Anyone use a Moisture Meter

[worthy]

I have been reading about the use of moisture meters before drywall and flooring installation. I've never measured moisture before either trade and have encountered no problems. Just dumb luck perhaps. How commonly are they used?

[David Meiland]

I have a low end meter, a Mini Ligno, and consider it indispensable. The classic use is to check subfloor vs. flooring, but I have often checked framing lumber, trim, etc. I also buy the $10 thermo/hygro meters from Ace Hardware and hang those around the job. Things like gypcrete, drywall finishing, and painting really throw off a lot of moisture.

[Hausdok]

Hi,

I use one every day. Mine is a medium cost Protimeter Surveymaster that has both scan and pin modes. It'll tell me what the percentage of moisture is in a material and/or it will tell me when there is moisture behind an otherwise dry surface such as floor tile or sheet vinyl around a toilet or tiles of a shower surround. Many times, it's revealed some amazing conditions that nobody was even aware of. In 8 years of using it - it's been wrong only about half a dozen times.

Whatever meter you buy, you need to study how it reacts with different materials and practice, practice, practice until your knowledge of what readings are normal versus what's abnormal is second nature. They aren't a cure all and they aren't miracle tools - it takes a lot of work to learn them and then to use them properly.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[davenorthup]

For wood flooring you should absolutely be checking the moisture content in the wood. You are lucky to not have had any issues thus far that you know of.

I put readings in all my flooring job tracking sheets that goes with my customers receipts. I have often photographed my readings for potential warranty claims.

I use a mid range Wagner scan meter, and remember you need to adjust the meter for specific gravities of different wood species...

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx...fcode=05INFROO

Great advice Mike!

[worthy]

Thanks!

The drywall and flooring contractors--and I've used some major ones--have never measured moisture.

So I guess I can now become the same object of incredulity that I am when I pull out my copy of the Building Code on site!

[David Meiland]

a medium cost Protimeter Surveymaster

Mike, I'm interested in a meter that would function as a "wall scanner" (or whatever the correct term is), for checking thru drywall and tile for wet areas under shower pans, balconies, around windows, door sills, etc. What's the best tool for something like that? I noticed a $1000+ Tramex while doing some casual reading, but I don't want to drop that kind of money unless it's really going to work well.

Coincidentally, I am going to a house later today to pull down a ceiling to check for leakage from a balcony above. Lots of fun.

[Hearthman]

If you want to 'look through walls' to find hidden moisture, your best bet is an infrared camera. You need training to use them but once knowledgeable, you will be amazed at its uses. You can locate hot breakers before they start a fire, cold air infiltration, missing insulation, leaking hydronic floor tubing, locate framing, wiring and pipes sometimes and much more. You need the training to know which camera is best for your needs. They have come down dramatically in price. Get the "fusion' technology, which makes it a digital camera as well as IR in the same image.
HTH,

[David Meiland]

H-man, can you point to some makes/models?

[cblock]

I pull out my copy of the Building Code on site!

I love to hear that!!!!

[Mark Parlee]

David
I have the one Mike mentioned; with some options.
http://www.inspectortools.com/sudumomomede.html
It cost me a little more than this

The cameras were 18k for a good one but you can get the same one now for around 9k You can go down to 4k but you get what you pay for
http://www.tequipment.net/Flir.html?...FRKAxgodVVtwfQ

[mobilecadsurveying]

Mike, I'm interested in a meter that would function as a "wall scanner" (or whatever the correct term is), for checking thru drywall and tile for wet areas under shower pans, balconies, around windows, door sills, etc. What's the best tool for something like that? I noticed a $1000+ Tramex while doing some casual reading, but I don't want to drop that kind of money unless it's really going to work well.

Is this the one you saw Tramex Roof and Wall Moisture Scanner? http://mobilecadsurveying.co.uk/tram...isture_scanner

If you are looking for cheaper alternatives the Moisture Encounter Plus will do the job, much cheaper, http://mobilecadsurveying.co.uk/mep_...encounter_plus

Moisture meters are used in a big way over here in the UK, so there are lots of differing types, the best ones are non destructive meters, like the two above. But the Protimeter Surveymaster http://mobilecadsurveying.co.uk/protimeter_surveymaster is another good one, but relies on the two probes, however, it has a Search and Measure feature that enables the user to distinguish surface moisture from sub-surface moisture, essential information when trying to establish the extent and cause of a dampness problem. I am not sure how well known they are in the States though?


.

[ThingOfBeauty]

My 2 cents: I have an Elecrophysics (electrophysics.on.ca, about $450 these days) moisture meter that does pinless and pin readings. It's been extremely useful for finding wet areas from leaks. This particular unit while inexpensive for its capabilities is poorly suited for survey work because the display is a little hard to see and there's no audible signal. Protimeter and Tramex make models that are easier for scanning around, they have sound and/or bright light-up LED scales that are easy to read no matter the lighting or the angle.
For using a moisture meter, you kind of need to know what areas might be wet, you can't really scan an entire house, it would just take too long. For some kind of inspection where you don't already think there's a leak in a given area, I'd second the recommendation to look at IR cameras. You can look at an entire room in well under a minute so you can cover a lot of ground.
IR cams are still about ten times the cost of a moisture meter and not directly comparable, you can go pretty far with a moisture meter alone when you already know where to look for a problem. I have had great success using them to help figure out the extent of wetness when investigating leaks, in those situations the IR gun is not much better except for the pretty pictures. And you can't use the IR cam for hardwood installation checks.