It is vitally important to test your concrete slab s moisture before installing flooring over it.
How to test moisture content of concrete slab.
Three methods for testing concrete moisture levels.
A definitive test that measures the amount of moisture released from the concrete requires a calcium chloride kit or a relative humidity meter.
Concrete moisture test how to test for moisture in a concrete floor or slab.
Doing a concrete moisture test before you install any type of flooring over a concrete floor or slab is important because too much moisture vapor transmission mvt can delaminate flooring materials like epoxy linoleum laminate tile can buckle wood floors and can cause mildew in carpeting.
In contrast the astm f2710 in situ rh test uses probes to measure the rh at a specific depth within the concrete 40 of the slab s thickness for a slab drying from one side or 20 for a slab drying from two sides.
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.
The test determines a portion of the free moisture near the surface of a slab generally the upper 1 2 to in or 12 to 20 mm providing no information about the moisture conditions deeper in the slab.
Observable moisture on the underside of the plastic sheet depends on the dew point which in turn depends on the surface temperature of the concrete.
Fortunately experience and some simple tests can help determine if the moisture content in a slab is within an acceptable range for various impermeable coverings.
Testing concrete for moisture astm f2170 stipulates the use of in situ probes to determine the moisture condition of a concrete slab at the time that it will be sealed or covered by flooring material.
Scientific research examining the reliability of the in situ probe rh test has determined that at these depths the readings.
The test does not accurately determine the true mver of concrete.
Before diving into the myths let s talk about how to test concrete for moisture.
How to test a concrete floor for excessive moisture.
It overestimates low moisture.
Therefore it s advisable to have a floor tested for moisture content prior to installing flooring or moisture barriers.
Testing with either method will tell you how.
Moisture is not evenly distributed throughout a slab and changing environmental conditions cause moisture to move into or out of the slab.
How to do a moisture test for concrete slabs.
Concrete slabs are naturally breathing elements of a home readily taking in moisture and air expanding and contracting and shifting with nature.
Moisture can cause organic flooring materials such as solid hardwood engineered wood cork or bamboo to degrade.
And since it s a surface test only astm d4263 concrete moisture test does not show what is happening within the slab.
Moisture can cause any flooring to bow warp and bubble.
