Hysterical Hysteresis
Report Review
The following is an AI generated wood inspection report.
We found the actual wordage the inspector copied, word for word using the same AI Google search parameters.
The complaint is gaps that appeared shortly after installation.
The installation was done in June 2024 in a remodeled home.
2100 sq. ft.
The wood was stored in an un-condition space, in a Mid-Atlantic state.
The gaps appeared in late Fall.
The homeowner hired an “advanced inspector”, then a lawyer.
The lawyer is an experienced construction litigator, who immediately had questions about the report.
The Guild was asked to review the report.
If you have attended one of our wood science classes, you will know what is wrong with this AI generated report as soon as you read the information below.
Please remember, AI only gives back what is feed to it, and if the information feed is wrong, then depending upon an AI report to search for resolution of a complaint can lead to serious problems for the inadequate “advance inspector”; and sadly for the people depending upon his “supposedly” expertise.
Because of legal confidentiality, we cannot comment further.
Report stated:
“It appears” the 4” wide solid wood planks gained moisture before installation. There were no measurements needed to confirm that evaluation.
The report had four moisture measurements with a capacitance moisture meter for 2000 sq. ft.
A brief and to the point evaluation of the AI report was done by two wood scientists. Both responses were brief, B.S.
This is the doltish AI generated report.
Hysteresis is the phenomenon where wood's moisture content (MC) is higher when it is losing moisture (desorption) than when it is gaining it at the same relative humidity (adsorption).
For wood floors, this means that after a dry season, they will swell less when humidity returns to its previous level than they did when humidity first dropped. This causes seasonal expansion and contraction and affects how much a floor's dimensions change, impacting factors like gaps and potential buckling.
How hysteresis affects wood floors
· Seasonal changes:
Wood floors naturally expand and contract with seasonal humidity changes. Hysteresis means the amount of movement in a full annual cycle is more complex than a simple back-and-forth.
· Moisture history matters:
The amount of moisture a piece of wood holds at a certain relative humidity depends on whether it's getting wetter or drier at that moment, as well as its entire past history.
· More swelling than shrinking:
A floor will require a higher relative humidity to achieve its maximum size than the lowest relative humidity it experienced during a dry period.
· Impact on installation:
This is a crucial factor in designing and installing floors. For example, installers need to account for a floor's total potential movement to prevent gaps from appearing or the floor from buckling.
· Engineered vs. solid wood:
Solid wood floors are more susceptible to movement caused by hysteresis than engineered wood floors, which are designed to be more stable.
What you can do
· Acclimate the flooring:
Ensure the wood is brought to your home and allowed to acclimate for several days to match the average temperature and humidity levels of your home before installation, as recommended by the National Wood Flooring Association.
· Control humidity:
Use humidifiers in the winter and dehumidifiers or air conditioning in the summer to maintain a consistent humidity level, ideally between 35% and 55%.
· Monitor levels:
Use a hygrometer to monitor your home's humidity levels and make adjustments as needed.
· Allow for expansion:
Ensure installers have left the correct expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room to allow the wood to move safely without buckling
The homeowner, thinking this advance inspector knew wood science, forwarded the report to the flooring contractor, and when the contractor rejected the report, hired her lawyer. Unfortunately, the report has been submitted as an expert opinion from an “Advance Expert Wood Flooring Inspector”.
Note: We know of no schools that issues an “Advance Inspector Certification”.
Maybe, it is a marketing ploy?