Building & Pest Inspection

Moisture meters, thermo-hygrometers and data loggers for building inspectors and timber pest technicians. Pin meters give a defensible moisture content reading in subfloor bearers, joists and framing. Pinless meters scan walls and floors without marking finished surfaces. Combination meters do both, and hygrometers track subfloor humidity between visits. Readings above roughly 20% moisture content in timber are a conducive condition for termites and fungal decay. See our guide to moisture meters in pest control.

The range draws mainly on Tramex, Protimeter and Delmhorst. Typical inspection instruments include the Tramex BSIZK and BSMK5.1 building survey kits, the Protimeter SurveyMaster and MMS3, and the Delmhorst BDX-20 and BDX-30.

Choosing a meter for inspection work

Scan first, then confirm. A pinless meter or the search mode of a combination meter finds the wet area quickly. A pin reading then confirms it at a known depth. A report that rests on a pinless reading alone is easier to challenge.

Understand relative and absolute readings. On plasterboard, masonry and render, most meters read on a relative or wood-equivalent scale. These readings are best used to compare wet areas against dry reference areas, not as a percentage moisture content of that material. See safe moisture levels in walls.

Reach behind the surface. Deep wall probes read through skirtings and into cavities without removing linings. See electrodes and probes.

Keep evidence. Recording meters and loggers give time-stamped readings for reports, re-inspections and disputes.

For wall and ceiling work after a leak, see also water damage restoration.

Practical advice

A high reading on a plaster wall is a reason to investigate, not a ready-made diagnosis. On many meters, pin readings on building materials are shown on a wood-equivalent scale (Protimeter calls it WME); that number is not the plaster's actual water content. Compare similar materials, check for hidden metal or other influences and record where the readings were taken. That detail matters when someone questions an inspection report later.