Moisture Mapping for Homes with Water Damage

Moisture Detection Services for Homeowners Nationwide

Comprehensive moisture mapping is essential for tracing the source of water damage and identifying all of the affected areas. Technicians at ATI Restoration use advanced technology such as hygrometers and thermal imaging cameras to detect even the smallest differences in humidity levels.

Moisture mapping is the systematic process of identifying and mapping the areas of a home affected by water intrusion or excess moisture. By conducting moisture mapping, our professionals can:

Identify the extent of water damage
Detect areas at risk for mold growth
Create a water damage remediation plan
Monitor progress throughout the restoration

ATI Restoration has unparalleled experience and expertise in the field of water damage remediation and restoration. Thorough moisture mapping is an important diagnostic step that enables us to assess the totality of the water damage inside your home and develop an individualized plan for cleanup and repairs.

With 60+ regional locations, ATI Restoration serves homeowners across the nation. Our 24-Hour Emergency Response guarantees that water damage and excess moisture will be promptly addressed and your home restored as soon as possible.

ATI Restoration also provides moisture mapping services for commercial properties damaged by water. Learn about commercial moisture detection.

How does moisture mapping work? | ATI Restoration

Why Do I Need Moisture Mapping?

Sometimes the effects of water damage are obvious. You may find water pooling on the floor, notice a dripping sound, or see stains on the wall (to name a few indicators). In many cases, however, people overlook the more subtle signs of water intrusion. That is where professional moisture mapping comes into play.

If moisture or water damage is a concern in your home, moisture mapping is essential for several reasons:

Early Detection of Water Damage: Moisture mapping helps identify areas affected by water intrusion, even in hidden or hard-to-reach places. This allows for early detection and prompt action to prevent further damage.
Preventing Mold and Mildew: Excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, which can be harmful to residents’ health and damaging to the property. Mapping moisture levels helps to identify conditions conducive to mold growth and guide remediation efforts.
Optimizing Restoration Efforts: By mapping moisture, restoration efforts can be targeted and focused on the areas that need it most. This leads to more efficient and effective restoration and reconstruction.
Health and Safety: Excessive indoor humidity can lead to asthma, allergies, and respiratory conditions. Identifying and rectifying moisture issues is vital for a healthy indoor environment.
Property Preservation: Structural damage may occur if moisture and water damage are left unchecked. Timely moisture mapping lays the groundwork for restoration efforts that can preserve the integrity of your home and prevent long-term damage.
Insurance Claims and Documentation: Moisture mapping provides documented evidence of the extent of water damage, which can be crucial for insurance claims and for demonstrating the need for restoration and repairs.
Optimizing Drying Processes: With a comprehensive moisture map, the drying process can be precisely targeted to completely remove moisture from the affected areas.

ATI Restoration usually performs moisture mapping in combination with water leak detection. This enables us to gather as much data as possible regarding the presence of water and moisture inside your home.

What Is Moisture Remediation?

If moisture mapping diagnoses the symptoms, moisture remediation is the treatment. Multiple steps may be involved in remediating the damage caused by excess moisture, including:

ATI Restoration is a full-service company specializing in moisture remediation and restoration. Our highly skilled team is made up of licensed, bonded, and certified professionals who can handle all aspects of water damage cleanup, remediation, and restoration without the need for outside contractors.

Read About Our Fast-Track Reconstruction Protocol.

How Do You Do Moisture Mapping?

Homeowners should rely on a professional water damage recovery firm, like ATI Restoration, to assess the moisture levels. Professional crews have sophisticated technology and advanced know-how that make it possible to get the full picture of the distribution and levels of moisture inside the residence.

The process of moisture mapping generally involves the following steps:

Visual Inspection

Our technicians will first perform a visual inspection of the home, looking for areas where water might have entered the property and visible signs of water damage. This may include stains, discoloration, peeling paint, or mold growth.

Moisture Meter Readings

We use moisture meters to measure the moisture content in various building materials like drywall, wood, and other surfaces. Taking readings in different areas—both affected and seemingly unaffected—allows us to compare moisture levels.

Thermal Imaging

Variations in temperature and potential areas of moisture behind walls, ceilings, and under flooring may not be visible to the naked eye. Thermal imaging allows for precise detection of these issues.

Relative Humidity Readings

Measuring the relative humidity in different rooms and areas allows us to understand the overall moisture levels in the air. This can aid in the identification of potential problem areas.

Probing & Sampling

In more severe cases or where the extent of moisture damage is uncertain, our technicians may use specialized probes or take material samples to assess moisture levels in hidden or hard-to-reach areas.

Documentation

Once moisture mapping is complete, we record all findings, measurements, and observations to create a comprehensive moisture map. This map details the locations, extent, and severity of moisture damage within the home.

Remediation Planning

The moisture map serves as the blueprint for a custom water damage remediation plan. This plan will detail all drying methods, cleanup measures, and repairs needed to restore your home.

Implement Drying Techniques

Dehumidifiers, fans, and other drying equipment eliminate excess moisture in the affected areas. Our technicians monitor the progress regularly and update the moisture map as drying occurs.

Cleanup & Repairs

After the property is dry, we clean up water-damaged areas and repair the flooring, drywall, and other areas impacted by excess moisture.

Reassessment

After the drying process, we will reassess the moisture levels to ensure that the affected areas are adequately dried and restored to their normal moisture content.

How Often Should a Restorer Record and Monitor Measurements During the Drying Process?

Our technicians take moisture measurements at regular intervals throughout the drying process. The exact timing varies, but we will check moisture levels at least once per day while the property is being dried. In accordance with the ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard, our crews not only measure moisture content and atmospheric conditions inside the home daily (at minimum) but set goals for the reduction of moisture.

The IICRC is the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. ATI Restoration technicians undergo rigorous training with the IICRC and become certified in water damage restoration and other disciplines. This ensures that our crews have the industry knowledge and skill to safely and effectively help our customers recover from water damage.

Benefits of Moisture Mapping

Moisture damage to the ceiling of a home | ATI Restoration

From a leaky roof to a burst pipe, water damage and moisture intrusion are costly. They are also extremely disruptive to your home life and regular routine. Understandably, you want your home clean and dry as soon as possible so you can get back to normal once again.

Immediate action is crucial to mitigate water damage. The longer the problem persists and the resulting water lingers, the greater the damage.

ATI Restoration combines speed and efficiency with excellent results. With our 24-Hour Emergency Response, a crew will be dispatched to your home as soon as possible to perform a complete assessment of the losses. Moisture mapping is a key component of the diagnostics. Based on the inspection, our technicians fully scope out the remediation and repairs.

Overall, moisture mapping is an invaluable tool for laying the groundwork to restore your home in the aftermath of water damage. It allows us to achieve superior results in several key respects:

Comprehensive Assessment:
Moisture mapping provides a detailed assessment of the extent and severity of water damage, identifying all affected areas—even those not visibly apparent. This aids in developing a precise restoration plan.
Prevention of Further Damage:
By accurately locating moisture pockets, mapping helps prevent secondary damage such as mold growth, structural deterioration, and material decay (all of which can occur if moisture remains undetected and untreated).
Cost Savings:
Early and targeted intervention based on moisture mapping can potentially reduce overall restoration costs by allowing for moisture issues to be addressed promptly and preventing the need for extensive repairs in the future.
Preservation of Your Home’s Structural Integrity:
The integrity of building materials suffers with prolonged exposure to moisture. Problems in the long run can be avoided with timely moisture mapping, prompt drying of the home, and early repairs.
Improved Air Quality:
Eliminating excess moisture through effective mapping and remediation contributes to better indoor air quality, reducing allergens and potential respiratory issues for the occupants.
Peace of Mind for Homeowners:
Detailed reports and clear visualizations offer transparency and reassure the homeowner that their home is being strategically dried, cleaned, and restored.

At ATI Restoration, we find that moisture mapping provides customers with a clear understanding of the water damage and the steps we will take toward recovery. Insurance companies also trust ATI Restoration because we are transparent in our assessments and estimates and maintain the highest standard of professionalism and competence in our work.

Why Hire ATI Restoration for Moisture Mapping?

Any homeowner can purchase a moisture meter at the hardware store and try to map out the places with water damage inside the house. The problem with this approach is that most homeowners lack the knowledge to identify ALL impacted areas. Furthermore, the average person won’t know how to interpret the results. This limits the effectiveness of any DIY water damage remediation efforts.

Reasons to choose ATI Restoration if your home has sustained water damage or suffers from elevated moisture levels include:

24/7/365 Service

Water damage is an emergency. We dispatch technicians right away to inspect your home and find areas where moisture might hide.

Specialized Equipment

From infrared cameras to moisture detectors, our technology provides unparalleled accuracy.

Unmatched Expertise

Our IICRC-certified technicians deftly interpret moisture mapping results and use their knowledge to design effective restoration plans.

Complete Capabilities

Along with evaluating moisture content, we offer a full range of services for cleaning, restoring, and rebuilding homes.

Proactive Communication

Once the restoration is underway, you can expect regular progress reports as we reduce moisture levels and remediate the water damage.

Expedited Recovery

We want to get you back in your home ASAP. Our industry expertise, advanced training, and insurance claim knowledge let us work faster.

Reach Out to the Moisture Mapping Experts Today

Field technicians at ATI Restoration are certified and specially trained to get your property back to a dry and safe condition. The advanced technology we use saves time and money and provides a non-invasive way to discover hidden moisture in your home.

Moisture mapping provides critical insights for restoring residential properties with abnormal moisture levels or water damage. By pinpointing where moisture is inside the property (such as inside the walls, under floorboards, etc.), our technicians can fully assess the areas that require drying and restoration and make a roadmap for checking the progress of the job.

Unsure where to turn if your home has water damage? ATI Restoration has you covered. With our 24-Hour Emergency Response, we can promptly dispatch a crew to your home to inspect the damage and scope out the repairs. ATI Restoration serves homeowners nationwide from 60+ regional locations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are signs that I need moisture mapping services?

When water damage occurs, the first question to ask is, how extensive is the damage? Moisture mapping is a way of visually representing the moisture levels in a property. This means you can clearly understand where the wet zone ends and the dry zone begins and address the issue effectively.

What is the purpose of moisture mapping?

Moisture mapping identifies where wet areas are within your business. It works in tandem with water extraction and is a vital aspect of the immediate action process to prevent any further water loss and damages. A moisture map will also prove helpful if water damage restoration is needed.

What is a moisture map?

A moisture map is a visual representation of the moisture content readings post-detection and can be presented as a paper map or a computer summary. It may also be marked on the walls or floor with chalk, pen, or tape. Making marks on your property helps clearly visualize where the wet zone ends, and the dry zone begins.

How is moisture measured?

Moisture content can be detected in many ways. High-tech moisture detection tools are used around the perimeter of the wet zone to understand exactly where the wet zone and dry zone meet. These tools include infrared cameras and moisture meters.

Can you map moisture levels in the ground?

Water moves consistently and constantly given open channels for flow and drainage. This is particularly true where the water is moving mainly through hidden channels and the effects are being seen at removal, such as when water is underneath floorboards. A moisture mapper can detect affected areas that are unseen to the naked eye.

How long are the moisture mapping and diagnosis processes?

Typically, moisture mapping will be done at long intervals – less than once a week – as it can take a long time to dry a property. Spot checks may occur if technicians have any concerns during the drying process, which includes use of drying equipment.

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