Ed Wagner Tells His Own Cautionary Flooring Tale
Every so often, even the experts are reminded that they’re human. More than two decades ago, Ed Wagner, part of the family behind Wagner Meters and now its Vice President, decided to spruce up the entryway of his home with whitewashed oak hardwood flooring. So begins the cautionary tale of how even the boss has to deal with moisture content (MC). The issues he dealt with at the office every day followed him home.
The Wisdom
First, credit where it’s due: oak was a smart choice. Oregon white oak (also called Garry oak) grows right in Ed’s part of the country.
Oak is tough, too (like Ed). White oak is heavier than red oak, resists decay well, and stands up well to machining, nailing, and screwing. That made white oak an easy choice for a hardwood floor.
(Ed’s wife liked the lighter color. That’s the real reason for the choice.)
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The Error
Why do people skip some of the most important steps in a hardwood flooring installation? “They are probably busy doing so many things that they just don’t take the time,” Ed says candidly. “And they can end up with a real problem.”
The Wagners’ whitewashed oak entryway took a long time to dry. In MC terms, the wood hadn’t reached its equilibrium moisture content (EMC), the point where the wood’s MC is in balance with the relative humidity in the home. Because wood changes dimension as it gains or loses moisture, an imbalance can lead to a variety of flooring problems.
The irony is that Wagner Meters already made wood moisture meters for exactly this situation. Today’s Orion® meters, for example, measure MC as deep as 3/4 inch, without damaging the wood. Wagner was teaching customers how important MC testing is, while Ed’s own flooring project at home turned into a moisture problem.
The Lesson
When installing hardwood flooring, don’t judge the wood’s MC without measuring it with a wood moisture meter. Ed did, and his whitewashed oak entryway developed hairline cracks between the boards.
“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Ed says. “Whether you own thousands of moisture meters or one moisture meter. If you don’t use them, you can still have problems.”
The moral of the story: even Ed Wagner can get burned by wood MC. The flooring wasn’t given enough time to reach the right MC, and the result has stayed with Ed ever since.
Ed’s message is clear: use a wood moisture meter, and your hardwood flooring installation can make for happy memories.
As Sales Manager for Wagner Meters, Ron has more than 35 years of experience with instrumentation and measurement systems in different industries. In previous positions, he has served as Regional Sales Manager, Product and Projects Manager, and Sales Manager for manufacturers involved in measurement instrumentation.
Last updated on October 12th, 2026
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