Maple Hardwood Flooring Moisture Content

Flooring installers must know the moisture content of the wood flooring as well as the subfloor.

Maple hardwood flooring moisture content.

Typical wood shrinkage from green to ovendry moisture content is typical 3 8 in radial grain direction and 6 12 in tangential grain direction. Before installing wood floors the flooring needs to reach a moisture content mc level that is in equilibrium with the surrounding environment. 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.

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. 2 for plank 3 wide or more hardwood and 4 for strip 2 wide hardwood. Wood changes dimensions with moisture it swells when it gains moisture and it shrinks when it loses moisture. The moisture content at winter time can be estimated to be 3 4.

Then the hardwood flooring moisture content must be within 2 4 of the subfloor moisture. 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. Determining moisture content is an essential part of quality control within the flooring installation process. 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.

The most accurate measurement for moisture content in wood is the oven bake out. 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. These devices can be used to test the moisture content mc of wood flooring in mere seconds. Hardwood floors the maximum subfloor moisture level will be either 12 or 13 depending upon the manufacturer.

Hardwood does not shrink or swell equally in all directions. 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. Measuring moisture in wood flooring.

Failing to properly acclimate wood flooring may cause excessive expansion shrinkage dimensional distortion or structural damage. Some woods naturally have more extreme moisture contents ranging from 4 to 18 but oak floors are generally in the 6 to 9 range. Upon receipt of shipment proper moisture controls must be exercised to maintain proper moisture content.