Water in floor boards

[aidan157]

We're in the process of ripping out the carpet in a bedroom as the previous owner's dog used the bed room as a toilet. When I tore the carpet up, I noticed there was staining on the floor boards by the window and some mold. I suspect this is because of the smell in the room, we had left the window open and it was open during some snow and rain.

I sanded the mold off and soaked the floorboard with anti-mold spray.

However, I remain concerned that the window may be leaking. We recently had a rainstorm with the window closed and afterwards the wood had a higher moisture content by the window (9.5%) than the wood elsewhere in the room (5.5%). After a further rainstorm this morning, the moisture contents remained the same. I had measured the moisture content by the window prior to the storm, but was getting a zero reading, so I don't have an accurate baseline measurement.

Our intention is to put laminate flooring down in the room. Any thoughts tips and suggestions on what to do with the higher moisture content? Could this be the result of saturating the wood with the mold spray a week ago? Do I need to put a special underlay down before I lay my laminate?

 

[ree]

Wood moisture percent above say 16% is a concern but below is average. Saturated wood will have a very high %.

Do you have a permanent vent in the room or is it a modern sealed house?

Research the Search facility at the top of the page for masses of past info on laying laminate.

Depending on your sub-floor, use the underlay that the laminate makers recommend.

 

[aidan157]

There is a permanent vent in the room. It was built in 2004.

 

[ree]

Then simply lay the laminate and wait and see. everything should be fine.

Condensation requires a constant flow of heat and ventilation in winter, expensive but you probably get free natural gas in Alberta?

FWIW: dont go giving yourself the horrors by using some kind of moisture meter unless you use a MM for a livng.

 

[tony1851]

+1; moisture meters can give readings which are all over the place and can be very misleading.

So-called damp-proofing surveyors know this and often use it to their advantage to con unsuspecting customers.

 

[AronSearle]

Moisture meters in wood are fairly reliable, its what they work best in.