Why Restoration Professionals Need Quantitative Moisture Measurements
In the restoration industry, clients rely on restoration professionals to remove any and all excess traces of moisture from structures so they can be used again. Whether the property being restored is residential or commercial, lingering traces of moisture can cause the following hazards:
Mold growth. Most people don't think the growth of black mold and other fungi in dark, damp places is dangerous until they start to smell musty, and people with asthma and other respiratory conditions start suffering side effects of mold spore exposure. If too much moisture remains in the building material after drying/tearing off, it may allow mold to grow in the structure, which can be a hazard to respiratory health.
potential structural failure. Excessive moisture in a structure can weaken certain building materials. For example, wooden beams can rotate, making them easily break under heavy loads. Water can corrode iron-rich metals, impairing the performance of wooden pegs and other metal objects used to hold structures together.
Pest infestation. Pockets of water hidden deep within wooden structural beams and other building materials attract pests such as termites, rodents and cockroaches. These pests can spread disease and eat structural materials, causing potential hazards to the structure's occupants.
The worst moisture levels (qualitative moisture readings) can usually be found using a reference hygrometer. But it's hard to call certain materials one way or another when they're just a little wet.
This can lead to disassembly/tearing of the recyclable material, or incomplete tearing due to inability to properly identify wet material.
Another problem in restoration efforts is the need to document dry work. In many cases, a restoration professional's ability to be billed for their services in a timely manner depends on the insurer's willingness to pay property damage claims. However, the insurer will want to verify that restoration work is necessary before any payments are made.
When documented, submitting quantitative moisture measurements to insurance companies can help justify the work. Hopefully this will help smooth out the insurance claim process so the restoration company can collect the money.
Qualitative moisture measurements, while useful, are not as reliable as the more accurate quantitative moisture readings used for this purpose.
