Tramex MEX5 Moisture Gauge for Wood, Drywall and Building Materials with RH Measurement

Tramex MEX5 MOISTURE AND HUMIDITY GAUGE FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS — Building-moisture investigation and condition surveys

This moisture meter is aimed at building inspectors, restoration contractors, and flooring professionals who need to locate elevated moisture quickly before making repair, installation, or survey decisions. Typical use cases include pre-installation inspections, damage assessment, maintenance surveys, and follow-up verification after drying or corrective work.

A digital Dual-Depth, non-destructive moisture and humidity meter, ideal for surveying moisture and humidity conditions in building structures. It measures moisture content in wood and drywall and provides comparative readings in various building materials such as roofing, plaster, tile, and masonry. It has a built-in hygrometer for ambient conditions and psychrometric values, an Infrared Surface Thermometer, and optional external in-situ RH probes for in-situ equilibrium RH readings. Pin probes for wood, drywall, and WME readings also come standard. All this makes the MEX5 an essential and indispensable asset for professionals in the building moisture inspection and restoration industry.

The Moisture & Humidity Meter for Building Materials is a professional diagnostic instrument used by building inspectors, restoration contractors, flooring installers, and facility managers to detect moisture levels in construction materials and evaluate indoor environmental conditions. The meter measures moisture content in materials such as wood and drywall and provides comparative readings for plaster, masonry, roofing materials, tile, and other building components, helping identify hidden moisture that can lead to structural damage or mold growth.

These meters typically operate using non-destructive electrical impedance measurement, transmitting a low-frequency signal into the material through electrodes in the instrument’s base. The strength of the signal varies according to the moisture content within the material and is converted into a readable value on the digital display. Many models also incorporate a built-in hygrometer to measure ambient relative humidity, temperature, dew point, and other psychrometric conditions, allowing professionals to evaluate both material moisture and surrounding environmental conditions during building inspections or drying processes.

Moisture and humidity meters are widely used for locating moisture-related problems in walls, floors, and roofing systems, mapping the extent of water damage, and monitoring the drying progress of building materials after leaks or flooding. By providing fast, non-destructive measurements, these instruments help professionals make informed decisions during construction, renovation, indoor air quality assessment, and water damage restoration projects.

The MEX5 Moisture and Humidity Meter is widely recognized in building science literature and industry publications for its accuracy and versatility. Peer-reviewed studies on non-destructive moisture measurement techniques highlight its dual-depth functionality as effective for both wood and masonry. Customer reviews consistently praise its reliability, ease of use, and comprehensive features, including pin and pinless measurements. Professionals commonly use it for home inspections, restoration projects, HVAC assessments, and construction quality control, noting its ability to provide precise readings across diverse materials and environmental conditions.

Dual-depth Measuring Range

Shallow vs Deep Readings: The readings of surface vs core moisture can be compared to eliminate the influence of the substrate when testing coverings. The Deep Depth penetration reaches up to 1¼" (30mm), while the Shallow Depth penetration is up to ⅜” (9mm). The pinless moisture meter measures the moisture content % of the wood from 0-30%. The meter can be expanded with the use of pin probes for wood, wood by-products, and drywall as well as relative humidity sensor probes for evaluating ambient conditions. All moisture and humidity readings can be visualized and Geotagged with the Tramex Meters App and turned into moisture maps, reports, and charts for sharing.

MEX5 Features:

NDT - Non-Destructive Testing

• %MC dual depth measurement of wood
• Comparative dual depth of drywall, roofing, plaster, tile and masonry
• Dual depth comparative readings of surface and core moisture for eliminating the influence of the substrate on moisture testing of coverings
• LED indicator Low/Med/High for all NDT scales
• Built-in Hygrometer readings on permanent display
• Built-in Surface Temperature Infrared Thermometer
• Adjustable Specific Gravity for NDT wood readings
• Baseline reference reading set point adjuster to compare to known dry/drying goal reading

Pin Probe (Optional Plug-in Probe)

• A variety of external pin probes and electrodes can be used:
  • %MC wood, pre-set international standards/access to various preset wood species
  • WME readings
  • Drywall %MC
• Auto calibration check
• Temperature correction of %MC in wood
• EMC Expected Moisture Content indication based on ambient conditions

Built-in Hygrometer and Infrared Surface Thermometer

• Psychrometric evaluations of Ambient RH, Temp, Dew Point Temp, Humidity Ratio (GPP, g/kg)
• Surface Temperature
• Delta Temperature value
• Enthalpy readings
• Emissivity adjustment for surface temperature correction

In-Situ Equilibrium RH Probe (Optional Plug-in Probe)

• In-situ RH probes for concrete moisture testing
• In-situ RH probes for the building envelope, building materials, insulation, crawl spaces, HVAC systems

Technical Q&A

What materials can the MEX5 measure?

It can measure moisture content in wood, drywall, roofing, plaster, tile, and masonry. Optional probes allow in-situ RH readings for concrete, insulation, and other building materials.

How deep does the meter measure?

Shallow Depth readings penetrate up to ⅜” (9mm) and Deep Depth readings up to 1¼" (30mm), allowing comparison of surface vs core moisture.

Does it support pinless and pin-based measurement?

Yes, the MEX5 provides both pinless dual-depth measurement and optional pin probes for wood, drywall, and WME readings.

Can I map and share readings digitally?

All readings can be visualized, Geotagged, and converted into moisture maps, reports, and charts using the Tramex Meters App.

Is the meter suitable for professional building inspection?

Yes, it is widely used by home inspectors, restoration specialists, and construction professionals for accurate and non-destructive moisture assessment.

What problems does this help prevent?

Proper moisture checking helps reduce failures such as flooring issues, hidden water damage, coating problems, or moisture-related deterioration in structures and boats.

Who typically relies on this type of meter?

Building inspectors, restoration contractors, and flooring professionals rely on this type of instrument when they need quick screening and better decisions before invasive work or final sign-off.

Because it combines %MC dual depth measurement of wood, Comparative dual depth of drywall, roofing, plaster, tile and masonry, LED indicator Low/Med/High for all NDT scales, this meter is well suited to building-moisture investigation and condition surveys where quick diagnosis and repeatable surveys are essential.