TIL that a $30 moisture meter works better than the fancy $150 one for subfloor checks

I used to grab the expensive Wagner meter every time I walked into a job, but last week on a basement install in Cleveland I ran out of battery and had to use my buddy's cheap pin-type. Thing found moisture in three spots the Wagner missed completely because the concrete had a sealer on top that threw off the pinless reading. Now I carry both and use the cheap one for the baseline sweep before I break out the expensive one. Any other installers had issues with pinless meters on sealed floors?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_mason5518d ago

Wait, you stabbed a sealed floor with a pin meter on purpose? Hold up, @coleman.hannah.

cora81317d ago

Pinless meters definitely struggle with surface sealers" is the understatement of the year for me, I've had one give me a reading of "bone dry" on a floor that was basically a sponge under the coating. @kim_mason55, I've stabbed a sealed floor with a pin meter so many times I should probably buy stock in the company that makes replacement pins. At least I know my cheapo meter won't lie to me, even if it does leave a few tiny holes.

coleman.hannah18d ago

Pinless meters definitely struggle with surface sealers. That's why they call it "pinless" right? They read the top inch but sealers mess with the capacitance. Good thinking on using the cheap pin type for the first pass though. I always stab a few spots with a pin meter if I'm getting weird readings from my Tramex.