Concrete Moisture Monitoring: Why It Matters + The Best Moisture Meters
In terms of moisture, concrete is counterintuitive. When we think about concrete, many of us picture it as a dry, hard material; something that’s resilient to rain, snow and moisture. Unfortunately that’s not the case. Concrete is wet when it’s mixed, and is a porous material once it’s cured. Unless it’s been coated or protected, concrete will absorb moisture – even humidity from the air – and holds some level moisture in it at all times. That said, only so much moisture is allowed. Many finishes installed on top of concrete, such as flooring and coatings, require that moisture content in the concrete stay below specific moisture levels while work is in progress. The moisture content in concrete can’t be too high either; if concrete is too moist, it can crack, spall and fail in a number of ways. In turn, concrete moisture monitoring is important for a variety of reasons! Let’s get into the details of why concrete moisture monitoring is so critical during construction and building inspections, along with our top picks for the best concrete moisture meters on the market.