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

What is the optimal MC of the fir stock for construction of the windows? I suspect the moisture was the culprit? Though on occasion, they are made of 2x10s and tripled for additional . Here current humidity is 76%. Sorry, that time of year. The crawl space must be a minimum of 18" to the bottom of the floor joists, and the soil in the crawl space covered with a heavy duty plastic moisture barrier, and sealed at the seams. Your table may have been a little too high in moisture, hence the crack as it dried slightly in the drier environment. If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. board, and a 12-in. Why You Should Test for Moisture Before Installing Flooring I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. 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. Live in Tn. Ideally, you want to check the EMC in the area you will be working on your slab, along with the area it will live in. Waterproof membrane . Your help for resolving this issue would be highly appreciated . i want to make a headboard from it. Building pathology: moisture conditions within traditionally - NBS Simple and regular maintenance can prevent serious problems developing. 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. I wanted to talk to someone at Wagner about moisture guages and is there a dealer near Chattanooga, TN. You should be able to specify a lower moisture content. Wonder if they are trying to cover themselves. This pin-type moisture meter is one of Delmhorst's most popular models. As with plywood subfloors, if there is movement or squeaks, refasten the subfloor to the joists and set protruding fasteners into the subfloor. Specifically in the first 3-4 on one side of the door is 11%, then drops to ~8%. Using a moisture meter before painting can help you determine the moisture content of the wood. Any suggestions to this being possible to correct? I want to use it to build a table and will be moving it to the location where I will work on it shortly. My main concern here is that the flooring didnt have enough time to acclimate to the surrounding conditions. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. Pros and cons of wet area floor finishes - Level About 5/16 penetration into the wood measures 8% using pins only. Hug the ones you love when you see them! moisture meter testing a floor joist In this image we measure a reading of 37% in this floor joist. When questioned, he said because Room is under 200 sq feet it is not a problem. During the increased average temperatures of spring and summer, timber moisture content reduces to more acceptable levels. The joists can be longer or shorter as required by space and size, and are typically spaced at either 450mm or 600mm apart. -25% moisture content in a VENTED crawl space. Do these levels seen appropriate considering the recent rainfall. We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. You can check for moisture by using a moisture meter. The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. We have started to import teak outdoor furniture from Indonesia into Europe. A mold or mildew odor or appearance on surfaces. Condensation on the inside of a windowpane. Any moisture content measured higher than that might result in movement, such as warping and twisting, once it dries. But this wetness is only surficial. As a general guideline, an emission rate of 1.4 kg/100m (3 lbs/1000 ft) or less is considered acceptable for most floor coverings. Your cost could be more or less, depending on the size of the floor area. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. The MC varies from 7% 13.5% around the exterior door on dry days and 10%-16% during rains. 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. 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? Does that seem normal. Good luck. This can lead to rising damp, dry rot, timber decay, fungal growth and borer. Reaching these moisture content levels does not mean mold growth or corrosion . That doesnt make much sense to me. or finally the product will be placed where. Cut out a portion (approx 1/2" I think) from the top of the floor joists. Also, the glue manufacturer should ideally give you some specifications for max and min moisture content. When it hits the cooler air of the crawl space, it increases the relative humidity by about 2% per degree! Thanks for the the information, very detailed and useful. You can now understand the meaning of moisture content 5.5%, 15 g/m2/24 hours, and relative humidity 75% with these facts. Floors-1/2" in 12' or 3/16" in 4'. Toilet overflowed and moisture meter is reading 30% in worst area. PDF Residential Housing: Wood Moisture Content - Cisllc.org He, of course, said that type of product is insufficient. The EMC in the recommended temperature/humidity range coincides with the 6% to 9% range used by most flooring manufacturers during the manufacturing and shipping process. Will the reading be accurate? I found your website at just the right time. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? This method uses the oven-dry method and then compares the results to those obtained using a moisture meter. Grain orientation matters Moisture In Basement - Plumbertip Hardwood flooring needs to acclimate at least 2 weeks, in service conditions, before it is installed. Timber logs & Lumber into India company remained actively involved in harvesting and sale of Hardwood logs of Indian origin. I am not sure if this is pressure treated wood given its an exterior wall and if that affects what these numbers are. We also ship to other European countries, for dryer country like Spain the EMC could be between 12 and 14. Wood moisture content between 0% and about 28% is dependent upon the relative humidity (RH) of the air. PDF Subsurface Tolerances and Floor Flatness Requirements A Case for Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. Thank you for the well described article. Im down to ~13-19% MC near floor level, based on a cheapo moisture meters readings. endstream endobj 80 0 obj <>stream Using wood with a moisture content above 14% isnt recommended because it may have detrimental long-term effects on the construction. Do you have a suggestion? . 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. Pinless meters are non-penetrating and read the moisture content via a non-damaging electromagnetic sensor that scans the wood. Well, tile, bricks, and stones are known to have a low water-holding capacity and therefore should be dry. Did the Contractor mention anything about the structural strength of the joists? As with the hardwood flooring, it is essential to check the OSB's moisture content using a moisture meter. 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. 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? The next sheet is 21.5% adjacent to 2X4. PDF Moisture and Wood-Frame Buildings - Healthy Heating I would think it would vary depending on the contents. The purpose of acclimating is to allow the flooring to equalize to the surrounding conditions, no matter how large the room is. We have had on/off rain and humidity 80-90% range. Call 256-318-0982 or contact us today. The boards should be no wider than 6 inches and installed on a 45-degree angle. Joists that sit below end matched joints must be at least 35mm thick. Because of the different materials involved, they will react differently to high heat, thus giving you an un-even plywood surface. 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. Additional care is necessary if laying parallel to the joists and sheet subfloors can sag between the joist. 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. 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. 28% and above Readings in this range are often accompanied by decay damage. This article is really helpful. our question is do we need to replace the floor to avoid fungal problems? Installers should also measure the moisture in wood subfloors and concrete slabs as they can also affect wood flooring. The door is NE facing and protected from direct Sun light and rain by a porch roof. Acclimation is the process for conditioning the moisture content of wood flooring to the environment where it will be installed. Perhaps try to seal the vapor barrier better around the piers. It is not fair to ask the seller of this home to pay some pest control firm to spray Borate on the floor system. Insert the pins into the surface of the wood you want to test. i also drilled into the wood every few inches, several inches deep with a typical drill bit. 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. It is also possible to have moisture content readings over 100%. (He didnt cite a figure.) Very educational! tolerances for floors/walls - Structural Inspections - InterNACHI Forum Im not sure I can really answer this question. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. Many thanks for your advice, really appreciate it! The manufacturer of the oil-based poly should have a specification on the maximum allowable moisture content of the wood. If so, then you'll want to know. Thanks for the email. Wood is used to clean model railroad tracks. Jerry, From a moisture standpoint, water in the basement can over time absorb into your subfloor. Effects of Moisture on I-Joists and LVL - Roseburg Im not sure which part of Europe you are from, but typically the Indonesian climate is very humid compared to other parts of the world. . "Mold requires moisture to survive, so protecting lumber and wood structures from moisture will prevent mold growth. A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home | US EPA Any opinions. The floor immediately felt stronger. Moisture In Crawl Space - How To Prevent and Fix The Problem Limit the length of notches to 1/3 of the joist's depth. Below 12% Readings in this range are common to kiln or oven dried woods and furniture grades of wood, and represent dry conditions. 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. Where are you located? 7 Common I-Joist Installation Mistakesand How to Avoid Them After my inspection I wrote the following report: As per your request, I visited the subject residence today to evaluate mold or fungus growth on the floor joists. Including some high-end species like Rosewood, ebony, Mahogany, White Cedar, Bija Sal, Walnut, Gmelina, etc. Thanks. 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. What are acceptable moisture levels in a subfloor? What is a Proper Structural Engineering Inspection? So, to sum up, Moisture in crawlspaces is bad. 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. WME? Back to top. Thanks for the article, really appreciate the info! How long will it take to get to the ideal moisture reading and is it better to be stored in a garage or inside a house? primer, the moisture vapor transmissions rate (MVtr) from the substrate should not be in excess of 5 lbs. Because ventilated crawl spaces throughout the Southeast United States allow high humidity and fungus spores to enter the enclosed space beneath the home. I cant speak for other pinless meters but our Wagner meters are not sensitive to the temperatures you indicated. In March of this year I had new white oak 2 flooring installed. Second, would the same pine slab, would it be okay to use for a side table or Kitchen island. 1= z@ 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. Should you check moisture levels on a trailor floor on a massive rainy day? Larry: I recently had my annual termite inspection. It is possible, in some species, to have a moisture content higher than 100 percent. 1. The size of the lumber used for floor joists is the single greatest determining factor in terms of how far a joist can span. With the WoodH2O-app I could deduct the EMC for The Netherlands would be between 15 and 16. Some of the unfinished wood you see on the market has been kiln-dried to reduce its water moisture content to around 8% so that it wont suffer from moisture-related defects like warping and buckling. I live in Atascadero CA and had a coastal red oak tree cut down this past summer. The moisture content of wooden substructure members is routinely being disclosed in the closing process of real estate transactions. Structural flooring for laying direct to joists or battens is a minimum of 19mm thick. Set the meter to the species that makes up the bulk, in this case, the plywood. Learn how your comment data is processed. Why and how can I say this? The rim joist and floor joist sit right on the block. A floor joist is a horizontal beam, usually made of wood, that is used to support and enclose the flooring above a foundation. A Guide to Subfloors Used Under Wood Flooring 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. Writing all the way from Australia, Steven. For more information, see our article comparing Pinless Moisture Meters vs. Pin Meters. 78 0 obj <>stream 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. 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. Thank you. Had fans and dehumidifer running for 17 days starting 2 days after leak. Here is a link to our website for more information: https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-950-smart/. Good luck. 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%. Whats an acceptable moisture level for a brick wall in a house? Floors should be: level within a 3mm deviation per 1m for floors up to 6m across (measured at the furthest points across the full width of the floor) a maximum of 20mm out of level for floors over 6m across flat within a 5mm deviation, measured using a 2m straight edge with equal offsets. 2. Wood moisture content is always varying. Whats the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Engineering Inspection? There are two main types of wood moisture meters, pin-type and pinless. This author has found decay fungi in floor joists at moisture levels of 20% to 25%. Cheers, Howard Pruden in Edmonton, Alberta where its cold and dry. So, when looking at the relative humidity of the space, spaces left above 70% RH for extended periods will also promote mold growth. Its more important to understand that the wood is kiln-dried down to a certain bell-shaped range of MCs. ie SW=Starting weight, TW=Target weight, using T%=Target percentage My calculation ( T% X SW = TW). 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. Failure to do this will result in warping, cracking, and other problems after the construction of the wood product. Home Moisture Meters Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content. Houses with timber-framed floors can be at risk of having poor underfloor ventilation. What Moisture Content is Safe for Your Building Materials - Delmhorst Even at this, the estimate would be the high end of MC% prior to shipment, but only rough estimate. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. Characteristic of this wood easy to absorb of water and have large open pore. 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. I have built two table tops (douglas fir) that have both suffered major cracking in their final location. I appreciate you sharing this important information with us at this time. Subfloor material such as plywood or OSB should measure between 10 and 14% moisture content. A termite repair company (also licensed contractors) told me that I needed to replace the planks on my second story deck. A Brick Veneer Crack Tragedy: A True Story, Spraying for Mold on Floor Joists: Pest Control. If you need further clarification http://www.nwfa.org is an excellent source. What Is A Floor Joist? - Homedit I had it milled into 2.25 slabs and I stacked it on a deck area. My plan is to make a wall-mounted headboard out of angle iron and these boards (boards will not be joined). Hope this helps. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. My house was built in 1927. One type of wood moisture meter. I am based in The Netherlands. Were in northern Indiana, humid summers long cold winters. Substrates must be protected by: A wood moisture content of 47% is too high. For joists where the rot infestation has been thoroughly dealt with: it is acceptable to leave the joist as it is. 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. The plywood setting is .57. Although, in this example, the moisture content of the timber rarely goes above 17%, it is not uncommon for winter moisture contents, in pitched roofs, to peak above 25%. Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? Simply put, the post offers some useful information. But the table will be inside? Softwoods typically have higher moisture content than hardwoods. The chart below will clear things up. 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). Here is a link to our moisture meters, thermo-hygrometer, and Smart Logger. Any suggestions .thanks. Thank you for sharing such valuable information. Below a 17% MC of wood, virtually no microbial growth will occur on even the most susceptible materials. Now the fungus goes dormant. 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. Soil is almost always damp. What is an FHA Permanent Foundation for Manufactured Homes? 9.1.5 Floors - NHBC Standards 2023 NHBC Standards 2023 My question for you is, now that it is stained, can I still get an accurate MC? 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?? Example: 1.2mm Hickory wear layer 9mm thick plywood compose of 7 layers, 2 layers acacia, 4 layers of Eucalyptus\2 layers Acacia and one layer Poplar. I have a couple questions. Oh no! Yes, it is possible to have a moisture content reading of 99.9%. I live on the fl coast so what should the moisture level be? Moisture content in floor systems - Structural Inspections - InterNACHI I found your moisture levels column through a search for good wood for low humidity. And would it be normal for the MC to vary from board-to-board and one end of a board to the other? we are getting hardwoods from our Uk Suppliers and accoya coming in at 2% and once we use the timber we are reading 0% we have tested the reader and its accurate even joinery grade sapele wood and Tulip wood coming in at 0% we cover these in 3 coats of sikkens paint and sometimes we get jobs where we are having to go back as our joinery is moving and we are guessing its because of these moisture levels and had never checked previously. 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. Stopping the moisture is much cheaper and easier than repairing the structure. Replacing Subfloor: What You Should Know | Hunker These tools will give you the confidence that you have done everything on your part to ensure the highest quality in the piece you have built. If this is confusing, dont worry. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. 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. If you want, just give me a call at 800-634-9961, ext 225. 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. A 212 joist of the same species and quality can span nearly 25'. At this home, cool objects include the air conditioning ductwork, the ground and the overlying wood floor system, which is exposed to very cool temperatures due to air conditioning duct leakage. In contrast, Las Vegas in the drier Southwest has much lower EMC percentages than most other U.S. cities. Hi, in MN where extreme temperatures are very hard on homes. /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 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. If any of these conditions occur, tell your installer right away. What wood do you recommend that does not have a high oil/water content? Wagner has a free app called WoodH2O to help you determine the proper moisture levels based on consistent humidity and temperature. These home inspectors are insecure and inexperienced. Wood is a hygroscopic material that contains water, even after it is cut from a tree. Many timber-framed floor problems can be traced to moisture levels, excessive loads or borer. Hello, Paul here. Phil, what are you making with the cedar, and in what type of environment will it be? To make sure the wood is properly dried, he always uses a moisture meter before working with it. I purchased my newly built home that has to meet all the new energy efficient standards and will be 2 years old this coming month. Both times, the tables were flawless, but after 2-3 weeks in their new home both table tops had major crack issues. 0 WM=8DBaHh10tIKR/OH}X5Kpt'_]4Mfg9@w8~ n$R A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. The amount of swelling or shrinkage depends on how much the . It's a direct proportion: an 8-in. Too wet and you get fuzzing. 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. I will get further testing from those not involved. 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. 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. Sometimes moving the air around is enough to remove moisture and dry surfaces. This document describes the meaning and use of readings from a wood moisture meter. we had a problem with our shower curb. My question is regarding finishing. Copyright - RLC Engineering, LLC. If the water leak was bad enough, dry rot can occur causing possible structural integrity issues. 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? endstream endobj 81 0 obj <>stream After all, the wall is in contact with damp soil. Moisture meter reading - DoItYourself.com Community Forums As with any wood product, the environment where the finished product will Live will determine the correct moisture content. We have had very bad cracking in sheetrock and floors. Lacquer will not make a reading difference as long as there are no metallic components in the lacquer itself. This should be stuck into your wooden subfloor. 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. Drying teak hardwood from a humid climate, for use outdoors in a much drier European climate? Was told thats not done. The front of the . Because ventilated crawl spaces throughout the Southeast United States allow high humidity and fungus spores to enter the enclosed space beneath the home.