Acceptable Moisture Content In Hardwood Flooring

Moisture testing for wood flooring and wood subfloors.

Acceptable moisture content in hardwood flooring. Measuring moisture in wood flooring. Some woods naturally have more extreme moisture contents ranging from 4 to 18 but oak floors are generally in the 6 to 9 range. If the moisture content of wood flooring isn t right then it can warp buckle or even delaminate causing significant damage and ruining the aesthetic value of the flooring. The relationship between the moisture content of the hardwood boards and that of the subflooring determines whether or not the wood is acceptable for installation.

Wood moisture meters for flooring applications come in two varieties. The fastest way to measure moisture in floors is to use a moisture meter for wood. In order to ascertain these moisture values check various boards moisture content approximately 4 boards for every 100 square feet. Hardwood floors the maximum subfloor moisture level will be either 12 or 13 depending upon the manufacturer.

But before you begin it s important to understand that moisture measurement and management is crucial to both the concrete slab and also the hardwood flooring. Reaching equilibrium moisture content. Flooring installers must know the moisture content of the wood flooring as well as the subfloor. Then the hardwood flooring moisture content must be within 2 4 of the subfloor moisture.

Solid strip flooring less than 3 wide should have a moisture content no more than 4 percent different from the moisture content of your subflooring materials. Determining moisture content is an essential part of quality control within the flooring installation process. Before you lay the first plank you must ensure that the moisture level in the concrete subfloor is low enough that it will not affect your flooring. Household hardwood floors should have a moisture content between 6 and 9 but the percentage will be affected by the type of wood the weight of the wood and many other factors.

These devices can be used to test the moisture content mc of wood flooring in mere seconds. Prior to installation wood flooring should be within acceptable range of moisture content with the wood subfloor. You must test the concrete slab for excessive moisture. The most accurate measurement for moisture content in wood is the oven bake out.

When you install hardwood laminate or vinyl flooring over a concrete subfloor one of the most important steps to take to ensure the lasting beauty and stability of your floors is moisture testing.