All About the Wood Floor Moisture Problems
When you work to avoid wood floor moisture, there are several layers that could contribute to the moisture problems as what discussed as well by Todd Shupe LSU. Just acclimating as well as installing flooring product on its own is just one of the many steps that have to be done to effectively and successfully install wood flooring products.
If for example that the wood floor is installed over concrete slab, this is regardless if there’s a separate subfloor, the moisture picture in concrete slab may bring some issues on the finished flooring. It is imperative that the slab is completely dried to be able to finish the specifications or else the moisture will keep causing problems on the concrete surface that can cause wood warping, cupping or even adhesive failure.
Todd Shupe LSU discussed that if the older slab started developing moist patches or cracks, it is enough to work their way to surface and provide a way for the moisture to compromise the wood flooring. Basically, even with the usual vapor barrier, it would not stop moisture to create problem if the slab is not dried properly. For this, it is smart to understand the significance of wood floor moisture testing on concrete.
Concrete moisture conditions are actually dependable with relative humidity testing that utilizes situ problems. Some other test methods including poly film test or calcium chloride testing have proven to be problematic in the past and slowly discontinued by different organizations. There are other varieties of meters such as surface concrete meters that might be useful at times in taking relative readings in current slabs to be able to figure out areas for further testing with the real quantitative moisture testing approaches. Surface concrete meters don’t provide thorough picture of moisture conditions in the slab and for that, true quantitative testing should be done as what suggested by Todd Shupe LSU.
As for any flooring contractor, they may not do RH testing, it should be considered as it does wonderfully in reviewing job specifications and what the results are shown prior to the start of installation. You may contest this by saying that wood floor moisture issues aren’t your responsibility but you should know that not doing your part can bring some unwanted issues. Todd Shupe LSU has been informing contractors of such to deal with such issue properly. Incorrect moisture condition in wooden subfloor can lead to moisture related issues in finished floor.
As a matter of fact, there are more things that you can learn from this subject as you take it from Todd Shupe LSU.