umab35•6mo ago

Honestly, a job in Boise last spring changed how I prep concrete

Tbh, I was installing some engineered hardwood in a 1950s basement and the moisture readings were all over the place. The homeowner had an old dehumidifier running, but it wasn't cutting it. I ended up waiting three full days with industrial fans before the slab was finally ready. Ngl, I used to rush that step, but now I always budget extra dry time for older foundations. Anyone else run into this with mid-century homes?

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nathan8516mo ago

You mentioned waiting for the slab to dry... but with concrete, it's not really about drying out. It's about the moisture vapor emission rate. Those old slabs can keep pushing moisture up from the ground forever. The fans help the surface, but you really need a vapor test to know for sure.

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the_fiona6mo ago

So if a slab never truly dries, @nathan851, what's the actual goal with a vapor test? Is it just to measure the rate so you know if a floor covering can handle it? That feels like a forever problem.

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