Flooded floor Moisture test?
 

I'm finishing an apt above the garage and had the 3/8 solid oak
flooring all done when a plumbing fitting broke and flooded the whole
place. Now the floor is ripped out, plywood exposed with a
dehumidifier running 24/7. There was a 1hr firewall sheetrock
ceiling below but it seemed to take very little water so I only
stripped some of it out and pulled out any insulation that seemed damp
and I set up fans to try to dry things out.

At some point I'll want to put it all back together but not before
it's dry enough. Can anyone tell me how I'd measure that? I'm in
Charleston SC (humidity central) and I'm not sure how much the
un-dehumidified garage will ever dry out with just fans. I don't
want to put the new flooring down over damp ply and also I'm thinking
of selling the property when it's all done and I dont' want to pass on
any hidden problems to the next guy. Can I just get a moisture meter
and check it myself or should I hire a home inspector, water damage
specialist, etc to do it and provide me a letter.
Also, insurance is covering the damages, should they be paying for
someone to assure me I won't have mold or other problems in the
future?

Thanks for all help,
John

Wood moisture meter will cost $200 to $600 depending on capabilities
and range. Any home inspector or termite tech should have one.
Probably cheaper to hire someone unless you are making lots of tests.
Insurance may to have it tested but probably not to buy you a tester.
Mine cost $550.00.
Go to www.rlcengineering.com and look up their MAD WOOD chart. It
relates relative humidity to wood moisture.

Stretch

check out Davis Instruments, you might be able to get a moisture meter
for less (but that's about what the good ones cost)

Alternatively you could do a "tape down" moisture test.

Tape down a 1 foot square of clear plastic & see if you get liquid
water trapped under it after a day or so.

BTW how long did the leak run & how much water got dumped into the
floor?

If you're in SC at some point the dehumidifier is no longer drying the
structure but drying the ambient air.

The MM is the best tool, you can compare the "wet" wood to wood
elsewhere in the structure when they're close your done.

cheers
Bob

On 23 Sep 2005 08:53:52 -0700, "BobK207" wrote:


BTW how long did the leak run & how much water got dumped into the
floor?

I left the apt around 6pm on Sat and came back about 10AM on Sun. I
dont get the impression that the pipe had been spewing water all night
long but for a few hrs at least.

If you're in SC at some point the dehumidifier is no longer drying the
structure but drying the ambient air.

Well yeah, Charleston is getting drier by the minute! I do have the
room (it's a studio apt) all closed up with the dehumidifier running.


Stretch,
Thanks for the link to the MAD Wood chart!

John