Is it normal to have planks varying +/- 3/64" in width? What is acceptable range at the time of installation? I have 3/4" x 3 1/2" prefinished with micro bevel edges and I dont want to cut every single board to the same width, what can I do?

Thanks in advance

return it if you think it's got more than a 5% waste factor. What specie? Have you taken moisture readings?

Defective kiln drying, if the wood has all acclimated properly and is all the same MC.

It is telling me, it was not consistent MC when it was milled.

Kevin D
No I have not taking moisture reading as I don't have one. Any suggestion in a reasonable price moisture meter?


Floorguy
Please explain defective Kiln drying. Is it the process itself?


Anyway to fix this problem? As I do not want to load 2500 pounds of wood manually.

If you bought it from a repetable place they should have a meter. You need to get them on the phone and explain to them what you are haveing trouble width. Or just load one box and take it down there to showem what you are talking about. The last thing yo need to do is have it installed and then decide it is defective. This type problems generally can be resolved in a civil manner if it is caught onthe front end.

KevinD

So far I opened 2 boxes, one box with about 10% of the planks slightly narrower, and the other one is good. I will contact the seller about this. I know wood is natural material, thus, not all of the planks are perfect. I am expecting some gaps but I am wondering if there is a tolerance.

You have defective wood!!!!!!


Kiln drying.... The wood is brought to a consistent moisture content, and then milled. Whe the wood gains moisture or looses moisture the dimensions of all the boards will stay consistent with each other, and shrink & swell the same.

Bad kiln drying.. Inconsistent moisture content and the boards are milled.
You have boards milled 3" wide at 6% and boards milled at 7% and 8% and 9% and 10% and 11% and 12% all in the same lot.

Now you bring that wood into your home and let it acclimate. All the wood comes to 8% moisture content(equilibrium). Because of the woods shrink and swell. The boards milled at 6 and 7% are now wider then 3". The boards milled at 8% are 3" wide. The boards milled higher then 8% are now going to be narrower then 3" and the more it was mill away from 8% the narrower it will be, less then 3" They could measure 2-7/8" easily.

Now when you go to install it, you will have a gap factory, and the farther you get across the room, the bigger they will get.


STOP!!!! Return the wood. The deal was too good to be true!!