Why does nobody talk about the difference a proper moisture barrier makes?

I did a glue down LVP job in a Phoenix condo last month, no barrier because the slab looked dry. Came back after 3 weeks and the planks were cupping at every seam. The homeowner called me, super upset. I pulled a section and the concrete was damp to the touch, even though it felt bone dry during install. I had to eat the cost of a full tear out and redo it with a 6 mil poly sheet. Has anyone else had a slab fool them like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

smith.jordan1d ago

Doubt it's that big a deal, lee733.

lee7331d ago

Yeah, slabs lie. I've seen that exact thing happen more than once. The surface can feel totally dry but there's moisture deep down that works its way up. Now I just treat every slab like it's wet. It's cheaper to put the barrier down than to fix the floor later. That Phoenix heat probably pulled the moisture right up through the concrete.

riverg751d agoMost Upvoted

Slabs lie" is so true, I used to think it was overkill until I saw what happened to leo_kelly's buddy.

leo_kelly1d ago

My buddy in Tucson had that happen, his new vinyl plank floor bubbled up in like six months. They swore the slab was dry when they checked, but the installer told him later it was pulling ground moisture up like a sponge. Cost him almost double to tear it out and redo it with a proper barrier.