello, Paul here. Which do you recommend? Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. Turn on the meter. I have a couple questions. Pinless meters are non-penetrating and read the moisture content via a non-damaging electromagnetic sensor that scans the wood. Congratulations on your new furniture. The wood scale provides accurate, quantitative readings of moisture over the range of 5% to 30% MC in wood. I manufacture ice cream sticks and disposable wooden cutlery from European Baltic birch wood in India. 2. Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. Do you have any recommendations on how to prevent mold from getting on the wood? We really cant overstress the importance of taking plenty of moisture readings. If any of these conditions occur, tell your installer right away. First of all, it's normal for a below-grade concrete block wall in contact with the soil to have a high moisture content. 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-joists are comprised of top and bottom flanges, which resist bending, united with webs, which provide outstanding shear resistance. I have a question, I have moisture in the crawl space, we insulated the crawl with closed cell, cannot get the osb subfloor below. The lumber was recently milled, although the tree had been cut months, years ago. My question for you is: after a smallish unheated underground space (similar to a basement, i.e. Whats an acceptable moisture level for a brick wall in a house? endstream endobj 80 0 obj <>stream 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. Thanks for any help you can provide! This article is really helpful. For joists where the rot infestation has been thoroughly dealt with: it is acceptable to leave the joist as it is. For most areas of the United States, acceptable moisture levels of wood and lumber can be in the range of 9% to 14% for exterior wood or for building envelope components within constructed assemblies. 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. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . The interior was 3/4 BW the tables dimensions were 40x 70 . Where floor s have been covered by previous floor coverings acceptable values are up to 3.5% and 80% in-slab RH. I built the tables in west Texas, but their final home is in Colorado. I would think at least fixing your dehumidifier is a must. These are the "safest" conditions for most types of woodbetween 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 30% to 50% RH. Does coating wood with oil stabilize the moisture content in wood? Including some high-end species like Rosewood, ebony, Mahogany, White Cedar, Bija Sal, Walnut, Gmelina, etc. Mobeen, If a wooden sample gains moisture, then the sample will increase in size. I do not have a hygrometer or a moisture meter as I am a hobbyist. And it really helps to pay an HVAC contractor to better seal and insulate the A/C ducts so they dont leak cold air!!! Would it still be 9% for pressure treated wood? When exposed to a constant RH, the moisture content of wood or lumber will come to equilibrium with its environment, resulting in an EMC for that species of a wood-based composite. If you want, just give me a call at 800-634-9961, ext 225. Waterproof membrane . Remember that the meter assumes it is reading timber. Its never constant. Please help with T%, I have seen where 30% moisture loss by weight is a good rule of thumb to shoot for. The NWFA recommends testing wood subfloor moisture in at least 20 locations per 1,000 sq. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. Because the moisture content of wood is equal to the weight of the water in the wood divided by the weight of the wood without the water, its possible for the moisture content to exceed 100%. We just bought a home where we discovered the plumbing was leaking over a number years with a kitchen flood occurring in the last 3-5 years due to a busted water line. Hello Larry I am from Bangladesh. They many times cite the need for further evaluations by what they call other so called experts. The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. Bird, who runs the School of Fine Woodworking outside Knoxville, Tennessee, says he knows wood shrinks seasonally but wants to minimize the shrinkage and expansion by drying the wood to a moisture content of about 8%. I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. Kiln-dried wood usually shows a moisture reading of 10% on the outside and then 25% on the inside. The water eventually came out a electric outlet located three inches off the floor. Varying humidity levels can cause wood to lose or gain water and shrink or expand. We will be building fir windows. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? Not only did the aggressive notching doom this joist, it affected the structural integrity of the floor system above. The pins are pressed into the wood to obtain a reading. That doesnt make much sense to me. This makes pinless moisture meters perfect for measuring the moisture content of things like expensive hardwood floors. The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . A consistent humidity level of 70 percent will require wood to be about 13 percent moisture content. What % does it have to get down to before it would be usable to make a table top ? A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. If the leaks have damaged the sub floor or joists, call a licensed general contractor for repair. You mentioned the humidity outside is 55%. As a result, the normal moisture meter reading for these materials in between 0.5% and 1%. Condensation present on the . Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. I have removed the 1 3/4 edge and resawn to take out the splinter (1/4) re bicuited . I would not recommend re-drying finished plywood. 10? We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. Thank you so much for your time and expertise. -ThA?> =v\0r5#v ,J\Byt)%*?I!PT`FdCE N a^1IMm[?x>7RFH +=\ When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! This app will tell you the percent moisture content that a given temperature and humidity will equilibrate to. I will get further testing from those not involved. Wood moisture content is always varying. About 5/16 penetration into the wood measures 8% using pins only. The size of the lumber used for floor joists is the single greatest determining factor in terms of how far a joist can span. 1. We found the problem and the leak was resolve quickly! Floors-1/2" in 12' or 3/16" in 4'. . Will the reading be accurate? I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. I have seen home built in the dead of winter, covered in snow, and still dry out enough for a successful home build. Because of the different materials involved, they will react differently to high heat, thus giving you an un-even plywood surface. Great article! Its still there and causing stains and scaring inexperienced home inspectors who frighten buyers, but its dormant. One of the beauties of spar is that it allows the wood to move quite a bit, while still retaining good adhesion. Any input would be most appreciated. If your subfloor is a wood product, make sure the reading is less than 20% on the moisture meter. Make sure theyre aligned with the grain and not across it. To the right, 13.2% in the same distance and also drops to ~ 8% after. i cored out a small section of the bottom beam (3 inches wide) all the way down to the foundation. Thank you for sharing such valuable information. Its mc is 11- 12% . 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. 1= z@ 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. Be sure to acclimate the wood to desired EMC of the interior environment before you use it. The new wood was brought in in bundles ~2 x 2 x 6 and left that way to acclimate for ~2 weeks. Hardwood flooring needs to acclimate at least 2 weeks, in service conditions, before it is installed. 12.5% is gettin there but not quite to the 6-9% mentioned in the article. A 10% moisture content reading means that 10% of a wood samples weight is due to water in the wood. Good moisture content for softwoods is 10% to 14% moisture. 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. When the wood neither gains nor loses moisture, we say that the wood has reached its equilibrium moisture content (EMC). What is the acceptable water/moisture content in cassia bark?- in south east asia. 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. Should I wait for the slabs to be within that 6-9% to cut and glue? 78 0 obj <>stream 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? Pin-type meters use penetrating electrodes and measure the woods moisture content using electrical resistance. The installer should then check the moisture content of multiple boards and average the results. Phil, what are you making with the cedar, and in what type of environment will it be? If the wood would really arrive with a MC of 14%, we would not have any problems. i want to make a headboard from it. 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. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? This will stop the wet/dry cycle that exists every year, in every ventilated crawl space containing A/C ductwork in the SE United States, over their lifetime. Have I been wrong? Even with lower temperatures, the ideal range for wood keeps relative humidity between 55% and 75%. 1. in Indonesia there are a lot of raw materials consisting of natural fibers, such as: pandanus, water hyacinth, rattan etc. For a wooden subfloor you will need to use a 2-pronged moisture meter. 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. They are putting desiccants in the container to absorb the moisture but we feel its going to be a long time enclosed in the container without any air circulation. 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. After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. The substructure may show decayed areas, ranging from small to very large, of rotten floor joist, sills, and . While oven-dry testing, if followed correctly, offers accurate results, there are a few drawbacks: These three drawbacks mean that oven-dry testing usually isnt the option of choice for hobbyists who work with wood. Great info! There is only so much moisture a piece of wood can give up, over time, before a failure occurs. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! I want to use it to build a table and will be moving it to the location where I will work on it shortly. I live in upstate South Carolina. 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%. A termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. The normal moisture content of wood (or EMC) varies from 7%-19% depending on the RH in the air. The home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. 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. The acceptable wood moisture content normally ranges from 6% to 8% for woodworkers who build cabinets, fine furniture, musical instruments, dishes, toys, decorative art, boat restoration, or various other wood products. Im still not sure that whatever they do will produce a good, long-term result, but I need to know what they should be doing to the wood. Call JADE today for a crawlspace inspection and we can give you definitive answers to your crawl space problems! Seattles EMC ranges from 12.2% to 16.5%. 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. Each piece of lumber is unique and carries physical characteristics that may include the following: knots, warping, shrinkage, swelling and/or splitting. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. I suspect the screws may be skewing the measurements. 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. In contrast, Las Vegas in the drier Southwest has much lower EMC percentages than most other U.S. cities. Understanding the effects moisture has on timber, as well as acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring, will keep your timber floor looking pristine throughout its lifetime. Thats why I think the wood is either not dried to 14%, or it has picked up too much humidity after drying. The ideal moisture content for hardwoods is between 6% and about 9%, depending on the ambient conditions around the wood. Sorry that this is so long-winded and I thank you in advance if you are willing to address this question for me. Thank you. You will also see that the healthy wood moisture levels of 10% - 16% occur when the relative humidity is between 55% and 80% at 70 degrees. 7. 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. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. Once the wood samples weight stops changing, its weight is compared to what it was before the drying process began. This is based on a chart in Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material. There are areas where organic growth was very active to cause deep, black discolorization. /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 meter readings of up to 2.0% and in-slab relative humidity (RH) below 75%. %PDF-1.5 % Prior to the re-shim, the pier in the area that floods in the spring could be felt pushing up the floor, meaning the beam is warping and been monitoring it. What do you recommend? They are currently nearing equilibrium (around 12 MC) and are stored within the house. Softwoods typically have higher moisture content than hardwoods. Hi, in MN where extreme temperatures are very hard on homes. My house was built in 1927. I had a quick looked around the crawl space and didnt notice any structure damage. Thank you for the well described article. In this case, what Built in # that I can use to measure flooring. Installers should also measure the moisture in wood subfloors and concrete slabs as they can also affect wood flooring. Were so sorry for the inconvenience. Wiki User. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. i also drilled into the wood every few inches, several inches deep with a typical drill bit. The manufacturer of the oil-based poly should have a specification on the maximum allowable moisture content of the wood. Your table may have been a little too high in moisture, hence the crack as it dried slightly in the drier environment. Thanks Mark, The EMC outside and the wood should be the same. "R. Great article, thanks for the info. 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. This water may come from condensation, roof leaks, plumbing leaks, or contact with the soil. Learn how your comment data is processed. The problem is some of the water made its way under the basmenet bathroom floor which is dricor with electric heating wire on top, then tiles, and unfortunately it looks like some of the dricor wood got wet as well! Subtract the width of your floor joist from your floor's length: 120" 1.5" = 118.5". 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. Since wood is hygroscopic, it loses or gains moisture depending on the relative humidity of the surrounding air. However, the wood species and the thickness or size of the wood may also factor in. Should I remove more foam to be sure. The normal outside equilibration moisture content (EMC) for Indiana is anywhere from 13% to 16%. Oh no! If you need further clarification http://www.nwfa.org is an excellent source. If he is using a high-quality product from companies such as Delmhorst, they provide a slide hammer pin attachment, and they need to use insulated-shaft pins. I have 1 1/2 thick cherry boards that I had milled from a tree in my yard last fall. Effects of Moisture on I-Joists and LVL April 2007 P.O. Back to top. Thanks for the question. If an interior location has an average RH of 40-52%, wood placed there will have an average EMC of 8-9%. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. Insert the pins into the surface of the wood you want to test. 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. Set the meter to the species that makes up the bulk, in this case, the plywood. Wood exposed to air with a RH of about 90% will reach a Wood Moisture Content of about 20%. Using South Carolina Residential Construction Standards to Solve Problems, Website by Integritive Web Design :: Asheville, NC. Under the floor. Were in northern Indiana, humid summers long cold winters. Best, Kyle. 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. guide-standards-tolerances.pdf. Writing all the way from Australia, Steven. Thank you. You will want closer to 6% in the drier climates and 9% MC for the more humid climates. This chart highlights the ideal levels of moisture in wood at various temperatures and relative humidity (RH) levels: In this chart, you can see a small highlighted section. Poor Drainage: A Foundation Problem Waiting to Happen, A Trade Secret: Bucks Vinyl Siding Test, Foundation Repair Salesman: Licensed to Kill, Dear God, Martha, Our House is Breaking in Two!. For example, a 26 Southern Pine joist can span 12'. Box 1437 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. Freshly cut wood has a lot of moisture in it. 17 and the flooring is at 6 to 7. A good moisture content is between 6 9% for Colorado. Interior walls non-insulated at around 7-8% mc. I think mine is +-3% Is it possible being near the door just means greater humidity and there isnt actually a leak? Different joinery (currently using pocket holes)? Like all wood materials, I-joists are susceptible to moisture. P.O. What You Should Know About Septic Systems, Interior Slab Foundation Settlement: Evaluations and Cost of Repair. Here is a good source for mold and wood: 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..206760.0..0.100.1475.25j10.1..gws-wiz..0..0j0i131.PkfEQYRef9I. Why Do So Many Homes Have Cracks in Their Brick Veneer? In all cases, determining the acceptable moisture level of wood requires the use of an extremely accurate moisture meter. Am i looking at mold if i dont rip the floor out? It causes decay of the wood structure. During the summer months, when outdoor humidity is high, the hot/humid air enters the crawl space through the foundation vents and condenses on cool objects. Thanks Phil. Obviously, the ambient conditions within which the wood or paper is present can alter the MC% of the wood or paper. I found your website at just the right time. . Which Orion moisture meter model would you suggest for my application? we are presently constructing a new timber frame residence on ocean front in BC, Canada. The boards have dried nicely so far with minimal warpage or checking. Soil is almost always damp. Larry: I recently had my annual termite inspection. I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. 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. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. The ideal moisture content will depend on the humidity indoors. Condensation on the inside of a windowpane. Above 90% RH or 20% WMC, mold can grow on the wood. 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? It was such a good read. I hope this helps. During the summer months, when outdoor humidity is high, the hot/humid air enters the crawl space through the foundation vents and condenses on cool objects. In an air conditioned house the wood floor. Spruce isnt a hardwood so Im assuming I could get away with a shorter dry time. 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. In March of this year I had new white oak 2 flooring installed. 10 14% moisture content is too high. 25-30 - Actual, and often extensive, damage is evident when readings reach this level. The general process for using pin-type moisture meters is as follows. The fastest way to test the moisture content of wood is to use a moisture meter. Water Level Survey: Are You Smarter Than an Egyptian? Avoid unnecessary moisture exposure of all wood components by enclosing the frame against adverse weather as soon as feasible. You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. This is all very helpful information, thanks! A company sealed off the foundation vents and removed all the insulation from the crawlspace with the humidifier mitigating the moisture from the leaks. The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. As the humidity decreases, the MC decreases, causing the wood to shrink. However, the company who maintains the dehumidifier said he tested some of the joist which he said only registered 10 on his device. There are two main ways of measuring wood moisture content: oven-dry testing and moisture meter testing. Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists?