Ensuring that materials are dry is essential in healthy building. Building materials can be ruined by moisture damage. The following four building practices can cause warping, deterioration of materials, and microbial growth:
1. Application of finish flooring materials over insufficiently cured concrete slabs
2. Failure to quickly and thoroughly dry out precipitation that enters an unfinished structure
3. Installation of wood members with a moisture content greater than 17 percent
4. Enclosure of walls containing wet-applied insulation systems, such as cellulose or spray foams, before they are properly cured
It is not always possible to detect by visual inspection whether a material is wet. A variety of test procedures have been developed to assist in determining if a material is dry.
