Wood Moisture Meter | Tramex Meters

Choosing the right moisture meter for wood

Understanding how moisture affects wood

When using wood or wood by-products you need to be certain that the wood moisture content will not have any adverse effects on your job or project. As wood is a porous and hygroscopic material, it is affected by moisture.

When wood is exposed to too much water, high humidity, condensation or any other form of moisture, it can expand, warp, buckle and in worst case scenarios, rot. When wood dries out it can shrink and can cause issues such as gaps in floorboards as well as cause structural defects in buildings.

Wood and wood by-products are used frequently in buildings, not just in the main structural parts but also in the interior decoration, such as flooring or paneling, so it is vitally important to test wood for moisture so that any moisture related issues are discovered as soon as possible and ideally before structural damage occurs.

Tramex Moisture Encounter MEX5 with pin probe in wooden floorboard

When to use wood moisture meters

Moisture meters for wood are essential tools:

at the start of a flooring or building project to ensure that the wood has acclimated to its surroundings and avoid any unnecessary moisture related problems. It is important to note that acceptably dry floorboards can be affected by hidden or trapped moisture in the subfloor. Testing the subfloor for moisture is a crucial first step in a floor installation procedure. It is advised to only proceed with a floor installation if the subfloor moisture level is within the flooring manufacturers guidelines.
to detect elevated moisture levels in wooden floors or wall structures in the case of flood or water damage.
to check for elevated moisture levels in a home or building survey.

A good quality, reliable and accurate wood moisture detector is a vital instrument for anyone working in the construction, flooring, home inspection, roofing surveying and water damage restoration industries.

Choosing a wood moisture meter

There are many wood moisture readers available and it can be difficult to pick the correct one that best suits your application. Here are some points to consider.

Accuracy: A good quality and specifically calibrated moisture reader for wood measures actual moisture content percentages in the material. Most calibrated meters read the wood moisture content between 5 - 30%. Generally, wood species are considered to be saturated around 25% and higher.
Pre-programmed wood species: Wood species have different densities which can affect the moisture content of wood. Choosing the correct wood species ensures accurate wood moisture content percentage (%MC) reading results. A list of pre-programmed wood species also eliminates the need to adjust readings with wood adjustment charts. This is a useful asset when taking both pinless or pin readings.
Versatility: Dual-depth reading capability allows you to measure wood moisture content at two different depths, giving you a comprehensive understanding of the moisture distribution within your materials. It also allows for shallow readings without interference of a substrate, for example measuring the moisture in floorboards without reading into the concrete slab below.
Adaptability: Attachable pin probes for your wood moisture meter can extend the reach and flexibility of your measuring reach. Insulated pin probes read the moisture content deeper within the wood without interference of surface moisture.
Efficiency: Taking wood moisture readings as part of a moisture survey can be a lengthy process. However with a pinless wood moisture meter a large surface area can be scanned without damaging the surface. Thus saving the inspector, flooring professional or water damage restoration expert time and money.
Reliability: Accurate results are essential for a successful job completion. Built-in calibration checks can be used to ensure reliable reading results before starting a survey as can external calibration check boxes.
Integration: Using a moisture meter which has capability to save readings on the go, create moisture maps and reports with the use of an App creates a smarter, more efficient workflow. Reporting is an essential tool when conducting surveys or inspections.

Tramex Moisture Meters for Wood

The Tramex wood moisture meters offer all the above benefits.

Tramex Moisture Encounters MEX5 and ME5

The Moisture Encounters MEX5 and ME5 are calibrated to read moisture content percentage (%MC) in wood and comparative readings of wood by products and are perfect instruments for the flooring, building inspection, and water damage restoration professionals.

Both Moisture Encounters feature:

Non-destructive wood moisture testing (NDT)

Preserves Material Integrity: NDT allows you to measure moisture without damaging the wood, which is especially important for finished products or valuable materials.
Quick and Convenient: NDT methods, such as using a pinless moisture meter for wood, enable fast and easy testing of large areas.

Dual Depth Reading Capability

Surface and Subsurface Readings: Dual depth measurement allows you to assess moisture content at both the surface and deeper layers, providing a comprehensive understanding of the wood’s condition.
Versatility: This feature is particularly useful for thick materials or layered wood products.

High moisture readings warnings

The user is alerted to high moisture content readings with a warning sound signal, the reading showing in the red scale on the dial or a red warning LED.

Tramex Meters App Integration

Log readings: Keep track of your measurements with ease using the Tramex Meters App.
Moisture map: Visualize readings into maps.
Generate reports: Create comprehensive reports for professional documentation.
Visualize data: Use graphs and charts to understand moisture trends over time.
Share results: Quickly send your findings to colleagues or clients.

moisture mapping with Moisture Encounter MEX5

The Moisture Encounter MEX5 features:

Specific Gravity Adjustment

Enhances NDT accuracy: adjustment of the sensitivity of the meter readings to correlate to the specific densities of the wood under test according to that wood’s SG value.

Tramex Moisture Encounter MEX5 with pin probe

Extendable Pin Probes

Deeper Penetration: A moisture probe for wood can measure moisture deeper within the wood, which is useful for thick or dense materials.
Versatility: Extending your meter with pin probes increases its flexibility and utility across different types of wood and applications.

Preprogrammed wood species for the pin probe

Enhances Pin accuracy: Readings are pre-calibrated to the densities of various wood species and international wood standards.
Simplifies Use: Makes it easier to get precise measurements without manual adjustments or charts.

Built-in Surface Thermometer

Surface temperatures can be taken easily to help identify possible dew point issues.
Pin Temperature Correction option: allows for the meter to make the corrections to the %MC readings depending on the temperature of the wood using the built-in surface thermometer on the base of the meter.

Moisture Encounter Calibration checks

To ensure reliable reading results and reporting, the MEX5 moisture meter features a built-in pin calibration check. The Moisture Encounters ME5 and MEX5 can be checked with a calibration check box. Before starting a survey, calibration check results can be geo-tagged with the Tramex Meters App and can be added to reports.

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Wood Moisture Meters