Can anyone tell me the safe moisture meter readings for a habitable dwelling please?

Question

Our living room reading is 28% and we are currently having three walls taken down, a damp proof course put in and the walls replastered. I would like to know if a reading of 28% is exceptionally high or if it's acceptable. That's the moisture content of the plaster as far as I can make out from the diagram left by the builder yesterday.

Answer 1

when we check walls and such for moisture after water damage and repairs.......the perfect reading is 16% or less....anything over that will induce mold.......

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 2

Depends on the area of the country, time of year, etc., but the level you have provided is probably normal to low.

Answer 3

That's a great reading. I just had a condo I'm buying inspected yesterday and the inspector had a moisture meter. He said he was getting readings in the 70s in a wall adjacent to a bathroom, which was borderline too high. He said a good reading is less than 50.

Answer 4

Thirty percent is usually very comfortable, and low enough not to promote mold and mildew. When our house was plastered, we had three dehumidifiers running to off set the high moisture in the house. During the summer months, a reading of 30% is probably very good. The contractor installing the plaster wants it as dry as possible for quick drying. If you have air conditioning, you can run it, and help with the drying process. Hope this helps.