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Wide-board drying time prior to installation? Need quick answer

16 years ago

Hi Everyone,

Thank you in advance for answering my question - I am need of a quick answer.

Our subcontractor is starting to install flooring today. It is white oak random width wide board flooring to be installed over radiant floor heating. It has been hand planed and kiln-dried. Some of the flooring arrived in our unheated garage about 2-3 days ago and was stacked on a plank of wood on the garage floor (which has some moisture on it). Some additional flooring arrived yesterday (which was stored at the sub's radiant floor heated home)-this portion of floor will be used to do the first install in the upstairs MBR - starting today.

I have read and heard that the flooring should be acclimated to the house that it will be installed in for 2 weeks prior to installation. I am concerned that this is not the case and that I will then have gaps after it dries further.

My questions-

What is the proper time and guidelines?

What is a reasonable gap between boards after it has been installed? I know that it should be tight when they install it but what about after it dries further in the house?

I have confidence that they will do a good job with install but am concerned that it may not be completely dry.

Again, many thanks for help that you can offer.

Comments (7)

  • 16 years ago

    I think your concerns are Valid. I'm a former Bruce Hardwood distr mgr. Its not as common to install a solid over radiant. I know its done, but goes against most industry advice. The wood needs to be within 4 -5% moisture level of the wood to the subfloor. Its not 'how' many days but what the moisture reading is when installed. At Armstrong we recommended that radiant systems be operated continuously for 7 days prior to installation and turned off 4 hrs before installation. Every radiant system is a little different. NOFMA has info on common shrinkage of wood. It depends on species and which part of the country your in. There is a chart which I no longer have but you should be able to find it online.

  • 16 years ago

    Thank you for your quick reply! I will check out the information and NOFMA.
    I emailed the owner in the interim and have since spoken to him - he was on his way here and has now arrived. He told me that the wood was dried to a moisture content of 6-8%. He said that it has been in a heated building since then (either at the mill or his shop) He tells me the wood was kiln dried then went to the company that milled it then went to his shop (in first post I incorrectly stated that it was at his house) that has radiant heat where it was planed and has been stored. It was delivered on his truck and was not exposed to rain/snow.

    The material that was delivered yesterday will sit over the weekend and will not be installed (until the earliest next Tuesday, so that would be 4 days). The material that was in the garage is what is being installed today.

    I do trust this company and the owner to do a good job. They do very nice work and are respected in the community. He assured me that what was more important than just acclimation is the moisture content of the wood on installation. He noted that letting wood sit for a longer time wouldn't necessarily be the answer. That it depends on the condition it was stored and the moisture content. He said he did not do a moisture test but that the mill or the supplier (I can't remember which one he said) tested the wood for moisture content. How easy or difficult is that to do - and should I really expect him to do a moisture reading now?

    Thank you again.

  • 16 years ago

    Yes, you should really expect him to do a moisture reading now. If I am reading your words correctly, it was dried in one place, the milled in another, then planed at a third place? That seems odd to me, but in any case it could pick up moisture anywhere in that process. My husband dried and manufactured our flooring at his own shop and sent it directly to the heated and climate-controlled job site, but we still "moisture-metered" it before installation.

  • 16 years ago

    what he is not mentioning is checking the moisture content of the subfloor.

  • 16 years ago

    The wood has to be acclimated to the job site , not where it is stored . for 2 1/4" strip the wood has to be within 4% of the sub floor for 3" or wider 2% then you have to take RH and Temperature readings and when they all fall in line then and only then is the wood ready to install . Time has nothing to do with acclimation .
    You don't say how thick the wood is .
    Had a customer wanted me to install 3/4" over radiant . Called Bruce . they said it would void their warranty .
    I hope you have a outside thermostat on the heating system . NWFA Certified Inspector

  • 16 years ago

    PS: start making a paper trail by taking photos where the wood is being stored . dates of delivery and installation .
    and any readings the installers take .
    You will thank me later .

  • 16 years ago

    Solid wide plank is not recommended over radiant heat.