The $12 moisture meter my neighbor swore by saved my drywall job

Old Bob from two streets over told me to grab a cheap pin-style moisture meter before patching a ceiling leak I had last month. I figured he was just being picky, but the meter showed the wood was still at 18% moisture when it felt dry to the touch, so I waited another week and the patch came out perfect. Anyone else had a small tool recommendation from a neighbor that actually worked out?

2 comments

2 Comments

robertb309d ago

Fair point, but I've gotta say those cheap pin meters can be hit or miss. They only measure surface moisture and can give you false confidence if the wood's wet deeper down. Saved you this time, sure, but I'd trust a $30 pinless meter or just waiting a few extra days instead.

the_faith9d ago

Totally agree those cheap pin meters are basically a coin flip. They tell you the top layer is dry but the core can still be soaked, which is exactly how you end up with warped floors a month later. The pinless ones at least give you a better picture because they read deeper without poking holes everywhere. Plus, waiting a few extra days is free, so it's weird when people rush to get wood down just to save a day or two. Patience and a halfway decent tool beat a cheap fix every time.