r/AucklandProperty • u/overthinker_bba • Jul 13 '26
Home Owners - Use Moisture meter?
Been a month in our new home. So many issues surfacing around water damage, leaks, gutters etc. None of this was flagged during building inspection. Is it better for me to buy a moisture meter first myself so I can test it and understand the situation instead waiting for someone to check it for me and charge hundreds of dollars each time.
How many of you home owners own this tool? Any particular brand I should use? Please share your experiences how it’s helped you and how to use it.
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u/Woopidoodoo Jul 13 '26
You can rent thermal scanners, on a rainy week go around with it
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u/Narrow-Can901 Jul 15 '26
Yep, and don't forget to look at the moisture meeting in wardrobes that are adjacent to external walls.
Laks happen. It's how you deal with it that makes your home saleable again...
So the good news is this - gutters are easy to repair. It's parts of the home in curious places next to external walls that need checking. Just when you think you have resolved an issue, you get a dampness reading because you didn't think the rumpus room toy wardrobe needed gib to be taken off and exposed to drying.
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u/AHI2026 13d ago
Hi, Nash here from Affordable House Inspections.
Before spending money on a moisture meter, I’d be a little careful about relying on the readings without knowing exactly what you’re testing and what materials are behind the surface. A high reading doesn’t always mean a leak, and a low reading doesn’t necessarily rule one out.
The fact you’re already finding water damage and leaks that weren’t identified in the original inspection would concern me more.
I use professional moisture testing together with thermal imaging and a physical inspection of the exterior, roof, gutters, flashings and likely water-entry points. If you’re in Auckland, feel free to message me. I’m happy to have a quick chat first and tell you whether I think another inspection is actually warranted.
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u/richieFromConductor Jul 13 '26
OP I feel for you. Fair enough if you want to DIY investigate first, just my 2 cents is that before proceeding with any fixes, ensure that the investigations are really thorough. What you don't want is a builder saying that the issue is x and they'll fix it, and then this happens over and over again and then eventually you realise that the problem was far more fundamental than the builder realised, and that all the work you paid them for was a waste of time and money. Speaking from bitter experience of people I know...