Flooring contractors need to constantly deal with moisture in order to maximize the quality of floor installations. Problems can arise if there is too much or too little moisture in the wood compared to where it is installed. Problems can arise if there is an active leak in a building's pipes (or walls or ceilings).
So, to prevent callbacks and ensure the longevity of the hardwood floors they install, flooring contractors need a high-quality wood Moisture Meter on the job. But which wood Moisture Meter is better to use? How do we define "a good wood Moisture Meter"?
How do we define what a good wood Moisture Meter is?
The best wood Moisture Meter is wood with all the bells and whistles, combining multiple functions into one tool? Is it a simple hygrometer? Or, does it allow you to complete the moisture test in the shortest possible time?
Well, the thing is that all of these can define a good wood Moisture Meter - based on your specific needs as a flooring contractor. No single tool is perfect for everyone.
For example, some contractors need a simpler tool that everyone they hire can use, regardless of skill or experience level. Others may want an "all-in-one" wood Moisture Meter that combines every possible function they may need. Some professionals may require specific features, such as the ability to log and export moisture measurements.
With that in mind, here is a list of five of the best wood Moisture Meters from Delmhorst for different needs:
1: RDM-3 Needle Moisture Meter
The RDM-3 is a wood Moisture Meter with a bunch of built-in special features for professional floor installations. First, the meter has a wide wood moisture detection range (from 5% to 60%). This can help you know if the wood is too wet or dry - and by how much.
Second, this pin Moisture Meter has built-in species correction for 69 different types of wood. It also corrects the readings for temperature - just in case you're working in an especially hot or cold structure.
However, one feature that makes it a great Moisture Meter for wood floor professionals is the read memory feature. The RDM-3 can store up to 1,400 moisture content measurements in its internal memory, date and time stamped. Optional software allows users to download these readings to their computer for Excel reports.
This helps flooring contractors document their process so they can better demonstrate to clients the cause of moisture-related delays in their floor installations – such as a floor that is too wet to install.
2: TotalCheck Integrated Wood Moisture Meter
The TotalCheck is a 3-in-1 moisture testing device that combines the functions of both a pin and a pinless hygrometer with a thermo-hygrometer in a single unit. The reference scale mode of the pinless Moisture Meter can be used to quickly scan large quantities of hardwood floors for abnormal moisture levels, while the pin gauge mode can obtain more accurate and detailed information. The pin Moisture Meter has built-in wood correction for 69 species of wood to help ensure accurate readings.
In fact, TotalCheck's Pin Meter has all the same features and benefits of the RDM-3 Wood Moisture Meter, but with the addition of a Pinless Meter and a Thermo-Hygrometer.
The Thermo-Hygrometer helps turn this hygrometer into a true all-in-one solution for flooring contractors. It helps measure relative humidity (RH) and temperature conditions at the installation site, so flooring contractors can accurately determine the equilibrium moisture content of flooring wood prior to installation.
It can also be used with in-situ probes to test concrete subfloors for excess moisture per ASTM F-2170 - the most reliable way to see the moisture content in concrete. This is required for flooring contractors, especially on new construction sites where they have fresh concrete.
3: Proscan Pinless Moisture Meter
The Proscan pinless Moisture Meter from Delmhorst is a good tool for checking most wood floors as quickly as possible. The back of the meter uses a large scanning pad that, when laid flat on the wood, emits a radio frequency signal that scans the wood for traces of moisture.
This non-invasive testing method is ideal for floor installers who want to closely inspect wood floors because it does not leave any pinholes in the wood being tested. Many flooring contractors prefer to use it as a secondary wood Moisture Meter because it is fast, easy to use, and non-destructive to wood floors.
Also, as long as you know the specific gravity of the wood being measured, you can adjust the meter to automatically correct for the desired reading to ensure good accuracy.
4: BD-2100 Needle Moisture Analyzer
The BD-2100 is an easy-to-use needle Moisture Meter that can be used on a variety of materials other than wooden floors. While overall simpler than the RDM-3 and TotalCheck, the BD-2100 offers some additional flexibility over other wood Moisture Meters in that it doesn't just have a wood moisture scale - it also has a built-in reference scale mode and a plaster scale mode .
The reference scale mode of this needle Moisture Meter allows it to be used on a variety of other materials in the structure - this is great for flooring contractors who are involved with non-standard floor materials or need to check the moisture of materials around the construction site.
The Gypsum Scale Mode is a must for any flooring contractor who regularly uses Gyp-Crete floors, as it accurately tests the moisture content of that material.
5: J-Lite LED display meter
Whether you regularly deal with poorly lit construction sites, or need a "foolproof" Moisture Meter that anyone can use, the J-Lite Pin Wood Moisture Meter is high-quality moisture testing equipment at an affordable price.
While it doesn't have the bells and whistles of most of the other wood Moisture Meters on this list, it does accurately detect moisture levels in wood in the 6% to 30% range. This allows users to easily know if their wood is too wet or too dry. Also, thanks to the light-up LED, the indicated humidity reading is easy to see even in the dark.
Many contractors like to give their least experienced workers the J-Lite Needle Moisture Meter so they can get used to using a Moisture Meter and a rugged, reliable tool.
