Pro tip: I keep seeing guys skip the moisture test on concrete slabs before gluing down LVP

I walked onto a job in Springfield last month where the previous crew glued planks directly over a slab that was reading 5.5% with my meter, and the adhesive failed within a week. That's a full redo and a very unhappy builder. Do you think a quick calcium chloride test is worth the extra 45 minutes, or is a basic pin meter reading enough for you to feel good about it?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia_schmidt1426d ago

Quick calcium chloride test" feels like overkill for residential work in my area.

adams.linda26d ago

Remember my cousin skipped a moisture test to save time on his basement floor. Two months later, his new laminate started buckling near the wall. They had to pull up a whole section and run a dehumidifier for a week before redoing it. Cost him way more than the test would have. I mean, maybe it's just me, but seeing that mess made me a believer in checking, even if it seems like extra work.

felixt3126d ago

Man, I totally get where you're coming from. It seems like a lot for a standard house, but honestly, that test can spot moisture problems other methods miss. I've seen basements that felt dry fail the test, saving a huge flooring mess later. Skipping it might save a day, but it's cheap insurance against a call back.