Readings above 21% will identify areas possibly needing remedial work. What Do Moisture Meter Readings Mean. Life without moisture is scarcely imaginable. Zero or very low readings the lower part of a wall, then a band of very high surface readings — usually occurs following damp-proofing and replastering works. For example, in concrete, tiles, wood, restoration, etc. The team here at South East Timber and Damp use damp meter readings religiously as it gives us the insight we need to provide the very best service. A full profile of the readings was undertaken from the surface plaster at 100mm increments from floor level up to 1m high. The moisture meter indicated elevated readings ranging from 70 - 90% in the plaster of the chimney breast and 40 - 60% in the plast of the adjacent wall. However for the proffesional user it is extremely versatile. Consider asking to recheck the area in 3 months. Only a fool quotes percentage readings obtained from plaster or masonry. Moisture Meter 43618 MM100 | Draper Tools - Perfect for measuring water content in wood, plaster and concrete The LCD display shows moisture content as a percentage Also able to measure ambient room temperature Battery included Display packed The graph below shows the results of the readings … For this purpose, you must have […] THIS is the culprit - a piece of electronic gadgetry that does NOT measure water content - it measures conductivity. Our living room reading is 28% and we are currently having three walls taken down, a damp proof course put in and the walls replastered. To learn more about moisture meters or for advice selecting the best type for your … Damp meter readings Damp meter readings huskydog replied on 15/03/2019 10:11. I usually quote ‘low’, ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ readings, when referring to data from plaster or any other masonry. This can allow you to figure out what the moisture meter acceptable levels are. Conductivity meter readings taken from plaster and masonry of up to around 18% would generally be considered as dry and within acceptable levels in a property of this type provided there is no impact or consequence as a result of the presence of moisture. Secondly, what is a normal damp reading for plaster? It is also crucial to understand the main factors that can affect an electrical moisture meter and give false high readings. If you arent a proffessional, then this may be slightly excessive. A moisture meter reading chart is designed to explain the meaning of the readings your device has picked up. Motorhomer from Kent. Wood moisture scale (wood moisture equivalent 'WME') is the most common and is recognised by professional bodies. Check for efflorescence beneath wallpaper finishes. Up to 1m the readings are fairly consistent and at approx 1m the damp readings stop entirely. That's the moisture content of the plaster as far as I can make out from the diagram left by the builder yesterday. Readings between 16-20% require further investigation. According to the "AWS Tourer Damp Report" from my 'van service last Friday: 'Readings between0-15% not recorded because no cause for concern. Readings are non-destructive (no samples of plaster need to be taken away) and readings can be taken quickly and easily on the spot. The STANLEY Moisture Meter has been designed to take readings of various types of material. For many industries, it is very necessary to determine moisture content. Remember; all of your conductivity readings are merely a relative guide – they are not a measure of actual moisture content. Acceptable wood moisture readings on a meter normally range from 6% to 8% for woodworking. Moisture meters are used to measure the percentage of water in a given piece of wood and are most useful when the percentage of moisture ranges from 5% to no more than 30%. Not only can this meter can give accurate moisture measurements in hard wood and soft wood, plaster, cement and brick. Note any use of polystyrene sheet / foil backing beneath wallpaper. Readings are taken on a reference scale as it is only a relative degree of dampness. There are different methods for determining moisture content and among them determining moisture content using moisture meter is the most popular way. The meter readings measure the fringe capacitance in the sensor, which is influenced by the level of moisture in the wall. Normal moisture content of wood ranges from 7% to 19%. The relative humidity of the concrete is then tested over the course of 72 hours. He found that the front reception room at the bay window showed ‘high’ meter readings as did the party wall abutting the bay window wall. Readings are taken on a reference scale as it is only a relative degree of dampness. Damp testing meters for caravans use a smooth contact head to measure electrical capacitance. Free Water in Materials – water ingress from penetrating damp… Moisture Content of Wood from a Flooring Installer’s Perspective We use the most advanced equipment for recording our damp testing readings in order to provide the most accurate survey reports. TL;DR A normal moisture meter reading on wood ranges between 6 and 10%. Any reading which displays an LED in the red zone, is too damp. Since reading this report I have now become an armchair expert on damp although the Internet is a minefield of misinformation. Quote; Report; Like; what is an acceptable damp reading ? When I took a sample from one on the ‘damp’ walls it was dry. huskydog. 6% is extremely low, and is the kind of reading you would get from kiln dried compressed blocks for burning in a wood stove and stored in poly wrap. I have lived in this property for 20 years and have never seen any evidence of the above. Dampness readings in wood usually covers a scale from 0 - 40% maximum (average softwoods are saturated at 28% - 32%) and damp readings in masonry (brick, stone, plaster, concrete) usually range from 0 - 5% maximum. The higher the moisture content, the higher the reading. Protimeter Aquant Moisture Meter - New Model The Protimeter Aquant is a non-invasive moisture meter used to assess and monitor the relative moisture level of materials including plaster, masonry, concrete and checking fibreglass (GRP) on boats for osmosis. When the moisture content is around 30%, wood reaches its fiber saturation point, or FSP. Wood moisture scale (wood moisture equivalent 'WME') is the most common and is recognised by professional bodies. The two detection pins can detect up to 0.2% to 2% moisture within masonry, concrete and plaster. The skirting boards were 20%. The entire damp industry relies on what I call the Ping Prong meter - or in the industry, its known as a damp meter, moisture meter or protimeter. Listed below are some of the key things that can cause an electrical moisture meter to produce high readings: 1. Moisture within wood can be detected up to 6 - 40%. The results are displayed on an easy to read LCD display within a bar graph scale. Dampness readings in wood usually covers a scale from 0 - 40% maximum (average softwoods are saturated at 28% - 32%) and damp readings in masonry (brick, stone, plaster, concrete) usually range from 0 - 5% maximum. Note distribution of moisture meter readings both vertically and horizontally on the surface of walls. I would like to know if a reading of 28% is exceptionally high or if it's acceptable. Member. In this article, I want to share with you what I have found on the web and other reliable sources about normal moisture meter readings and what values require intervention in order to stop dampness from spreading before it becomes challenging and incurable. Kiln dried timber for furniture would be around 8 -12% and furniture in a … The equipment we use when damp testing can gather readings in order to test for the presence of rising damp, penetrating damp and condensation. The Surveyor could have taken plaster / wall samples where the skirting board was missing and carried out a Carbide Meter moisture test. How reliable is your damp meter? A moisture meter or a damp meter is a portable instrument designed for measuring the moisture levels in a range of building materials including wood, concrete, brick, and plasterboard. The Survey Master is a proffesional grade damp proof meter. Less than 5% total moisture content at the base of a wall is unlikely to represent severe rising dampness, and around 5% at the base of a wall (the base of a wall means the base, i.e., at the floor/wall junction - not 100mm, 250 mm, etc, above!) The surveyor has returned a scathing report listing 3 serious issues, excessive damp readings, dry rot/ wet rot and electrics. Your meter may provide you with precise, quantitative results but without a chart to reference, you may not know what the numbers it's showing actually means. In severe conditions you may see higher readings of skirting 22%, plaster 1% - 3% and brick around 2% - 5%. Posted on 15/03/2019 10:11. This is reflected in the price. Search Mode Readings When reading the damp measurement using the search mode, the scale runs from 0 to 999 WME. Conductivity meters are a useful tool helpful in producing potential moisture profiles in order to measure possible underlying damp when used correctly. Even inside your home, it's inevitable. However, a low-end moisture meter can be wildly inaccurate. Interpretation of '5%' There is nothing wrong with the contents of the Digest as it is actually written. In severe conditions you may see higher readings of skirting 22%, plaster 1% - 3% and brick around 2% - 5%. How to Check for Moisture Inside Walls. Check any remedial damp‐proof course installation including position and depth of holes (if inserted from inside). This method involves drilling a hole into a concrete floor and inserting an electronic meter into it, or embedding the meter in the concrete before it has cured. Measures masonry (mortar, concrete, plaster) moisture from 0.2% to 2.0% and wood moisture from 6% to 44% Measuring environment temperature Operating temperature 0 - 40° C Be sure to acclimate the wood to desired EMC of the interior environment before you use it. More information RRP: … you must have to determine the moisture content. The meter works as follows: All wording as per protimeter (manufacturers):