moisture test

Discussion in 'Subfloor Preparation' started by neilwiz3, Jun 23, 2013.

  1. neilwiz3

    neilwiz3 Well-Known Member

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    hiya, could any of you guys help....got a measure in a old building for some solid wood and contract vinyl and want to do a moisture check, problem is my meter is broke and just has colours...red amber green, my mate lent me a digital one but not sure on the percentage readings, can any of you guys help, the subfloor it part timber and part concrete and just need to know what percentage is acceptable ect ect.
     
  2. merit

    merit Well-Known Member

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    If its a old building with no Dpm under the concrete you shouldn't be installing solid wood.
     
  3. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    65% rh for wood, 75% rh for anything else you need to do a hygrometer check mate pick up a cheapy off ebay for £50
     
  4. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    you could dpm 1c it then K11 as long as rh is below 97%
     
  5. merit

    merit Well-Known Member

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    Wouldn't trust it for a solid wood personally
     
  6. Matt

    Matt Well-Known Member Staff Member

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    No you cant.

    You cant install DPM's on subfloors with out a builds DPM underneath.
     
  7. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    according to the spec you can?
     
  8. Matt

    Matt Well-Known Member Staff Member

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    Yep spec says you can, but who is responsible for the sub-floor strength your attaching it to that will be subject to hygroscopic pressure once you install it ? That sub-floor wont have hygroscopic pressure untill a surface dpm is bonded to it. So you will be changing what pressure that sub-floor is put under.

    Question- if the dpm fails and it has a 1mm of sand and cement screed attached to it, what has failed? who is responsible?
     
  9. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    true, but what if ardex spec the job are they liable or us for accepting it?
     
  10. Matt

    Matt Well-Known Member Staff Member

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    if all in writing and they say the subfloor is in suitable condition without any other needs of preparation then yes they are the ones giving warranty. Basically it needs to say that you are there to put the stuff on the floor and nothing else.
     
  11. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    good because they do spec it when they come out same with NA over everything and no primer!
     
  12. bournemouth

    bournemouth Super Moderator

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    This happened to me 1k turbo then screed then van gogh lovely job exept 2 month's later I was back ripping the whole lot out as dpm had popped of the floor with 1- 2 mm of sand and cement stuck to it was an expensive job for me in the end,
     
  13. merit

    merit Well-Known Member

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    That's good considering that stuffs made to strengthen weak screed???
     
  14. mjfl

    mjfl Well-Known Member

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    you
    've told us what's happened but how did you remedy it???
     
  15. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    went and had a cry in the corner
     
  16. bournemouth

    bournemouth Super Moderator

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    I spent 2 days scraping latex and 1k up then left it for a week then l3 golded it and fitted quickstep at my expense :(
     
  17. mjfl

    mjfl Well-Known Member

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    ouch.......
     
  18. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    ooh nasty mate, didn't mapei look at it for you mate?
     
  19. bournemouth

    bournemouth Super Moderator

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    The customer did say did I want to get anyone to look at it etc but the builder went bust inbetween laying slab and me laying floor and end of the day it was me that decided to use the products so its me that stands up when it went tits up, I do all the customers rental properties so will get it money back eventually, just a kick in the teeth that builder put a ****e screed in costing me money and he also owed me £7k when he went bust ha double kick in the teeth
     
  20. tarkett85

    tarkett85 Well-Known Member

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    christ, i'd get his address and get your money somehow
     

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