Houses generally need a lot of work if damp and moisture levels get within the structure of the building. This can be both structural and lifestyle elements.
The structural aspects can be from rainwater, to loose roof tiles and incorrect damp course to the property. Lifestyle activities such as taking showers, boiling water or drying clothes can all create condensation and build up excess water vapor, without adequate ventilation this creates increased damp levels within your potential new home. Damp can cause problems with multiple types of materials, such as wood, brick and plaster. Wood is obviously very absorbent compared to brick, however this damage can be avoided.
Using a moisture meter can help identify if your potential new home is structurally sound. This type of meter is able to identify the surface moisture and subsurface moisture on multiple types of material. The moisture meter is very simple to use as you can select the material you want to measure and simply hold the device with its two pins against the surface and the screen will promptly display your results. It really is that easy.
The results are indicated with a colour coded traffic light system. Green indicates dry moisture content, amber indicates excess moisture is present and action should be taken immediately (as decay of the material structure is likely), and red indicates damp is detected and structural damage is inevitable, so immediate action must be taken.
If you are thinking about moving into a new home, this is a great tool to use to personally assess what is not visible to the eye, finding those hidden issues that would be detrimental to your property in the future. This is the type of tool that really can save you thousands of pounds, so be sure to get your potential new property checked out before you place an offer.