Using the proper piece of moisture detection equipment at the appropriate time is essential for a professional water damage restorer to accurately collect data in affected and unaffected areas, monitor drying progress throughout the course of the drying effort, and determine when affected materials have reached the drying standard.
In the restoration industry, the level of understanding of moisture in building materials is generally very high. However, there is a tendency to treat concrete with suspicion and it is not uncommon for waivers to be used to reduce liability for the drying contractor.
In mid-December, those of us in the Australian state of Victoria believed it was going to be a dry and hot summer. After a very hot couple of days in a heat wave in Melbourne, we were asking, “where is our summer rain?”
Thermal imaging cameras can be a very helpful tool during water damage remediation work. However, the key is knowing what you’re seeing, and how infrared technology works.
If left unchecked, water intrusion can damage a home or building. It can cause rotted wood, peeling paint, rusted metals, water stains, buckling floors, mold growth, and even pest infestations.
When drying concrete after water intrusions, it is important to monitor and measure the moisture content of the concrete in two phases: First during the drying phase; and again after the drying is complete.
Within this issue of R&R, we’ve talked about drying out spaces, when to demo, when not to demo, where to potentially place drying equipment, and so on.
