Many old tile or linoleum floorcoverings contain asbestos. In fact, many common building materials contained asbestos, such as vinyl floor tile, vinyl sheet flooring, floor backing, insulation, and adhesives.


If possible, contact the manufacturer for specific information. If you don’t know the history of the floor, take precautions and find out what you’re facing.


REPUTABLE SUPPLIERS You should be aware that some suppliers aren’t always legitimate and can try to make some quick cash at your expense. Be wary of dealers who don’t guarantee their products, who have unrealistic prices compared to other bids, and who generally lack professionalism.


Before making a purchase, be sure to get wood that is properly treated. The supplier or dealer should agree to scrub the wood clean and use a metal detector to spot any hidden metal. The wood should also be kiln-dried to prevent warping and kill any insects which may be inside.


MEASURE FOR MOISTURE Just as you should do with any wood you use, it’s important to measure the moisture content of reclaimed wood. If not, you’ll face costly and frustrating problems with the finished product.


All wood needs to reach its equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in its new environment in order to remain stable. The EMC depends mainly on the relative humidity (RH) and temperature of the surrounding air.


Wood moisture levels fluctuate with RH. When the RH goes up, wood absorbs or gains moisture. When it goes down, wood loses or releases it. This is why a wood moisture meter is critical for contractors.


For flooring, it’s important to dry the wood to 6-9% moisture content (MC). A good wood moisture meter gives you the existing MC level of the reclaimed wood and tells you if the wood is ready to be crafted into a new product.


If you begin work on the wood and it has too much moisture, you


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can jeopardise your project; meaning that you may end up with a finished product that cracks, splits, shrinks, exhibits glue failures, shows cupped or curved panels, or displays other moisture-related problems.


Measuring each reclaimed wood piece with a moisture meter also gives you a visual indication of the presence of wood defects, such as knots. Wood knots weaken wood strength. They also skew MC readings.


Wagner Meters has designed a diverse line of wood moisture meter products. The most popular model is the MMC220, which is ideal for measuring wood moisture in all wood species.


Wagner Meters uses pinless, electromagnetic wave technology to provide precise, immediate MC measurement on the spot. The design enables you to “scan” many board feet of wood easily and quickly. This is handy when having to check a large volume of reclaimed boards or for simply doing a quick check of current conditions.


Because they have no pins, they do not damage wood surfaces like pin meters; particularly important for flooring where holes would look unsightly.


It’s proven that surface moisture can skew a meter’s reading when it’s absorbed by the wood. Wagner meters, however, with their proprietary IntelliSense technology, are virtually unaffected by the absorbed moisture. They also read moisture content ranging from 5% to 30%.


With only two buttons to push, Wagner meters are easy to operate with just one hand. With the ‘Press and Hold’ feature, they can take MC readings and the displays will hold once the meter is removed; enabling workers to quickly and easily document MC readings.


All Wagner meters are built for exceptional accuracy and dependability. The MMC/MMI moisture meters come with a seven-year warranty and complete customer satisfaction guarantee.


Tony Morgan is a Senior Technician for Wagner Meters, where he serves on a team for product testing, development, and also customer service and training for moisture measurement products. Call Wagner Meters today at (1) 541- 582-0541 and ask for Tony.


www.wagnermeters.com NATURAL MATERIALS | 39


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