### Wood Moisture Content: An Overview Wood moisture content (MC) refers to the amount of water contained within a piece of wood, expressed as a percentage of its oven-dry weight. Moisture mapping, a specialized technique, allows professionals to measure and visualize MC distributions within wooden structures, providing valuable insights for various applications. ### Why is Moisture in Wood Bad? Elevated MC in wood can have detrimental effects on its properties and performance: * **Structural Integrity:** Excessive moisture weakens wood fibers, reducing its strength and stiffness, making it more susceptible to damage. * **Dimensional Stability:** As MC changes, wood expands or contracts, causing doors and windows to stick, floors to buckle, and joints to fail. * **Durability:** Moisture provides a favorable environment for mold, mildew, and rot, compromising wood's longevity. * **Thermal Performance:** Wet wood exhibits lower insulating properties, increasing energy consumption for heating and cooling. * **Fire Resistance:** Dry wood burns more slowly and less intensely, providing better fire resistance. Moisture in wood can accelerate the spread of flames.