NOT TO DO
common pitfalls to avoid when measuring moisture in wood flooring.
https://nwfa.org/
moisture exposure. The National Wood Flooring Association has guidelines for how many readings should be taken.
And with non-damaging pinless meters, you get readings so quickly, it’s not hard to take plenty.
NOT USING THE CORRECT
SPECIES SETTING It’s obvious that different species of wood would have different properties, such as their specific gravity or density. To account for this, a good wood moisture meter offers different species settings to ensure accurate readings.
But if your meter doesn’t allow for those differences, the readings you get may result in poor decisions about applied finishes or the wood’s readiness to be installed.
With an accurate, reliable wood moisture meter that allows you to easily change species settings, you’ll know you’re getting accurate readings even when measuring the MC of different species.
NOT KNOWING YOUR
ENVIRONMENT’S EMC Many people believe that the final moisture content of the wood should be between 6% and 8% MC. This is true in most cases. However, your wood must reach equilibrium moisture content (EMC) before being installed. So, if you go and take MC readings of the wood, but don’t know the environment’s EMC, those readings may not be helpful. If your installation is in a desert environment or by the ocean, adjustments to the standard final MC may be necessary.
Don’t go in blind. Start by determining the environmental EMC first, which can be done once you know the average ambient relative humidity and temperature. Then you’ll have your number to compare to, and your readings will make sense. You’ll know if you need to wait longer or if you’re good to install.
NOT SAVING THE DATA Imagine a photographer taking beautiful photos but not saving them in a file – pointless.
Why take readings if you’re not going to save them? Those are your insurance. If anything happens to the floor, go back and look at the readings — that will help you figure out your next steps.
And, the data could even keep you from a lawsuit by showing that you adhered to the proper procedure for taking moisture measurements.
Ultimately, keeping thorough records of all your data only helps your reputation. When future customers see that you operate with integrity, your reputation will speak for itself.
Some meters have a data recording and storage feature that can make saving the readings much easier.
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The best moisture meter is the one you’ll actually use, and for wood flooring, this means using a non-damaging pinless wood moisture meter.
FEATURE | 41 THE BEST METER
IS...THE ONE
YOU’LL ACTUALLY USE. Sounds simple, but if you end up buying a moisture meter that’s confusing to use or one that takes too long to get readings, you won’t use it. Because, after all, the worst thing you could do is not use a meter at all.
So do your research. Find the moisture meter that meets your needs, includes important features such as species settings, and is in your budget. Then, use it.
And if you’re looking for one that has all the bells and whistles — a true one-stop-shop meter — then consider the Orion 950. Since this meter can do everything you’ll need for nearly every job, it’ll quickly become one of your must-have tools.
www.wagnermeters.com
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