Moisture in a home can cause a problem in the future, in particular, concrete can warp any wood flooring you place if it has an overhead humidity content. You can prevent any issues by keeping tabs on the moisture level of your home. Concrete is a porous substance capable of releasing and absorbing the moisture that can continue to affect the RH of a slab long after it’s been set. Many people are unaware of how vital concrete floor moisture test is especially with old concrete. It starts as a liquid sediment of sand, water, aggregate, and cement, and even after it hardens.
While this quality of concrete doesn’t make a lot of difference for outdoor applications, such as walkways or patios, it still matters for an ideal deal indoors, especially once you aim to install residential flooring on the concrete slab. This is a great way to run a concrete moisture test.
Why is it necessary to test concrete for moisture?
Testing for moisture in old concrete is a secure way to make sure that any flooring you set down won’t buckle over time. This is why it is vital to conduct a test for moisture before installing any flooring. It also aids you to distinguish any potential mildew or mold problems. It is also necessary to test for moisture when considering any floor paints, stains, epoxy coatings, and sealers. Once the concrete is holding much moisture, these products might not operate and can fail much earlier than if the floor was at the proper moisture level. Thorough testing is a superb preventative measure to check and control water in your home.
Moisture that is trapped creates havoc that you do not need:
- Moisture is favorable to the growth of mildew and mold
- Moisture can lead organic flooring materials such as bamboo, solid hardwood, cork, and engineered wood to degrade or rot.
- Moisture can cause various types of flooring to warp, bow, or bubble.
Know how to conduct a moisture test on concrete
- Cut the clear plastic sheeting into 24×24-inch squares. You have to ensure the plastic has no tears or no holes.
- Secure the plastic, and spread each plastic square out flat over a dry area of concrete. Tape all four edges of the square with waterproof tape or duct tape. Use as many squares as needed to test all the primary areas that may get flooring.
- Examine the plastic, you should wait at least 48 hours then check each plastic square.
- Dry the room and test again, once the moisture appeared on the top side of the plastic, you should dry out the room with a dehumidifier or other method.
You can follow these tips or consider contacting a technician that provides services of conducting a concrete floor moisture test.
