Moisture meter....

[Alphadock]

..... Can anyone recommend one? I sense an argument starting (with a customer) and a quick moisture test will avoid it happening!
Cheers

 

[radim]

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/product_detail.asp?product=Digital Hygrometer&catID=moisture
it isnt quick tho.....

 

[peteablard]

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/product_detail.asp?product=Digital Hygrometer&catID=moisture
it isnt quick tho.....

That's the one I've got

 

[Alphadock]

Was thinking more like this
Broken Link Removed

ie instant answer.

But also unsure as to the difference between that at £100 and one for £30?

I would prefer to spend £100+ on something that works than £30- on something that doesn't!

 

[Ajax123]

You are measuring moisture in what exactly??

 

[Alphadock]

Multi finish plaster, sand/cement screeds, anhydrite screeds to name a few

 

[Ajax123]

Then the meter in the pic is only partially suitable.

 

[Alphadock]

Ok, could you explain why? What is it not suitable for? Or recommend a suitable one?

 

[Dash J]

I have a sovereign damp meter and it is the absolute nuts !

 

[Alphadock]

Thanks for the recommendation dash.
Do you know what the difference between that one at £400 and one at £30-100 would be?
I just need to be able to put it into a screed or plaster and instantly have a reading that shows the moisture content is to high. Doesn't need to be a detailed analysis.

 

[Dash J]

Accuracy and depth of reading would be the benefit of buying a more expensive one
I too was in your shoes a couple of years ago,I went for the soverign one,a bit pricey but well worth the money,it has made it's money back
It is really accurate and the reading is instantaneous
Cheers. Marc

 

[Ajax123]

Electronic meters are not recognised by any british standards for measuring moisture in subfloors. They can give an indication at best and if something were to go wrong and either an adhesive or a screed compNy were to question your moisture test method they would be unable to support your claims that a floor was suitably dried. The correct methods for floors are the carbide bomb, hair hygrometer or oven dried sample tests. Bs8204:1:2003 only recognises the hair hygrometer.

 

[Alphadock]

Thanks Ajax, I have found out from quick research the BS approved method.
An indication would be good enough for me, then more thorough investigation could be undertaken if necessary.
Knowing most of my customers, I think a surface dpm will be incorporated anyway, as time is always critical. I don't think many would even wait 48/72 hours for a proper test.

So , I do a quick test, it says it's dry. Screed has had 4months to dry. All's good.
Or
I do a quick test, it says moisture content is too high/borderline.
Screed has only had 2months to dry.
I can then give the customer the option to:
Wait a few weeks then 're-test
Use ditra mat or similar
Or do a more thorough investigation to give an indication of required time to reach acceptable dryness and/or confirm the need for ditra mat.

 

[Ajax123]

Thanks Ajax, I have found out from quick research the BS approved method.
An indication would be good enough for me, then more thorough investigation could be undertaken if necessary.
Knowing most of my customers, I think a surface dpm will be incorporated anyway, as time is always critical. I don't think many would even wait 48/72 hours for a proper test.

So , I do a quick test, it says it's dry. Screed has had 4months to dry. All's good.
Or
I do a quick test, it says moisture content is too high/borderline.
Screed has only had 2months to dry.
I can then give the customer the option to:
Wait a few weeks then 're-test
Use ditra mat or similar
Or do a more thorough investigation to give an indicatmion of required time to reach acceptable dryness and/or confirm the need for ditra mat.

fair enough. If it works for you thats good enough. As a backstop particularly if tiling to anhydrite you should consider going with gypsum adhesive.

 

[Alphadock]

I've emailed a couple of meter supply companies to see what they recommend.

I've only come across a few anhydrite screeds over the years, they don't seem to be very popular for some reason.
The 2 I have tiled I used ditra mat as timescales were critical, still work for the people involved with those so would know of any problems.
And 1 I quoted for and supplied a lot of specifications for, I didn't get the job. The customer went with another tiler that said all this prep is unnecessary and no need for the matting. I pleaded with the customer to do his own research and ensure the other tiler did the proper prep, and told him I wasn't bothered about not getting the job.
Don't know how it all turned out, but I definitely know it wasn't dry enough To tile directly onto

 

[Ajax123]

I've emailed a couple of meter supply companies to see what they recommend.

I've only come across a few anhydrite screeds over the years, they don't seem to be very popular for some reason.
The 2 I have tiled I used ditra mat as timescales were critical, still work for the people involved with those so would know of any problems.
And 1 I quoted for and supplied a lot of specifications for, I didn't get the job. The customer went with another tiler that said all this prep is unnecessary and no need for the matting. I pleaded with the customer to do his own research and ensure the other tiler did the proper prep, and told him I wasn't bothered about not getting the job.
Don't know how it all turned out, but I definitely know it wasn't dry enough To tile directly onto

Not Popular?? about 25% of the overall UK screed market is anhydrite. Last year something like 2.5 million square meters was laid. Much of this was in single houses so lots and lots will have been tiled. As you say though if the customer has rushed it and the floor has not been prepped then it will fail. You are best off out of that particular scenario. Where in the country are you. Something like 50% of the anhydrite laid last year was in London and the South east..

 

[Alphadock]

I'm south. Just my experience, I've only tiled around 200sq/m of anhydrite over the years, and 10's of thousands sq/m on sand/cement.
I mostly work on refurbs, extensions and one off new builds, not the big developers. So it could be because the builders are stuck in their old ways