Hardwood Floors December 2024/January 2025

By Grete Heimerdinger

Depending on the wood species, smaller or larger dimensional changes occur when the moisture content changes. With hundreds of boards laying side by side, the defects become very obvious. In addition, when light shines across a floor, even small deformations are easily visible. Therefore, the first step toward a successful floor installation is to ensure that the wood is at the correct moisture content. The versatility of pin meters makes them a good choice for the flooring professional. Here is how they work: They measure the electrical resistance between two metal pins. Moisture is measured in the small area between the metal pins. Pins can be mounted directly onto the meter or an external slide hammer electrode can be connected to the meter via a cable. The electrode typically comes with longer insulated pins allowing deeper measurements. planks was not right at the time of installation or if conditions changed afterward. High or low moisture in floor planks are major factors that can ruin a wood floor. Even the most beautiful, perfectly installed floor will end up with cupping or bowing if the moisture content of the floor

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIGNOMAT

Pin meter with slide hammer electrode and insulated pins, V2-M.

Pin meters are versatile. They are used to measure the moisture in floor planks, when the floor is sold, delivered, acclimated, installed, and afterward. They can measure moisture in subfloors as well, to make sure the manufacturer’s guidelines for moisture ranges are followed. To investigate floor problems, an inspector can use a meter with a slide hammer. This is one application where no other tool but a slide-hammer electrode with insulated pins can produce relevant information. As the inspector hammers the pins deeper into the floor, he or she will see if the moisture values increase, decrease, or stay the same. They can continue to hammer the pins deeper to also measure the moisture in the subfloor without removing any floor planks, gaining valuable information, which will help in the diagnosis of the moisture problem. The only drawback is that this will leave two pinholes.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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