Moisture Meters for Building Materials

The most reliable moisture meters you'll ever need

What is a moisture meter?

A moisture meter measures moisture content in a material under test. Tramex Moisture Meters are specifically designed for detecting, locating and measuring moisture in building materials such as concrete and wood floors, wall structures and roofing systems, as well as boat materials such as wood and GRP.

A good quality moisture meter provides instant moisture level readings in building materials that allow the user to determine if there are any potential moisture related issues that may lead to rot, mold or any other kind of material degradation within floors, walls, ceilings and roofing structures.

An accurate and reliable moisture meter can be used in the construction and installation and/or coating application stages to help prevent structural and coating failures from occurring, as well as helping to identify the source and extent of floods and moisture ingress during post-installation inspections, maintenance or water damage restoration projects.

Impedance field of the Moisture Encounter 5

How does a pinless moisture meter work?

A pinless moisture meter or moisture detector is an electronic device that measures the moisture content of a material under test by transmitting a low-frequency electronic signal into the material.

The Tramex non-destructive moisture meters send this signal through electrode pads at the base of the instrument when it is placed onto a building material surface.

The strength of this signal varies in proportion to the amount of moisture present. The moisture meter determines the strength of the current and converts it to a moisture content measurement or reference value and displays the reading in either analog or digital format.

The advantage of a non-destructive pinless moisture meter

Non-destructive, or also called pinless moisture meters, detect moisture through the material surface without damaging the material. Readings are instant and leave no holes or marks, essential for preserving the integrity of building materials, floor coverings and wall painted surfaces, for example.

Non-destructive testing, being instant, is also particularly useful when testing a large surface area, such as walls, floors or ceilings that need to be tested in a short amount of time.

A pin meter takes a moisture reading by measuring the current between the pins inserted into the material in a very precise location.

While a pinless meter will give readings for a larger sample of the material under test, corresponding to the footprint of the electrodes and the depth of their signal, the pinless Tramex Moisture Encounter 5, ME5 in shallow depth mode will also give a reading for a very precise location, due to the reduced electrode footprint and signal depth.

Non destructive Moisture Encounter 5 on Drywall

CME5 concrete moisture meter calibrated for concrete Moisture Content

Are moisture meters accurate?

Yes, moisture meters are accurate. As long as they are properly calibrated to provide accurate and reliable readings.

Moisture meters can provide accurate quantitative measurements or accurate comparative readings.

Moisture meters can be calibrated for a specific material to provide quantitative Moisture Content percentage (%MC) measurements. These quantitative measurements are based on the Gravimetric oven test method.

A top quality, quantitative moisture meter is specifically calibrated to measure the actual moisture content percentage in a particular material, for example in wood or concrete.

It is important to use an accurate quantitative moisture meter when following specific industry standards or manufacturer guidelines for these materials.

Pinless moisture meters and detectors can also have comparative or relative scales that allow for accurate comparative readings of composite building materials so as to evaluate the moisture conditions of these materials.

How to read a Comparative or Reference Scale

A comparative or reference moisture reading provides an accurate indication of moisture levels and generally gives a reading result on a scale from 0-100.

When using a reference moisture meter scale, the first moisture reading will be taken on a known dry location, or sample of the material under test. This dry reading is then used as a reference, or dry standard, when evaluating locations with higher readings, which indicates possible higher moisture content levels. Any ‘lower than reference / dry standard’ readings found can replace the original reference point / dry standard reading.

Reference readings are practical if a structure consists of different material densities. The density of a material can affect the signal penetration of a moisture meter.

Tramex has developed a range of reference moisture meter scales calibrated to the various building materials and building structures.