moisture meter readings what is normal
on Feb 13, 2019 12:44:17 PM. At that point in time, we did not have a conditioned house. What does a reading of 999 mean? In general, any reading between 6 and 10% is considered normal here. This happens when the moisture inside the wood reaches a balance or equilibrium with the relative humidity (RH) and temperature of the woods surrounding environment. Flaws in a material, such as whorls in wood or air pockets in poured flooring, affect that materials specific gravity (SG) value. i want to make a headboard from it. What is the wood you are measuring? Does coating wood with oil stabilize the moisture content in wood? With pin meters, the standing water on the top of a piece of wood can cause the electrical current to be routed through the water instead of the material being tested. Readings over 20%-25% indicate firewood that is not safe to burn. Thank You. with the spring thaw, i was one of the lucky ones that got water in my basement. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". For example, a small 1/32 change per 2 multiplied across an 8-foot room equals 1 . Outside of these ranges, hardwood floors might start . Thats how you get the moisture readings. Mold starts to grow in the mid to high 20 percent moisture contents. Please give us a call at (800) 634-9961 or email info@wagnermeters.com, if youd prefer. 800-634-9961, or email sales@wagnermeters.com. Thanks for the question. The typical moisture content for hardwoods that will be indoors is 6-9 percent. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So summarizing, measuring the moisture content of an object is simply calculating the amount of water it contains relative to its dry weight. I had a quick looked around the crawl space and didnt notice any structure damage. 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. Even cores with high moisture meter readings can look and feel dry. The lumber was recently milled, although the tree had been cut months, years ago. Moisture meters are crucial tools for many different professionals. The wood will still react in humid or dry conditions. 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 company they hired measured 47% in the wood and declares that this must be ripped out and replaced. Dryer wood produces more resistance than wetter wood. Perhaps better drainage around your house will do the trick or treat. Thanks Phil. According to Dr. Gene Wengert, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 75% of all wood manufacturing and quality issues are related to moisture content. I want to use it to build a table and will be moving it to the location where I will work on it shortly. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity. Hi Ron- just purchased a home n PA and had the roof inspected which showed a leak on the plywood directly under the shingles. There are two primary methods to determine moisture levels in drywall: using a moisture meter or calculating humidity levels. A high-quality moisture meter used on the right material can be accurate to within less than 0.1% of the materials moisture content by weight. Another issue of these types of meters is their inability to allow the user to fine tune meters settings for wood species. The sink vanity is made from typical laminated particle board, and Ive been trying to dry it in place using a dehumidifier and sealing the area off. Depending on the type of project and where you live, the required wood moisture content is usually in the 6-12% range. 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. First, test the moisture level of the subfloor. This is all very helpful information, thanks! A single reference scale is enough. Additionally, for wood moisture meters, its important to check if there is a species correction feature for the meter. What is a normal reading on a moisture meter? The levels were between 20 and 23%. Ive been monitoring this area for several months and havent seen any mold growth, but it just seems to have found balance at around 17-20% in this small area. Any suggestions to this being possible to correct? Here is a bit of information to help you better understand moisture meter readings: Understanding how a moisture meter works is crucial for understanding moisture meter readings and what can affect them. I would like to rip two slabs and glue them together to make a nice large dining room table. Moisture meter accuracy is greatly reduced when the wood moisture content is above the fiber saturation point. Wood freshly cut or kiln-dried is always interacting with environmental moisture. This means that when we were talking about the normal readings for drywall, we assumed that your moisture meter was calibrated for drywall and had a specific reading scale for drywall. Why You Should Use Relative Humidity (RH) Testing, Flooring, Millwork, Furniture & Cabinet Manufacturers, How to Choose a Moisture Measurement System for Your Sawmill Buying Guide, Acceptable Moisture Levels in Wood Knowing the Moisture Content, Free Download 5 Ways Pinless Moisture Meters Save You Time and Money. Perhaps there is something different about the East and West walls. Even in our daily lives, it has a significant role. 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. In order to see if a masonry structure has a safe damp percent, you need to use a moisture meter for every component that is in the structure, and if only one of them shows high values, then the whole masonsry can be considered as damp and needs an intervention. Accuaracy is of course more important.. The average annual relative humidity will play the biggest role in determining what the optimal MC should be. What is an acceptable moisture reading for the different types of materials and surfaces? It is possible, in some species, to have a moisture content higher than 100 percent. Brilliant article. Be on the lookout for flooring failures such as swelling, buckling, cupping, etc. The fastest way to test the moisture content of wood is to use a moisture meter. Larry Loffer is a senior technician at Wagner Meters, where he has over 30 years of experience in wood moisture measurement. Now if you are testing exterior wood that has direct contact with the surrounding humidity, you can tolerate values that are up to 20%. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, https://research.cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/wpe/files/2016/08/Equilibrium-Moisture-Content-of-Exterior-Wood-in-the-US.pdf, https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-950-smart/, http://www.csgnetwork.com/emctablecalc.html, https://www.spikevm.com/calculators/logging/equilibrium.php, https://www.wagnermeters.com/shop/orion-910-deep/, 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, Restoration Expert Says Moisture Management Critical to Health of Any House or Building, Correct Moisture Content: Critical to Your Woodworking Projects, Mckinleyville Middle Schoolers Learning about Wood Moisture Content, Ambient Data Loggers: Peace of Mind in a Box for Wood Flooring Installers, 5 Things Not to Do When Measuring Moisture in Wood Flooring, Alabama Wood Crafters Share Wood Woes When Overlooking a Moisture Meter. 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. However, many building materials may have been dried down to about 15% moisture content. Instead of addressing the plumbing and damaged wood, they installed a dehumidifier in 2015. Wood moisture content is always varying. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We have had on/off rain and humidity 80-90% range. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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? This building was constructed around 1966 and this little space appears very dry, in spite of a recent leak from an nearby hot water tank. I am extremely worried about this as we also found mold on his wood furniture but not on the walls. What Do Moisture Meter Readings Mean 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%. I read your article and really like it. A quality pin-type meter should always come with temperature correction charts. Hi Davetta, Youll need to contact a local mold inspection company that is certified. Timber logs & Lumber into India company remained actively involved in harvesting and sale of Hardwood logs of Indian origin. summary Acceptable wood moisture readings on a meter normally range from 6% to 8% for woodworking. The shipping time is approximately 45 day in a 40 container to the west coast . These scale readings can range from 0.2 to 50% moisture content. Speak to a moisture meter specialist from Delmhorst! This is the first time Im coming to know that there are acceptable moisture levels when it comes to wood and whatnot. We also ship to other European countries, for dryer country like Spain the EMC could be between 12 and 14. That is still quite a wide range. A plus or minus 10-degree variation from normal 70-degree ambient temperature has no significant effect on the EMC.) Thats quite difficult to have. Broken or rusted contact pins might not conduct electricity as readilyincreasing resistance so materials read as being drier than they actually are. Pin-type meters use penetrating electrodes and measure the woods moisture content using electrical resistance. Masonry refers to the building of structures using stones or bricks and a boundary material such as mortar or concrete. To avoid this problem, wood flooring should never be stored where environmental conditions are uncontrolled, such as garages and exterior patios. Thanks. How would be the best way to prevent mold from growing on the furniture. Different types of wood can have different physical properties that might alter the results of a moisture measurement. Tile: Moisture rising from the subfloor can break down the adhesive beneath the tiles. We found out that RH at the final location was under 20%. Hardwood flooring needs to acclimate at least 2 weeks, in service conditions, before it is installed. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This is critical for reproducible, accurate readings. Copyright 2023 Delmhorst Instrument Co. How to Understand Moisture Meter Readings for Accurate Results, two primary methods by which moisture testing, current temperature of the material being tested, moisture meter for water damage restoration, moisture meters for water damage restoration. However, the company who maintains the dehumidifier said he tested some of the joist which he said only registered 10 on his device. This gives you a comparison point for future referenceallowing you to more reliably identify moisture-compromised materials. Stringer readings of 10-15%. What is the optimal MC of the fir stock for construction of the windows? Can I get a away with this? Do you agree with this? You should be able to tell where the water reached the subfloor because it will be discolored and may also be swelled up. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 15% is too high, at least for hardwoods. Is it OK to leave it alone at this point if its a small spot or should something more be done? It is a 2-3 feet wide wet area that drains to a line connected to the city system. Whether the meter is in the correct reading scale mode; The temperature of the material being tested (for pin meters); Whorls in wood or other flaws that affect material density (for pinless meters); and. Gardeners, farmers, as well as other specialists in the field of conservation frequently use meters of this type to ensure that the surrounding environment is optimal for the cultivation of . Why would someone want to use a reference moisture reading scale instead of a more specific (and accurate) one? About how long do you think we should allow the new wood to acclimate in the end use environment before installing it? Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. Too wet and you get fuzzing. I would also consider the environment where the table will live. If youre willing to accept a moisture reading with +/- 5% accuracy, you can probably get away with buying a cheap meter in the $25-50 range. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(196934, 'e0b23ea6-dba6-4e9a-9a5a-da5fd4d40a3c', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Sign up now to receive updates on our latest blogs and news. These are especially important when conducting moisture tests on wood that hasnt been stored at room temperature. I believe you are asking for the percent moisture content (humidity) of South African woods. in general, any reading between 6 and 10% is considered normal here. Softwoods, such as spruce, can have more moisture. Therefore, lumber intended for interior use should be dried to a moisture content of approximately 6% to 8% and kept at this moisture content both before and during manufacturing. Moisture meters can be used on: Carpet; Wallboard; Wood; Brick; Concrete; Because mold often grows where moisture is high, a moisture meter can help an investigator locate hidden areas of mold growth. 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. An MC in this range, therefore, is considered sufficiently dry for exterior in-service wood. Many of our customers are successfully using our hand held moisture meters on engineered flooring. Readings can be elevated if there is a stud directly behind the sheetrock. Is it safe to put new insulation and drywall up or does it need to dry out more? A consistent humidity level of 40 percent will require wood to be about 8 percent moisture content. About 5/16 penetration into the wood measures 8% using pins only. Thank you. The next sheet is 21.5% adjacent to 2X4. Treated wood is typically still wet when its delivered to the job site. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The optimal humidity in a home is generally 35%-55% and anything under 20% is actually considered unhealthy, as it dries out the skin. The electrical current will then move from pin to pin and measure the resistance encountered. Doesnt sound like this has been a problem in the past. Outdoor temp is 99*F. Is this normal? If the surface is not completely dry the readings will be off. 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. Wagner Meters has a couple of resources to help you determine the moisture content more suited to your outdoor environment. In general, 12% moisture or above is too wet to install flooring. We must use a reference scale. The floors would not read (the are thick laminate). This is more likely to occur to occur in lower-grade boards, where knots and uneven grains are already present. For paper manufacturers, determining the moisture content is very necessary to produce papers of good quality. 12% is good for softwoods, but again, it depends on the relative humidity and temperature where the finished product will be kept. To the right, 13.2% in the same distance and also drops to ~ 8% after. Anyone who works with wood must know its moisture content. It is best to allow the wood to equilibrate to the room environment. Drier materials like drywall . This includes both tropical and temperate hardwoods as well as softwoods. As the name suggests, drywall is meant to be dry and damp free. The average RH of the environment where the wood will be used. This affects the moisture-holding capacity of the slab and what MC% is considered safe and acceptable. The maximum subfloor moisture level for solid strip flooring or wide-width solid flooring is either 12% or 13%, depending on the manufacturer. We are checking moisture levels in several areas each day. Concrete placed outdoors and exposed to extreme weather conditions or humidity can experience a higher moisture content of up to 18%, which is still considered acceptable. My main concern here is that the flooring didnt have enough time to acclimate to the surrounding conditions. The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has specific installation guidelines for wood flooring and how they relate to moisture content. We ripped out the wet drywall and insulation and have a fan to dry out the wood. Select The Correct Mode. at one spot, its 40%. Moisture meter readings of between 12% and 18% indicate dry, safe to burn firewood. But there are other moisture meters that have reference scales ranging from 0 to 300. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 1. After reading your article and following comments, my question is : How much does the finish of a wood project for indoor use affect the moisture content? However, the ideal humidity range in some climates may be higher or lower. Lets go over the basics of each, Oven dry testing is the oldest method for measuring the moisture content of wood. Working with some slabs of spruce. 7. Heres how it works. . Again, thank you for reaching out, we are always here to assist. 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. Generally the entire floor is dry. What should be the approximate Highest MC to prevent wood problems to include finishes? 2. My question: what is the complete saturation reading of wood? Depending on your need, you should select the correct ones for the job. Cheers, Howard Pruden in Edmonton, Alberta where its cold and dry.
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