Testing Moisture Levels In Concrete

Three methods for testing concrete moisture levels it is vitally important to test your concrete slab s moisture before installing flooring over it.

Testing moisture levels in concrete.

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 meters operate by sending an electrical signal into the concrete and measuring its resistance as an indicator of the moisture level in the slab. When it is the moisture levels can cause floor coverings to fail. How to test a concrete floor for excessive moisture.

It s important to understand the testing process on concrete subfloors and the implications of moisture on flooring performance in order to plan project timelines and budgets accordingly and to. 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. While they can be a useful survey tool they typically operate at about depth and can be susceptible to other elements within the slab such as rebar certain types of aggregates. Concrete slabs are naturally breathing elements of a home readily taking in moisture and air expanding and contracting and shifting with nature.