An experimental programme was carried out to determine whether high moisture contents in wall framing timber affected the performance of adhesives used to fix wall linings.
A range of construction adhesives (three water-based and two solvent-based) were used to prepare shear test specimens using timber at moisture contents of either 15% or 25% by weight. After curing for 4 weeks at either 65% RH or 95% RH, the specimens were tested in shear.
To simulate drying of the timber after lining out, one set of specimens was prepared using timber at a moisture content of 25%, cured, then conditioned back to a moisture content approaching 15% by weight.
The differences in behaviour of the adhesives and the likely effect on performance of high moisture content timber are discussed.