Here's a good rule of thumb: Notches should be no deeper than 1/6 the depth of the joist. There are two main ways of measuring wood moisture content: oven-dry testing and moisture meter testing. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. (EMC) than other pieces of wood, depending on its location. If the middle is wet, you may experience cracking/splitting if dried too fast. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. We dont know if we still have leaks? During the summer, moisture content readings above . It is not fair to ask the seller of this home to pay some pest control firm to spray Borate on the floor system. -25% moisture content in a VENTED crawl space. If there are quite small amounts of moisture in a wall of dense plaster or brick, then a meter will probably indicate over 20% or so and this will be in the 'red zone' or beeps and squeeks may happen. 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. Position plywood panels at a 2-inch offset from the structural subfloor seams. This should be stuck into your wooden subfloor. I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. When determining the acceptable moisture levels in wood flooring before installation, the NWFA states that the flooring professional should establish a baseline for acclimation. If the humidity is a constant 76% then the wood will equilibrate between 14 and 15% moisture content. Before installing plywood underlayment, ensure that the existing flooring is thoroughly vacuumed, free from debris, and stripped of wax. There will most likely be some shrinkage, so if possible, choose the clearest boards possible to lessen the possibility of any major cracking. 3.Vacuum and/or Wipe Excess Moisture. 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. We are very arid where the tops were built so I figured the tables would be just fine knowing that it is arid where they were goingbut that doesnt seem to be the case. i want to make a headboard from it. I have 1 1/2 thick cherry boards that I had milled from a tree in my yard last fall. Brick Veneer Homes: Are They Really Worth the Headache? He wants to install his companys system, seal all external openings around connections, etc. As lumber dries, it may split, cup and warp. 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! 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. 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. board, and a 12-in. As a result, the normal moisture meter reading for these materials in between 0.5% and 1%. The floor (under carpet) had long-term water exposure supposedly from a shower in the adjacent bathroom (according to the plumber). Your reading of 12.5% tells me it is workable. A company sealed off the foundation vents and removed all the insulation from the crawlspace with the humidifier mitigating the moisture from the leaks. Since Im drying them outside, being in AK I would like to work with them if possible before the long moist winter. Which do you recommend? 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. In this case, what Built in # that I can use to measure flooring. Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . Back to top. The excess moisture source should be corrected if found. About how long do you think we should allow the new wood to acclimate in the end use environment before installing it? Thanks for the question. 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. If youre wondering how wood can have a 200% moisture content, heres how that works. Oh no! Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. Where are you located? I live in michigan (humid summer, long cold winter). Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! If a wooden sample has moisture content range of 2-6% only and if it has moisture content of 9 or 10% then what does this mean?? The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. Moisture contents in wood floor joists in houses with moisture problems are exceeding the 20% maximum level for air dried lumber. I have one question with regards to pinless moisture meters and wallboard/Sheetrock. Simply put, the post offers some useful information. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. Writing all the way from Australia, Steven. For example, from 25% to 45% or from 45% to 65%. 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 termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. My question for you is: after a smallish unheated underground space (similar to a basement, i.e. Studies have shown, however, that mold growth can occur on wood at moisture content levels above 15 to 18 percent, and corrosion of metal fasteners in treated wood can occur when moisture content exceeds 18 to 20 percent. A floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. 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. For joists where the rot infestation has been thoroughly dealt with: it is acceptable to leave the joist as it is. 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). I live in upstate South Carolina. Should I remove more foam to be sure. The table had a 1 3/4 X 3 1/2 thick boarder with mitred corners and biscuited. 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My house is 24 years old. Wood freshly cut or kiln-dried is always interacting with environmental moisture. 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. Now would the pine be okay to use as a top cover piece to an radiator cover? 2. These are typical readings for exterior wood. Take the readings in at least 20 spots per 1,000 square feet of flooring and average the results. The water was there for at most 6 hours, then we vacuumed it all and started the process of drying. Most are reading are between 13-15%. The photo shows a floor that is out of level over four or so boards adjacent to the external wall. Keep air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. Call 256-318-0982 or, Engineering Inspection Mortgage Companies, Unnecessary Panic! You can use a dehumidifier when you need your crawl space drier, but it's essential to maintain proper moisture levels as much as possible. The difference is the moisture meters measurement error. A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. Finally the question I have is I-used your Wood H2O app and the humidity here (outside) is 55% and the temperature is near 70 (inside)am I correct that 10% is what Is the acceptable moisture of the wood should be for furniture building? And would it be normal for the MC to vary from board-to-board and one end of a board to the other? I live on the fl coast so what should the moisture level be? Post and beam constructions don't have to be kiln-dried but should be air-dried. As this moisture condenses on the floor system, it wets the wood. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! I really appreciate your treatise on this matter. 9Chrv;plt[nh%:fOl8e^5e cM(?=6?y8{6uZkpz[TgLXD9feUm.L;l7:5C:hf=tE&U[&8 ^ wu*Vz*##;PKk? The excess moisture source should be corrected immediately, and monitored until the WMC returns to the 12-16 range. I am having a section of our 3.25 Maple hardwood floor replaced. I removed an of the foam insulation. They need to carry a moisture meter with them under houses and probe the floor joists to measure wood moisture content. I live in Atascadero CA and had a coastal red oak tree cut down this past summer. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. As it dries, you should expect slight changes in width and length. Im not sure I can really answer this question. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. Truss Uplift: Who Would Have Ever Thunk It? My house was built in 1927. In contrast, Las Vegas in the drier Southwest has much lower EMC percentages than most other U.S. cities. The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . Please dont pay for a Borate spray unless the buyer wants to pay for it. The failure in your case sounds as though the piece was exposed to a rapid loss of already low ambient moisture, causing the cracking in the piece. Too dry and you get chipping out of the wood. Pinless meters also dont leave damaging pinholes on the woods surface. It was such a good read. 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. 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. This would depend on the expectations of the person receiving the product in India, how large of diameter the logs are, and some average estimate of what the conditions would be inside the container during the 55 days. BD-2100 Pin Meter. Divide that difference by the sum of the on-center spacing of the floor joists: 118.5" / 16" = 7.40625. If low WMC readings were obtained during the winter, and other signs of high moisture levels are present, obtain additional readings during the summer. The inspector said his meter reading taken from my basement on subflooring/joists/framing was too high. There is no balancing layer on the reverse of the panels which might obstrust breathing of the panel. 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 home inspectors working for fees today seem to have one primary motive in mind: to cover their liabilities. Continue reading MC in the home. ( 55 days transit by sea) What should be the moisture content while loading in Containers? So, is it really this wet or is our meter over-reading? Home Moisture Meters Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content. 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!. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. Reaching these moisture content levels does not mean mold growth or corrosion . New roof first week of November. While playing around with my pinless meter and checking the interior East and west walls on hot days, I notice the moisture content being very high 60% mc to off scale. Engineering & Inspection Services, Licensed PE - Alabama & Tennessee, JADE Engineering & Inspection | 5405 Whitesburg Dr.