What the Bass and Wood Floors Have in Common

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Proper acclimation of wood flooring is something that comes up with every job. The goal is to get wood to the right moisture content for that particular site, so that any size changes due to future changes in moisture content are kept to a minimum. As an inspector, I often check the moisture content of other wood items in the house to help determine what "normal" moisture levels might be. If the trim is at 6% moisture, and the flooring is at 9%, something is amiss.

Yesterday I received a copy of Bass World, the magazine of the International Society of Bassists. (No, not the fish kind. This "bass" sounds like "vase". ) So, you say, what the heck has this got to do with wood flooring? Well, a bass is a wooden musical instrument similar to a violin but around 6 feet tall. They add deep bass notes to an orchestra's music. Basses are made of wood, and as such react to changes in moisture content.

This issue of Bass World contains an article titled "Drying Wood for Bass Lutherie" written by a friend of mine, Robert McIntosh ("lutherie" is a term meaning the construction of a stringed wooden instrument, like a bass or violin). In this article, Robbie talks about the proper acclimation of the wood used in making basses. Robbie repairs basses, and some of the wood pieces he works with are 26 inches wide. We know 5- or 10-inch wide flooring can move a lot when the moisture content changes. Imagine how much a 26-inch wide piece can move. Imagine what happens when that wood is not properly acclimated.

Wood, whether it be for flooring, musical instruments or even trim in a house, needs to be properly acclimated. But please don't stick your moisture meter pins in a bass to see how it compares to the floor. You'll either have one very unhappy owner, or one unhappy fish.

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