Services > Infrared & Nuclear Roof Moisture Surveys
Save Costs with Moisture Surveys
Water infiltration is one of the industry's most persistent and costly problems. Roof leaks, loss of insulating properties, structural deterioration and property damage cost building owners billions of dollars every year. This often results in complete removal and replacement of all roofing materials; in many situations these replacements are premature to the potential service lives of the installed roofing systems.

Moisture Surveys can determine if and where detrimental moisture is in a roofing system. By making this type of determination, a building owner has more options with regard to corrective action. One of these surveys can save an owner significant costs by allowing him to replace only the damaged areas of roofing rather than the entire system. Moisture surveys can also determine if a new roof installation has been installed without moisture compromise. Here at RCS, we utilize two types of non-destructive moisture surveying: infrared and nuclear.

Infrared Survey
We utilize Inframetrics and Flir thermal imaging cameras to perform infrared roof moisture surveys. With these tools, we are able to "see" where moisture is trapped within the roof system. The survey is performed after sundown to allow thermal differences or “anomalies” to occur once the air and roof surface temperatures reach a state of equilibrium.

During the day, moisture within the roof insulation is heated and then it retains that heat into the night longer than the dry insulation. This results in thermal anomalies that can be detected by our infrared cameras. These anomalies are then considered as suspect wet areas and are outlined on the roof surface with spray paint. Roof cores are taken in both dry and suspect wet areas to verify the instrument readings. Finally, the locations of the anomalies and the test cuts are marked on a roof plan.

Download an infrared moisture survey brochure now >

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Nuclear Survey
A nuclear survey allows accurate mapping of moisture concentrations within a roofing structure. RCS utilizes the Troxler, Model #3216 Roof Moisture Gauge for nuclear roof moisture surveys. We begin by marking a 5' x 5' grid pattern on the entire roof surface with spray paint. At each grid point a reading is taken with the nuclear gauge, and is recorded on a roof plan marked with the grid. Roof cores are taken in the areas with the highest numeric readout to determine if moisture is present. If moisture is found, we then take additional roof cores at lower readouts until results are negative for moisture.

Finally, a histogram (bar graph) of all the numerical readouts is developed. This histogram enables RCS to determine what percentage of the roof area is affected by moisture intrusion.

All of our personnel that use these gauges are thoroughly trained for the use of the Nuclear Devices. We are properly licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for transport and use the devices and perform leak testing as required by our licensing.

Download a nuclear moisture brochure now >

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Roof Moisture Surveys | Infrared Moisture Surveys | Nuclear Roof Moisture Surveys