Recently had an interesting discussion where another installer did a demo of a laminate job due to moisture and there was surface water under the 2&1 underlayment.
He professed that was due to the high values he got from performing a CaCl test. The values were in the 8lb to 10 lb area.
Now I have performed many CaCl tests and have yet to see any surface water under domes or even mushy calcium chloride in tests around the 8-10lb ranges.
That said the floor was not covered with an impermeable covering like the QuietWalk that was under the laminate. Oh wait, is QuietWalk impermeable ..or isn't it?
I know I have run tens of thousands of sf of 6mil which IS impermeable and have never had a complaint about the floor cupping and buckling. Even done lots of just plain old QuietWalk before I realized it only works up to 6lbsin 24 hours in 1000sf blah blah blah.
Getting to the jest of the post here, sorry so long winded. But now, I have to stick my foot out and say...even with the insitu rh testing and CaCl testing there is no value or test that can insure you will not get, or keep you from getting surface water under your 2&1 underlayment......or is there? Or prevent any sort of moisture flooring failure for that matter.
I say no.
I've personally witnessed seasoned veteran inspectors plop down their concrete meters on a slab after pulling a piece of hardwood or laminate and say "Look...the meter is pegged, it is soaking wet". Thats about the same thing as plopping down a CaCl test after the moisture in the slab has equilibrated.
Does anyone know why it is that you could never diagnose a possible moisture failure by doing moisture testing? Besides the values being high in the first place?
Could it have anything to do with how the concrete was placed? No, not talking about a barrier underneath either.
Well, as much as I'd like to keep going and turn this place into my own personal blog since no one ever visits here anymore, I gotta make some pasta.
