Wood Moisture Meter - Why Restoration Professionals Need Quantitative Moisture Measurement
In the restoration industry, clients rely on restoration professionals ± to remove any and all traces of excess moisture from a structure so that it can be used again. Whether the property to be restored is residential or commercial, lingering traces of moisture can cause the following hazards:
Mould growth. Most people think that the growth of black mould and other fungi in dark, damp places isn't a danger until they start to smell mouldy and people with asthma and other respiratory conditions start to suffer the side effects of mould spore exposure. If too much moisture remains in the building materials after drying/tearing off, mould can grow in the structure, which can be hazardous to respiratory health.
Potential Structural Failure. Excess moisture in a structure can weaken certain building materials. For example, wood beams can rot, making them susceptible to breaking under heavy loads. Water can corrode iron-rich metals, which can impair the performance of dowels and other metal objects used to hold the structure together.
Pest Infestation. Water pockets hidden deep within wooden structural beams and other building materials can attract pests such as termites, rodents and cockroaches. These pests can spread disease and eat away at structural materials, thus posing a potential hazard to the structure's occupants.
The worst moisture levels (qualitative moisture readings) can usually be found using a reference hygrometer. However, it can be difficult to refer to certain materials one way or the other when they are just a little damp.
This can lead to dismantling/tearing of recoverable materials, or incomplete tear jobs due to the inability to correctly identify damp materials.
Another issue in restoration is the need to document dry work. In many cases, the ability of the restoration professional ± to collect payment for services in a timely manner depends on the willingness of the insurance company to pay the property damage claim. However, before any payment is made, the insurance company will want to verify that the restoration work is necessary.
Having documented, quantitative moisture measurements to submit to the insurance company can help prove the need for the work. Hopefully, this will help smooth the insurance claim process so the restoration company can collect payment.
Qualitative moisture measurements, while useful, are not as reliable as the more accurate quantitative moisture readings used for this purpose.
