Wood will be the most delicate material that we are going to talk about in this article. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Wagners pinless moisture meters allow you to set the specific gravity from .20 to 1.0 easily. I am planning an under-house excursion tomorrow. Pin meters, on the other hand, are better able to determine the distribution of moisture throughout a material sample from the shell to the core and can be used in materials with curved or uneven surfaces. Excess moisture in wood floors can lead to warping, buckling, crowning or cupping, causing the boards to peel away from the subfloor. As a result, a moisture meter, which only evaluates dampness in the top few inches, cannot defect the MC in deeper layers and the readings with not be 100% reliable. The table had a 1 3/4 X 3 1/2 thick boarder with mitred corners and biscuited. What are Acceptable Moisture Levels in Drywall: 8 Factors So we are seeking redress, but there are jacks present underneath the home which the home inspector didnt report either and didnt know if this was extra support for the water heater or what. Some moisture meters use a range from 0-100 and others use a range from 0-300. 15% is too high, at least for hardwoods. Since density varies according to wood species, pinless meters require the user to set the meter to the correct average specific gravity before taking a measurement. i used my dremel with a shaping bit about 1/8 in to cut vertical slits or vents about an inch deep and a couple of inches tall into the bottom 24 and have kept a commercial floor blower on the wood several hours a day for more than a week yet, the number is not going down. Phil, what are you making with the cedar, and in what type of environment will it be? Thanks for the the information, very detailed and useful. Whatever the type of wood or project, a quality moisture meter will allow you to ensure that your wood is dried to the correct moisture content level before use. Even in our daily lives, it has a significant role. First time this has happened (splitting that is). Keep monitoring it. Additionally, when using a reference scale meter, its important to remember that the number provided isnt an exact measurement of the moisture content of the material being tested. 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%. I have a question, I have moisture in the crawl space, we insulated the crawl with closed cell, cannot get the osb subfloor below. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Have I been wrong? I had a water leak under my crawl space which has 3 inches of foam insulation applied to the underside of the sub floor. For example, if you were to have an EMC of 14%, then you would measure the woods moisture content and make sure its at 14%. Record the reading you get and use this as a baseline. Feel free to contact me here at Wagner. What Do Moisture Meter Readings Mean - Knowledge Matrix We are trying to understand what happened & how to prevent it from happening with a new floor. The plywood setting is .57. Moisture in also known to be unsafe for people with respiratory problems and cause many health hazards. I am glad to know about these things about moisture meters on this blog. Water was coming out of this outlet and onto the floor? We replaced the dishwasher and the plywood subfloor dried up. Quite impressive isnt it? Levels between 25-30% indicate that there may be water ingress, meaning that remedial work could be required. The engineered wood floor appears ok. Which moisture meter are you using, Barb? Depending on the finished hardwoods width, the hardwood floorings moisture content must be within 2-4% of the subfloor moisture level. 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. So summarizing, measuring the moisture content of an object is simply calculating the amount of water it contains relative to its dry weight. I took readings of the moisture of the sub floor at the edges of the wall and it ranged from 5 to 16, problem is i cant take it in the middle of the floor unless i rip the floor out. 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. Perhaps there is something different about the East and West walls. Do these levels seen appropriate considering the recent rainfall. Although some movement can be expected between 6% and 9%, wood flooring can shrink or swell more dramatically outside this range. Normal moisture content of wood ranges from 7% to 19%. Typically, allow about 3 weeks for hardwood to acclimate in the environment. The maximum subfloor moisture level for solid strip flooring or wide-width solid flooring is either 12% or 13%, depending on the manufacturer. Dryer wood produces more resistance than wetter wood. 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. You should be aware that a moisture reading of 0-15% is quite normal and gives no cause for concern. Also, what brand and model of pin meter are you using? with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. (Itd effectively seal the cavity under the vanity, so once the trim is back on, i dont think itll dry out much more.) Our expert restoration team are carefully selected and screened and then fully trained to give them a deep understanding of products and procedures and help them provide top-quality services at all times. It stays that way as long as the RH and temperature dont change. Here are some key RH values and the corresponding EMC: The first two values above are fairly typical interior EMC values for most of North Americas heated and air-conditioned offices and homes. 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. We have a free app called WoodH2O for Android or iPhone. Should this reading of 12.3 require replacing the existing dry wall before installing a new shower stall? Different materials will have physical properties that make them react differently when tested with a moisture meter. Freshly cut wood has a lot of moisture in it. This makes pinless moisture meters perfect for measuring the moisture content of things like expensive hardwood floors. Your email address will not be published. I was able to get the MC down to 15%. Moisture values over 15% suggest that additional investigation is necessary. This article is really helpful. A wood moisture content of 47% is too high. Thanks. Moisture meters are used to measure the percentage of water in a given piece of wood and are most useful when the moisture percentage ranges from 5% to no more than 30%. Thank you. The fastest way to test the moisture content of wood is to use a moisture meter. 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. It is a 2-3 feet wide wet area that drains to a line connected to the city system. Observed water leaking along seams of several sheets of original plywood in attic. Then placing his pin meter on the screws. What humidity content should cedar be at for proper gluing. A possibility is that this baseball size spot has a large knot or is higher in density, which can cause higher readings even though the MC is the same as other areas. With a Wagner L606, I am getting MC readings 12%->15.5% . Who knew that so much detail goes into the wood, right? Then, the moisture content is calculated by dividing the amount of water by the dry weight or total weight, depending on the reporting method. As youd might imagine, they have their own pros and cons. on Feb 13, 2019 12:44:17 PM. After the plywood dried, however, there is still one spot about the size of a baseball that is still reading around 17-20%. That said, I would be curious what meter you are using to get the 30% reading? In other words, dense mixes of concrete allow less moisture to penetrate the slab than lighter ones. Would it still be 9% for pressure treated wood? Alison, 14% seems awfully high for drywall. 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? I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If the water leak was bad enough, dry rot can occur causing possible structural integrity issues. Relative Humidity Test Using Probes (ASTM F 2170) This method involves drilling a hole into a concrete floor and inserting an electronic meter into it, or embedding the meter in the concrete before it has cured. RH where they were built is about 29-30%. Question for the expert: i recently replaced a toilet that had a leaky wax ring. In fact, according to M. Steven Doggett, Ph.D. LEED AP, the founder of Built Environments, Inc., wood moisture content as high as 15% can cause corrosion of metal fasteners and at 16% may lead to fungal growth. The solution? This is the standard in the construction industry. Measuring ceiling drywall ( 2 layers, upper and lower) into floor assembly above the ceiling. The floors have started cupping across the entire area with more in some parts. Im looking for the % number that will be my upper boundary for oil application Would 12% be ok? The floors would not read (the are thick laminate). I have seen that 13.5% is high for furniture and you should aim below 12%. Discolored areas or crumbling patches are tell-tale indicators that the wall has been exposed to too much humidity. Can I a cut them first, then glue them once they are dryer? The angle iron will prevent much warping, and I do plan on finishing all sides (and ends). Before installing carpet, you will need to dry the subfloor first. Longer pins with insulated shafts are designed for the purpose. 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. 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. Hi Larry, thanks for the great knowledge sharing. 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. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. So, i had one installed a few weeks after we met. 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 moisture content of wood is important because the wood will shrink or expand according to its moisture content. The meter works out the moisture content percentage by measuring the electrical resistance between two probes. If the MC of plywood is above 20%, can it be redried in a kiln or would that harm the glue? Well, when testing wood, you should wail for an MC below 10%. The shipping time is approximately 45 day in a 40 container to the west coast . Thank you so much for your time and expertise. Moisture meter readings of between 12% and 18% indicate dry, safe to burn firewood. Seal the holes with a sensor sleeve and cap to allow them to acclimate for the next 24 hours. 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. Any opinions. 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. The dry wall theyre attached to is inside of a stone house shell. Free Download Is a Pin or Pinless Moisture Meter Best For You? In your area, wood that has been in an environment to a duration of time would be between 6-11%. We appreciate you writing in, best of luck! My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? If I dry too much, theres discoloration and breakage of product during polishing. My house is 24 years old. This means a very absorbent wood can retain more water, weight wise, the weight of the wood itself. With the WoodH2O-app I could deduct the EMC for The Netherlands would be between 15 and 16. 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. Some moisture meters use a range from 0-100 and others use a range from 0-300. I read your article and really like it. What is an acceptable moisture reading for the different types of materials and surfaces? The ennoLogic Moisture Meter eH710T allows you to measure many different types of materials for moisture content, including wood, drywall, carpet, concrete, and many more. National Water Damage Restoration & Mold Remediation Experts. 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. Good luck. MFMA recommends the relative humidity level for a concrete slab for a non-glue-down maple floor system be 85% or lower. We had boards that were also cracking/splitting and other places where small pinholes were showing up. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Elaine. The 50% RH level would be at the higher end of normal interior EMC values. Masonry refers to the building of structures using stones or bricks and a boundary material such as mortar or concrete. Is it safe to put new insulation and drywall up or does it need to dry out more? The plumber said that the floor has an elevated moisture reading and took a photo showing the 99.9% (maximum reading) on the meter while the meter was on the floor. At that point in time, we did not have a conditioned house. However, even a shrinkage this small maybe only several thousandths of an inch can cause after-construction gluing problems, especially with cracks and joints. You may be picking up something behind the sheetrock. What is the acceptable water/moisture content in cassia bark?- in south east asia. -Mandi in Austin, Texas. Method 01: Use a Moisture Meter Step 1: Purchase a moisture meter. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. Do you think that heated floor actually help to dry or do they make things worse and more humid! As the name suggests, drywall is meant to be dry and damp free. If your reading is over 20%, you may need to replace the drywall entirely. Unfortunately, its VERY hard to help you because the meter you are referencing is utilizing a scale that makes no sense in relation to wood moisture content. Would the screws skew the measurements? The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. Thanks for the very informative post. I had a redwood deck, and they replaced it with Douglas fir (without my approval, but thats another issue). 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. thanks so much in advance. He added that plastic sheet ground covering that his company laid over my crawl space had been moved in spots and that I no longer had full coverage.