My moisture meter read 14% in a basement last week, which is way higher than I expected.

The concrete slab felt dry to the touch, so I almost skipped the test. That reading made me hold off on glue-down vinyl for a full week to let it dry more. Has anyone else had a slab fool them like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

alicehernandez4d ago

Remember testing a slab that looked bone dry last summer. My old meter gave a normal reading, but I borrowed a newer one on a hunch. The thing spiked to 18% near a corner where the downspout was buried. Concrete can hold a ton of water you just can't see or feel. Always trust the meter over your hands.

seanjackson4d ago

That hidden water can cause mold inside walls for months.

elizabeths514d ago

Whoa, that's wild about the downspout. Makes you wonder what else is hidden. Did you check if the vapor barrier under the slab was torn or missing in that spot? Or was it just ground water seeping in from outside? I'd be paranoid and start checking every outside corner now.