Humidity and Drywall: How Much is Too Much?

When you hire a drywall service , you should realize that most homes have varying degrees of moisture. A drywall service will know that homes have moisture levels of 50% and lower and this varies from home to home. An appropriate level of moisture for drywall is between 5-12%.

Too Much Moisture and Acceptable Levels In Drywall

Your drywall service should know that drywall must have a moisture content of less than one percent to be acceptable to use. Often a higher level causes mold and bacteria to grow. It will have to be removed or dried out to be safe. Moisture levels over one percent can comprise the boards used in walls. An acceptable amount of moisture in a home, condo, or apartment is between 30-50%. When drywall contains water due to a leak or other circumstance, it will need to be professionally dried in 72 hours. It often must be removed to dry properly. A professional drywall service will provide the right solution for your problem.

Moisture and Mold In Your Home

Mold will grow in your home with humidity levels over 55% or higher. It can be controlled with a dehumidifier and good ventilation. Dry walls with a moisture level of over 17% may often need to be removed and replaced by a drywall service. This will prevent the problem from occurring again. They use meters to measure the moisture of drywall. The drywall must have a sample drilled out of the wall. The sample is put in a carbide chamber, and they observe how it reacts with the calcium carbide. This will indicate the level of moisture in the drywall.

Types of Meters Used To Detect Moisture

There are different meters used to measure dry walls moisture in your home, condo, or apartment. One type is a carbide meter, a laboratory meter, and an electrical resistance meter. These meters measure the moisture content in your drywall. Working with an experienced drywall service is essential to getting the drywall installed correctly. Too much moisture in your home can cause moisture to collect in the drywall and flake. Mold and mildew can grow and moisture that is too low will cause cracks in the walls and peeling.

When you need to evaluate the moisture in your drywall or have drywall installed, contact a professional drywall service for the best results. They are trained to do the job correctly. Repairing drywall often involves ventilating and making repairs.