Damp reading increased after laminate ripped up??

[MrMrMr111]

Had a leak in kitchen, ripped up laminate (insurance job) he measured damp on concrete floor at <10% and said be fine just airing. 3 weeks later fitter came to do floor, did a check with his meter and damp was off the scale, refused to fit it.

Insurance company are now puzzled as me and are sending a drainage specialist to see if anything untoward going on.

How can this be? Nothing has changed, floor is now airing so thought would be better!?! Very confused (and frustrated as waited so long)

Also anyone know a cheapish damp checker for my peace of mind to check? Seen this on Amazon, any good?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003CSNV2Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1401905307&sr=8-1

 

[tony1851]

These 'damp meters' are often worse than useless, and many damp-proofing company surveyors know this.

If your slab has a dpm under it, it will air off after a few weeks, failing which you may have a leak.

 

[MrMrMr111]

These 'damp meters' are often worse than useless, and many damp-proofing company surveyors know this.

If your slab has a dpm under it, it will air off after a few weeks, failing which you may have a leak.

Not sure if it has a DPM, but what reasons can the prong test meter reading go iPhone from the laminate being ripped up, to. Ow when it's been bare for 3+ weeks?

 

[JohnD]

it was a different meter, used by a different person.

 

[dazlight]

You need to do a proper damp test mate. With a hydrometer box

1st thing. How old is the house? Does the sub floor have a dpm under it!

 

[dazlight]

Can you Piet a picture of the floor? Does it have any old adhesive on it?

 

[MrMrMr111]

Don't know if any damp course in, house is about 80 year old, don think any adhesive on it, looks bare concrete now.

Drainage engineer coming to test mains water for leaks, phoned insurance they say fitter only uses prong test, nothing else, if that says no good the. Won't fit the floor! Great. I've ordered a (cheap) damp meter also to see. Not sure if drainage engineer will do the hydrometer test or not though.

How's it "become"'so damp over the 3 weeks of no laminate down though? Surely if I had a serous damp if would have noticed the original laminate lifting anyway?

 

[tony1851]

How's it "become"'so damp over the 3 weeks of no laminate down though? Surely if I had a serous damp if would have noticed the original laminate lifting anyway?

Kitchens have a lot of water vapour: exposed concrete floors are cold;
mix the two and you get damp via condensation.

 

[MrMrMr111]

How's it "become"'so damp over the 3 weeks of no laminate down though? Surely if I had a serous damp if would have noticed the original laminate lifting anyway?

Kitchens have a lot of water vapour: exposed concrete floors are cold;
mix the two and you get damp via condensation.

Exactly what I've been trying to tell the insurance company, but they insist on sending a drainage for test, and send no dehumidifiers so far, so frustrating...

I'm hoping it is just this, i.e. just air moisture on the surface that has made the whole floor damp (according to fitter), surely I would have noticed previously when the original laminate was down if I had a serious damp condition, as he checked numerous places in the floor and aid all was wet?

 

[JohnD]

tape a piece of clear plastic tightly to the floor.

does water form on the room side (condensation) or on the floor side (wet floor)?

 

[MrMrMr111]

Drainage engineer found small leak on waste, needs repair but agreed the floor wasn't as wet as fitter said. Still not convinced this isn't jus a new leak though with pulling everything about etc

Also got dryers in now and lad had a moisture meter but a radar one which penetrates into concrete, where the fitter said was off the scale it was fine! Knew it...

Hopefully dry for next week when he comes to fit floor!

*edit* who pays for the electricity for running these dryers? No doubt running them constant for a few days is going to cost. I've just took a note of elec meter reading.

Also is it safe to just leave them on running, dehumidifier, and fans when out? Don't normally liked leaving stuff on when not in?

 

[dazlight]

A way round it is the screed the floor with the correct compound then lay a liquid dpm.

You can't do a proper damp test of a floor with a measure mode / pin moisture meter.

 

[dazlight]

You can use one of these or similar

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/video_player.asp?vidID=18

Depending how much water was leaked into the floor it can call months to dry out.
If your putting laminate down though you could let it dry as much as possible then use a moisture barrier underlay for your laminate.

 

[MrMrMr111]

You can use one of these or similar

http://www.f-ball.co.uk/video_player.asp?vidID=18

Depending how much water was leaked into the floor it can call months to dry out.
If your putting laminate down though you could let it dry as much as possible then use a moisture barrier underlay for your laminate.

Not what I want to hear...months!! I suspect actually that tuneless started when I pulled out the washer to rip up floor anyway! When 1st bloke came his reading he said were fine, so that could explain.

Have to say with the dehumidifier running I'm getting a cup full of water every 1-2hrs if say, obviously air moisture as well is there to I expect. Trying to keep doors closed but the connecting door is louvred so probably also doing other room!

Is it safe to leave dehumidifier over night running? Concerned on fans also

 

[winston1]

*edit* who pays for the electricity for running these dryers? No doubt running them constant for a few days is going to cost. I've just took a note of elec meter reading.

YOU. After all it's your house and your damp. As a bonus you get to keep the distilled water collected by the dehumidifier which will save you the cost of buying some to top up your car battery or steam iron.