How To Test For Moisture In Concrete Walls

The sheet is left in place for 72 hours then a dewpoint hygrometer is used to test the level of moisture that is in the air under the sheet.

How to test for moisture in concrete walls.

It is vitally important to test your concrete slab s moisture before installing flooring over it. Simply test a bit of concrete you know to be dry with the meter and make a note of the reading given. Check for surface discoloration such as yellowing material. Visual inspections are not adequate.

The plastic sheet method was developed by astm international and involves taping a plastic sheet to the surface of the concrete to create a vapor proof seal around the plastic. This method indicates the moisture condition throughout the slab. Three methods for testing concrete moisture levels. Consider using pinless moisture meters.

Seal the edges of the plastic wrap with tape. Look at the wall surface carefully. 9 and or plastic sheet tests astm d4263 test method for indicating moisture in concrete by the plastic sheet method. One way to check is to use a moisture meter that is optimized for building inspection work like the bd 2100.

Tape a 12 inch by 12 inch piece of plastic wrap onto a part of the basement wall. Check the plastic for the next several days noting when moisture. Testing with either method will tell you how precisely how much moisture is present making it possible to choose a surface flooring that is appropriate. Determinations need to be made using instruments fig.

Then use the meter to test the rest of the concrete if a reading is significantly higher than the sample you tested then that section of concrete is probably wet and needs more exhaustive testing per the astm f 2170 standard. Rh probes are embedded into the slab or inserted through small drilled holes. The easiest way to test for moisture in concrete is to duct tape a 2 foot square piece of plastic right to the concrete floor. A definitive test that measures the amount of moisture released from the concrete requires a calcium chloride kit or a relative humidity meter.

The best way to test for slab moisture is with relative humidity testing astm f2170. This particular moisture meter is ideal for checking the moisture content of walls because it has reading scales for both drywall and wood that allow for precise quantitative moisture measurements in these materials. Reference scale moisture meters can provide a quick and reliable wet dry indication for concrete.