Maple Hardwood Flooring Moisture Content

Determining moisture content is an essential part of quality control within the flooring installation process.

Maple hardwood flooring moisture content.

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. To make sure that the moisture content of wood flooring is in the right range many professionals use flooring moisture meters to test their wood flooring materials and. Hardwood floors the maximum subfloor moisture level will be either 12 or 13 depending upon the manufacturer. Moisture testing for wood flooring and wood subfloors.

The flooring contractor shall verify slab conditions prior to the commencement of any maple flooring system installation to ensure compliance with flooring manufacturer specifications. Wood changes dimensions with moisture it swells when it gains moisture and it shrinks when it loses moisture. 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. Wood moisture meters for flooring applications come in two varieties.

Then the hardwood flooring moisture content must be within 2 4 of the subfloor moisture. The moisture content at winter time can be estimated to be 3 4. A change in moisture content of a piece of hardwood flooring from 0 to 28 will increase the size of the piece approximately 0 1 along the length of the board and 5 to 15 change in size in width of the strip with plain sawn flooring. Edge grain flooring edge grain hardwood flooring is specially selected and consists of pieces in which the annual rings range from 30 degrees horizontal to 90 degrees vertical.

2 for plank 3 wide or more hardwood and 4 for strip 2 wide hardwood. The fastest way to measure moisture in floors is to use a moisture meter for wood. Upon receipt of shipment proper moisture controls must be exercised to maintain proper moisture content. Before installing wood floors the flooring needs to reach a moisture content mc level that is in equilibrium with the surrounding environment.

These devices can be used to test the moisture content mc of wood flooring in mere seconds. Some woods naturally have more extreme moisture contents ranging from 4 to 18 but oak floors are generally in the 6 to 9 range. This process is known as hardwood acclimation. Failing to properly acclimate wood flooring may cause excessive expansion shrinkage dimensional distortion or structural damage.

It is the general contractors responsibility to provide a dry concrete slab within mfma standards for moisture content and flatness. Hardwood does not shrink or swell equally in all directions. The most accurate measurement for moisture content in wood is the oven bake out.