As covered in our previous blog post, experts recommend wood moisture content of no more than 15 percent, not to exceed 19 percent for mold prevention. Higher than that and you're setting the stage for mold development and other moisture-related problems like wood rot. Builders must not only measure and monitor the moisture content of the wood but also take steps to prevent moisture uptake. Since protecting wood framing is critical, Lstiburek recommends that builders dry in the building as soon as possible by installing building papers and glazing as soon as possible. "This will help keep the framing as dry as possible, thereby reducing the chances of exceeding that moisture threshold," he said. "Construction moisture, in general, is a big problem because if you start with a wet building, it's going to take longer to dry out, which can lead to some of the issues you see with nail pops and cracking drywall," Lstiburek added.