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 Post subject: Subfloor moisture content
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:47 am 
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Good morning to everyone and thanks in advance for all replies.
Details: New construction started summer of 2011 in northwest Ohio. Lots of rain before under roof in October and 3/4" OSB subfloor got a good soaking. Two story home with full basement. Installing 1900 S.F. of Chelsea Plank 3/4" x 3, 4 & 5" widths Hickory on both levels. Have taken delivery of flooring and it is at 6-7% MC. Subfloor varies throughout home between 9-14%. A week ago, after the main heating unit was activated to replace the temporary unit, we placed a dehumidifier on all three levels with a couples of fans to move the air. I sanded the swelled subfloor seams along with the entire surface to eliminate as much drywall slop and dust as possible. How long will this take to dry? What would be an acceptable subfloor MC? What is the fastest way (wife wants ready for wedding in late April and we still have trim, cabinets, countertops, appliances...) to dry this subfloor?


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 Post subject: Re: Subfloor moisture content
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:45 am 
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Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:05 pm
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Location: Knoxville,Tn
Id want the wood flooring to get up to 8-9% and get the subfloor down to 9/10. They two measurements have to be within two points on the meter for plank , especially hickory. So you have a cart before the horse scenario. You need to get some moisture out of the subfloor but be careful not to let the flooring to go down in m/c any more than it is currently that would be a major mistake. if you install now with the numbers you have I can guarantee that floor will cup within a few days and could even make it buckle.

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Kevin Daniel
Heartland Hardwood Flooring
Knoxville, Tn
www.HeartlandHardwoodFlooring.com


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 Post subject: Re: Subfloor moisture content
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:18 am 
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Thanks for the reply Kevin.
I have 145 cartons (45 each of 3", 4" & 5" widths) setting in the garage on plastic sheeting so if anything, they will be gaining a little moisture. On the subfloor, if I push the pins of the meter in just a touch (up to 1/16"), it reads between 7-10.5% depending on the location. If I force the pins in deeper (1/8" or more), it reads between 9-14%. The pins can barely make a dent in the hickory flooring and it reads 6.5-8% on the planks I checked. I don't want to over analyze things, which I have been known to do, but I don't want to rush them either. I have most people thinking I'm being to knit-picking and they want to move ahead. How can I speed up the process without going overboard? Am I using the meter correctly?


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 Post subject: Re: Subfloor moisture content
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:04 pm 
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Location: Knoxville,Tn
sounds like its reading correctly its normal to find a gradient in m/c from top to bottom of the subfloor. what this tells you is the space under the subfloor has a elevated m/c for some reason. Sounds like you may need a dehumidifier in the basement to get a consistent reading all the way through the piece. To help you with getting correct readings in the floor you can take the meter and mark the pin locations then take two finish nails and nail them em where the pins were. take the pins and touch the nails and viola! now you can test any depth and the hickory too!

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Heartland Hardwood Flooring
Knoxville, Tn
www.HeartlandHardwoodFlooring.com


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 Post subject: Re: Subfloor moisture content
PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:21 pm 
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After being told by the manufacturer to push the pins in entirely, I did this in 30 locations in the house and marked the readings and date on the floor. My friend, the HVAC contractor, placed a large dehumidifier and an electric furnace in the basement this morning to aid in the drying. That is in addition to the dehumidifier and 5 blowers already in place in the basement and additional dehumidifiers on each of the other floors which are drawing out about 3 gallons each per day. At this rate, in your opinion, how long will this process take (days, weeks or months)?


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