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Moisture Mapping Determining Acceptable Moisture Levels in Hardwood Floors

Moisture mapping is a crucial step in the installation and maintenance of hardwood floors. It involves measuring the moisture content of the subfloor, floorboards, and surrounding environment to ensure that the floor is installed and maintained under optimal conditions.

Acceptable Moisture Levels

To ensure the longevity and stability of hardwood floors, it is essential to maintain acceptable moisture levels within the following ranges:

  • Subfloor: 4-12% moisture content (MC)
  • Hardwood Floorboards: 6-9% MC
  • Relative Humidity (RH) of the Environment: 30-50%

What is an Acceptable Moisture Reading in a Hardwood Floor?

When moisture mapping hardwood floors, an acceptable moisture reading is considered to be within the specified range for the type of wood and installation method. For most common hardwood species, the following readings are generally acceptable:

Wood Species Acceptable Moisture Range
Oak 6-9%
Maple 6-8%
Cherry 6-8%
Hickory 8-10%