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carmelina_spataro26

Laminate floor moisture

Hello,
I would like to know if 12% reading taken with a moisture meter is acceptable taken between laminate flooring and the sill of patio door? I live in a condo. I suspect moisture because I always get fungus/plaster beetles. I have a concrete balcony. If I pass a paper under the sill I get a lot of debris. Is this normal?

Comments (25)

  • last year

    I forgot the second picture.

  • PRO
    last year

    Let's see the outside.

  • PRO
    last year

    Slabs are notorious for soaking up moisture and drying to the inside of the home.

  • PRO
    last year

    12% is too high. You need to air seal that area. Air carries moisture inside. Seal it off and your moisture issue is fixed.

  • last year

    Here are the exterior pictures. Thanks again!

  • last year

    Who should I call as a professional? Since I live in a condo, I would have to advise my condo organization.

  • last year

    I used the "hardwood" selection in my moisture meter. Is that ok even if my floors are laminated?

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year

    I don't see anything that jumps out. You may want to check it with a thermal camera to help locate cold spots. Condo management is reponsible for repairs.

  • last year

    I’ve mentioned other issues with my patio door to my condo management but nothing. For the thermal camera, I think it’s expensive when hiring a specialist. Is there another way I can check? Like removing the sill?

  • last year

    Is it normal to have a gap between my sill and floor? I’m also able to slide a sheet of paper. Is the debris that comes out normal? Thanks

  • last year

    Here are the pictures

  • PRO
    last year
    last modified: last year

    Looks to be just wood dust in the photo. If, you feel a draft where the gap is. That would be part of your problem. Drafts will carry outside air in, that can be wet or dry. If, you are in a old building, you probably have drafty walls.

    Removing windows or door trims will expose air leaks if, there is any. All you need to do is to fill it back in with close cell spray foam to air seal.

    There should be a separate setting for laminate on your meter.

  • last year

    The moisture meter only has 4 options, hardwood, softwood, wall, and masonry. Which should I use for laminate flooring in a condo? Thanks

  • PRO
    last year

    You have the wrong type of meter. You need a meter that will read laminate material. Find out what the core is made of, then make a determination off that. If, you have a electric magnetic type meter. Set it to masonry and get areading on the concrete slab. You have a general use meter. It will not be as accurate compared to a specie specific meter.


    Take a reading of the wall since, there is a setting for it.

  • PRO
    last year

    You need to determine what flashing, if any, is between the sill and concrete. You may have to remove the door, jambs, and sill to find out.

  • last year

    This might be difficult because I’m in a condo. I tested several areas of my floors with my moisture meter. I selected "hardwood" as material even if it’s laminated floors. I keep getting 12% at several areas. I’m wondering if it’s because there is metal underneath since it is a condo. Sorry for all the questions.

  • last year

    Here are the pictures.
    Thanks

  • last year

    I suspect that there is no sill flashing.

    In photos #3 & #4 from the top of the thread, the door appears to be sitting on painted plywood or OSB. Exposed on the exterior so it is entirely possible that water is wicking underneath both the door and underneath the plywood.

    In the photos directly above^, it appears that there is some separation between the jamb and the threshold. This could be another indication of water intrusion or improper install OR both.

    What are the moisture readings at other places in the room, particularly on the wall opposite the wall with the door?

  • PRO
    last year

    Your meter is a general building material meter. It is not accurate What does it read when you measure actual hardwood?

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Is this true laminate flooring, the stuff that is essentially Formica fused to a wood fiber backing? I've noticed that sometimes someone will (mistakenly) refer to engineered wood flooring as 'laminate'... Anyway, if this is real laminate flooring, I question if a moisture meter would give you any kind of meaningful reading. At the very least, you would need to use it on the underside of the flooring and on the subfloor under the laminate. But then, I know zilch about using a moisture meter of any kind.

  • last year

    Hello, the floors are "floating floors" I spoke to someone who sells moisture meters and unfortunately I cannot use mine on my floors. Would I need to remove the threshold in order to see if any moisture? Here are some pictures I took. They are the sides of my threshold. If in fact the sill flashing is missing, wouldn’t I have puddles of water?

  • last year

    Here are the pictures

  • last year

    If in fact the sill flashing is missing, wouldn’t I have puddles of water?

    Maybe. Maybe not.

    We don't know if you have a balcony above your balcony that would be protecting your door. We don't know where you live--if you get 6" annual rainfall or if you get 40" of rain. We don't know how long ago that it last rained. We don't know if your balcony is on the weather side of the building or on the opposite side, protected from the majority of wind driven rain. We don't know how long ago that door was installed. (The exposed wood on the exterior & under the door would reveal if water is a problem. The wood would swell and the paint would flake.) We don't know when the flooring was installed. If it is 10 years old, showing signs of water damage. Or not. Or installed last month & not yet showing damage.

    We do know that the paper with the sawdust on it would be wet if there was standing water under there. We do know that the door was not properly installed--exposed wood on the exterior and separation of the jambs from the rest of the frame and the fact that you can slide a piece of paper under the threshold.

    Moist outside air could be infiltrating around the door. And the door may be protected well enough from the elements that any water intrusion`may be minimal and seldom.

    The next time that it rains, fish a piece of tissue paper (Kleenex) or paper towel under the threshold and check it for moisture after the rain stops.

  • last year

    Hello,
    Thank for the response. I had an Architect come yesterday to verify my window issues. At the same time I showed him my patio doors. He didn’t seem to think that any flashing was missing. I tried putting a paper towel under the threshold as you mentioned after heavy snow, but no moisture. He did observe the opening (see picture) My issue is still not resolved. Not sure where to go from here.