Slab & Substrate
Do you need to moisture-test a concrete slab before installing wood floors?
Yes — a concrete slab must be moisture-tested before installing wood flooring, and the industry standard is the in-situ relative-humidity probe test, ASTM F2170.
ASTM F2170 places probes inside the slab to read its internal relative humidity, which predicts how much moisture will move into the flooring assembly over time. It’s more reliable than a surface reading.
The result determines the adhesive and moisture-control system we use. Skipping this test is the single most common cause of slab-related floor failures in Florida — we never install over an untested slab.
We give free in-home estimates across the Gulf Coast. Request one or call (941) 666-0138.
Related answers
Can you install hardwood floors on a concrete slab in Florida?
Yes — in Florida, hardwood is installed on a concrete slab by using engineered hardwood glued down over a tested, moisture-controlled slab, not solid ¾" wood.
Read more →Do you need a vapor barrier over a concrete slab in Florida?
Yes — a moisture-control layer or vapor retarder is needed between a Florida concrete slab and a glued-down wood floor, sized to the slab’s measured moisture level.
Read more →