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Those in the concrete or construction industries know that if you start to research which tools and instruments might be needed on a build site, the list of what to bring grows seemingly longer and longer every year.
Moisture can do a number on concrete and any protective coatings it may have. Since the material is so porous, there can be issues when water gets trapped within the concrete. Moisture levels can have a big impact on concrete as it dries and hardens.
One essential instrument for every concrete project? A portable, reliable moisture meter that delivers quick, exact readings to track moisture throughout this process.
Tools & Instruments Every Concrete Contractor Needs
It’s been said that “concrete waits for no one,” which means that when handling concrete, professionals must have the proper tools and instruments on hand at all times—or they run the risk of a failed pour, wasted hours, used materials, and a damaged reputation. The list of tools and instruments runs quite long and includes items like:
- Rubber boots and gloves
- Eye and ear protection
- Masks and respiratory protection
- Portable mixer
- Shovels
- Wheelbarrow
- Screed
- Floats
- Groove cutters
- Concrete vibrator
- Polishers and grinders
- Power hammers and drills
Some construction must-have lists include 60+ items, and the more complex a job is, the more instruments and tools are likely needed to do the job properly and safely. While there’s a whole host of tools simply needed to pour, level, and set concrete, it’s important to remember that pouring and curing concrete is akin to a precise science.
Especially when it comes to pouring concrete for a slab, pavement, roadway, or tunnel, curing is an essential part of the process that calls for meticulous attention to detail and regular monitoring. Without careful adherence to the process, easily preventable mistakes can cost contractors money, time, and effort.
The concrete curing process is long and detailed and is designed to keep water and heat from escaping a newly-poured slab too early in the drying and strengthening period. It’s this process that makes concrete durable, strong, and resistant to freezing, shrinking, thermal cracking, and abrasion. After all, the wrong humidity and moisture levels can impact compressive strength, foster microbial growth, and jeopardize the structural integrity of the concrete as a whole.
Often, concrete curing starts with 7 days of wetting the concrete 5 to 7 times per day to let the moisture evaporate slowly to strengthen the concrete, prevent cracks, and limit shrinking. During this time and in the following weeks and months, moisture levels must be checked to ensure that the surface moisture content does not dry too quickly. This is critical to the process, and professionals need the right instruments on-site to track and monitor concrete as it cures.
The Next Steps: One Important Instrument to Have On-Hand
In many instances, pouring and curing concrete is the first in a long line of steps in the construction process. Once the concrete has been set and cured, professionals often have to consider the next steps, including the actual building of a structure, plus essential steps like waterproofing, interior finishing, and painting. These steps require exact precision and detailed accuracy just like during the concrete pouring and curing processes.
At Kett, we’ve interacted with industry professionals for decades and know just how critical it can be to ensure the proper moisture levels at each juncture. Additionally, bringing instrument after instrument to the worksite is a frustrating challenge. That’s why our HI520-02 Concrete and Mortar Moisture Meter comes with both factory and personalized calibrations to allow users to test a wide range of products at each stage of construction, all with a single, laboratory-quality instrument.
Not only does the compact, battery-powered, handheld HI520-02 Concrete and Mortar Moisture Meter give accurate readings of concrete and mortar, but it has also been engineered to provide portable readings for:
- Drywall and interior finishing
- Waterproofing
- Painting
- Gypsum
Our clients and customers also find this model ideal for quality control within certain manufacturing operations.
Because the HI520-02 provides fast, portable, accurate moisture values, this instrument is ideal for construction sites where professionals depend on quick, reliable moisture readings to do their job efficiently and accurately.
The Answer: When Is a Concrete Moisture Meter More than a Concrete Moisture Meter?
At Kett, our philosophy revolves around sharing accurate, long-lasting, laboratory-grade instruments with our clients and customers. The more value we can provide, the better. That’s why our concrete moisture meter can be used on much more than just concrete. It’s also a:
- Drywall moisture meter
- Mortar moisture meter
- Gypsum moisture meter
- Guide for waterproofing moisture levels
- Instrument reading for paint moisture levels
- And so much more
When is a concrete moisture meter more than a concrete moisture meter? When it does so much more. With precise readings in a single moment and over a dozen calibrations, you don’t need to bring a whole array of meters and instruments to the worksite or the manufacturing floor. It’s multiple instruments in one; a concrete moisture meter and so much more.
To discover how the HI520-02 Concrete and Mortar Moisture Meter provides indispensable data at every stage of construction, connect with our team of expert engineers today.
