Flooring Installation Delayed For Slab Moisture

What you want is a slab with an acceptable level of moisture for the flooring finish you re installing.

Flooring installation delayed for slab moisture.

These devices can be used to test the moisture content mc of. Therefore it s advisable to have a floor tested for moisture content prior to installing flooring or moisture barriers. When conducting slab moisture testing conduct tests in several areas regardless of the age of the slab. In terms of new construction the slab should be tested after it has cured and prior to the installation of a floor covering.

If an effective low permeance vapor retarder material is not installed directly in contact with the underside of the slab the concrete will be exposed to a perpetual source of moisture rising from below. The manufacturer s literature will specify installation requirements to satisfy the flooring s warranty. This makes it a reliable option to install over your concrete slab. Every concrete slab has moisture and will always have moisture.

However flooring manufacturers now market some flooring materials as being moisture resistant some laminates engineered woods bamboo and cork flooring materials identified as moisture resistant can be used successfully on concrete slabs. Like other flooring materials that work well over concrete slabs laminate uses layers to fight moisture. For floating floors manufacturers often recommend installing a moisture barrier between the subfloor and the floating floor to prevent moisture intrusion. Concrete slabs and floors can be excellent subfloor surfaces for tile and other floor coverings but too much moisture in the concrete can cause problems with flooring installations.

In an ideal world every slab would be tested for moisture prior to the installation of a floor covering. Besides the moisture already in the concrete additional moisture can enter a slab from rainwater poor plumbing or drainage below or at the sides of the slab and even. The use of an electronic concrete moisture meter to determine slab moisture emission is not reliable nor recommended. This is why it s important to measure moisture in flooring wood as well as the ambient temperature and humidity conditions before installing hardwood floors.

If you plan to transform your basement into a high traffic area for entertaining and relaxing laminate could be a great option. The fastest way to measure moisture in floors is to use a moisture meter for wood. Measuring moisture in wood flooring. If the testing indicates a wet slab document the results and delay installation of the flooring until corrected.

On the contrary water vapor present in concrete slabs both new and existing will interact with flooring materials and the environment and can have a detrimental effect like those scenarios described above if not taken into consideration when planning and installing the floor. If excessive moisture is present it needs to be addressed.