When a house is being built, it is exposed to the weather. Some houses are exposed longer than others. At Habitat for Humanity, house go up slowly so the frameing can get pretty wet.
When the house is almost wx tight yet still wet inside, how long should the builder wait before the insulation to go in? Is there a moisture measurement a house’s interior should meet before interior work begins?
Thank you
Replies
I doubt that it matters much for typical fiberglass insulation. Matters a bit more for drywall, and quite a bit more for any "fine" wood finishes (real wood flooring, etc).
Lumber is usually delivered to the site with 19% moisture. Lumber should be about 10% moisture content before you drywall or install celluose insulation. If you are using wood floor, the flooring should acclimate until the moisture in the product is the same as the subfloor, usually 6-8%. This moisture is different than the house's relative humidity. It should stay from 30% to 50% to avoid cracks in woodwork and doors.
Moisture always swings on way or another during construction. Kilns, rain, wind, humidity, fans, drywall mud, paint, air-conditioning all throw it back and forth. As simple pin type moisture meter helps me keep track.