New Construction Drying

Ensuring that your new construction framing and drywall is dry before finishing will reduce or eliminate cracks, settling, leaks, mold, and expensive call-backs for repairs.  With today's tight construction standards that seal up a building for energy efficiency, when wet framing is covered up with drywall and finished, there's no place for the moisture to evaporate which can cause mold to grow on framing, in wall cavities, and the back of drywall.  This was never a problem in the "old days" when buildings were not sealed up very tight and could "breathe" which allowed the building materials to dry out without mold growth.

How do you know when your framing is dry and safe to finish?  When wood is protected from rain but still remains exposed to the environment, it will achieve an Equilibrium Moisture Content (ECM).  The moisture content varies with the geographic location's temperature and humidity.  However, in no case should walls be sealed up with a wood moisture content of 16% or greater since this will create a condition for surface molds to grow.  And what about drywall?  Drywall must be below 1.0% moisture content (using a drywall scale moisture meter) before painting or the paint may peel and crack.  When drywall is "dry" it will typically measure below 0.5% moisture content.

Environmental CPR technicians can evaluate your building project and provide the exact moisture content in different building materials and provide written documentation stating that the framing and other building materials were dry before it was sealed and finished.  We can also evaluate a building that has already been finished to determine if there are any wet spots or areas with high moisture content that is likely to cause mold. 

Thermal imaging provides quick verification that the project is dry.  The digital thermal images can be printed and stored for documentation purposes to prove that every wall, every joist, every framing member was dry when the project was completed.  Drying out construction projects also improves quality by reducing defects related to moisture evaporation and accompanying shrinkage of wood as it dries.

Environmental CPR technicians will assess your building project and provide the proper drying techniques to control humidity on the jobsite and allow the builder to get the job done quicker with fewer defects.  Commercial buildings and apartment projects may require a trailer-mount desiccant dehumidifier while single-family homes can be dried out quickly with portable desiccant or low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers.

Whatever your construction drying needs, Environmental CPR will work with you to dry out quickly so you can stay on schedule and improve quality.  We can also provide certification services to certify that the building is dry and free of moisture.

Call Environmental CPR today for a free estimate. 

Call us at 925-806-0700.

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