Moisture Testing for Flooring

[Mike Sahli]

hookknife said Why do you feel the court would automatically find your testing incorrect?

From what Ray says its a crap shoot as to what the judge might decide. All your fault, 1/3 rd. 1/2 or not your fault at all.

I think in most cases you have nothing to worry about especially in replacement work where you have the HVAC working and the slab up to temp. You can get indications of moisture from the existing flooring also.

Its new construction that worries me and not so much remodel, I'm a little gun shy after my little " experience "

[cproader]

Well now ya guys went and got me thinkin about this, and now I am alittle gunshy about doin my own....

[hookknife]

Yea I get what your saying, I dont want any court time either. But if I have to choose between laying with or without a test I will choose a test, at least then i can have confidence that I am doing what I am suppose to.

[Jon Scanlan]

cproader said Well now ya guys went and got me thinkin about this, and now I am alittle gunshy about doin my own....

Now thats something I thought I would never hear those two words in one sentence.
CP and gunshy

This moisture testing to me is like you can do it a hundred times No problems then the next one could be problems and can the layer afford to carry the costs? Maybe say dollars jobs to one thousand Layer testing Over one thousand dollars an independant must test?
Just thinking out load
To me its a bit like speeding you do it lots of times and one day there is a policeman standing there. You get caught

[hookknife]

I like your ideas Jon, What scares me more than anything is those who are laying without testing.

[Jon Scanlan]

hookknife said I like your ideas Jon, What scares me more than anything is those who are laying without testing.

But those don't effect you or me
I just want to cover me. I am frightened of the saying you laid it You own it

[hookknife]

After hearing what mike said about Rays comment, it might be more common than I would have thought.

What was the deal with the White Paper act???? putting the third party testing as some sort of spec or something, Ill try to find it and link it, it was a good thing if I am remembering correctly.

Found it,http://www.thefloorpro.com/articles/...hite_paper.php

[Tandy Reeves]

If the owner told you he had tested the floor and it was good to go for the $85,000.00 vinyl installation would you take his word and proceed?

If yes why?
If no why?

Remember the term "vested interest". How do you handle it?

[rgfloor]

Tandy Reeves said If the owner told you he had tested the floor and it was good to go for the $85,000.00 vinyl installation would you take his word and proceed? If yes why? If no why? Remember the term "vested interest". How do you handle it?

And remember, that $85K vinyl install, when it fails will NOT be 85K. Add rip up, remediation of the problem, slab preperation, down time from the facility, and incidental damages, lawyer fees, etc. It would probably be 300-400K real quickly. Ask Tandy, he knows (why he added his comment).

[hookknife]

Tandy Reeves said If the owner told you he had tested the floor and it was good to go for the $85,000.00 vinyl installation would you take his word and proceed? If yes why? If no why? Remember the term "vested interest". How do you handle it?

That is food for thought Tandy! What would you do?? I dont think I would take his word for it, I would probably test it myself and see where it was at, then Make a decision based on the results. Rg also makes a great point about the later damages exceeding the original costs, I have heard of this a few times.

[Tandy Reeves]

Hook you are right don't take his word for it. Now by the same token he should not take your word for it either. Both of you have a "vested interest".

Now what do you do?

[hookknife]

Third Party.

[hookknife]

So Jon how do the shops in your area test?? rh??? cc??? both???
trying to get back on topic sorry

[Jon Scanlan]

hookknife said So Jon how do the shops in your area test?? rh??? cc??? both??? trying to get back on topic sorry

Our shop doesn't test floors even though they own a moisture meter. Probually don't want to wear it out?
I would like to think the larger Flooring Contractors do testing here now as people become more educated. The new buildings years ago took a long time to build so the concrete slabs had time to dry out whereas nowdays, bare bit of land one day and 6 months later the building is functioning.
I have a cheaper meter which basicly gives me an idea. Green go Red stop
I am waiting for FYI Floors to respond to this thread as she is the expert

[FYI FLoors]

Hi guys sorry I have been away from my computer for a couple of days. NZ and Ausie flooring standards recommend we use surface mounted hair Hygrometers and dont refer to insitu test. I use both, as like you guys I like to know whats happening in the slab and on the surface.

FYI A hair hygrometer is an analogue instrument with a synthetic hair attatched to a needle. You seal it to the surface of the slab and the hair absorbs the moiture vapour and gives a reading on a gauge in RH value 0-100.

I'll let yu know about our legal stuff tomorrow as I've got to go as I have visitors and they keep hasling me to get off the f......g computer LOL!!