Measuring Building Materials:
Select the correct material setting. If the material is not listed on the laminated spe-
cies card, use one of the reference scales:
- for laminates and composites made from wood..................................... code #0
- for concrete and building materials with a similar specific gravity.... code #25
- for drywall and building materials with a similar specific gravity....... code #15
- for building materials in between concrete and drywall ...................... code #10
Measuring with a reference scale is best done when a dry sample is available.
Measure the dry sample and use the number as base value for
comparing readings. Even if no dry sample is available, higher
values indicate more moisture.
Note, no % sign. Reference scales do not indicate moisture percentages.
When taking measurements, make sure the surface is clean. If surfaces are uneven,
try different orientations of the meter and use the highest value.
Water damage restoration: Pin and pinless measurements are crucial when tracking
moisture problems. The Ligno-VersaTec, a dual-depth pinless meter, measures up to
3/4” deep. A quick way to find trouble areas. If the problem is buried deeper down, pin
measurements with electrode E14V and long EL pins are the only option to reach the
problem areas. In addition, the electrode E14V can measure areas a pinless meter
cannot reach such as corners, around pipes and window sills, under base boards, etc.
Sheetrock: Setting #15 (Range: 0-2.0%). The indicated moisture percentages are
based on dry weight, same as wood moisture percentages. Meters indicating moisture
values of 8-12% for dry sheetrock, use scales based on WME, wood moisture equiva-
lent (top of page 15).
Moisture percentages for sheetrock based on dry weight
- Dry sheetrock ranges from 0.1% to 0.7%.
- Values for 0.8% and 0.9% are questionable.
- Any value 1% and higher is considered wet.
Sheetrock is often thinner than 3/4”. The Ligno-VersaTec, a dual-depth pinless meter
with 1/4” measuring depth is ideal to measure thinner sheetrock. Even if the sheetrock
is installed, the 1/4” measuring depth gives true moisture percentages, without includ-
ing any material behind the sheetrock.
Since the maximum measuring depth of the Ligno-VersaTec in scan mode is limited to
3/4”, it may be more conclusive to investigate moisture problems with the electrode
E14V in pin mode. Pins 3/4” and 7” long are available for the E14V. Page 9.
16
Pinless Mode
To Next Page
Loading...