Wood Moisture Content in Homes–Seasonal Variation in the Southwest

Moisture content variation in Piedmont and mountain homes from Virginia to Georgia was determined by the use of unfinished basswood specimens located in attics, living areas, and crawl spaces or basements. Greatest annual variation occurred in basements in the Piedmont with as much as 12 percent compared to 9.75 percent in the mountains. Living areas showed less yearly moisture content variation and attics the least. Fall is the season of largest and most rapid variation followed by spring. These are the seasons when heating systems are turned on and off. Least variation occurs during the winter and summer seasons. While house construction, insulation, and the heating system control moisture content variation to some extent, even in the best of houses unfinished wood can change in moisture content enough to cause serious damage to wood products. The next step is to determine the effect of finishes in retarding these changes.

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