Can we talk about LVP planks buckling after only 3 months?

I installed luxury vinyl plank in a basement in Denver back in July, and now the homeowner is calling me about planks lifting near the sliding door. I used a 1/4 inch gap around the walls and let the material acclimate for 48 hours like usual. Turns out the concrete slab had a moisture reading of 6.5 on the meter, way above what the manufacturer recommends. I had to pull up six rows, lay down a vapor barrier, and reinstall everything last Tuesday. Has anyone else run into trouble with moisture under LVP, and what do you use to test the slab before you start? I'm thinking of adding a moisture test to my standard quote from now on.

2 comments

2 Comments

roses691mo ago

6.5 is basically a swimming pool with fancy flooring on top.

thomas_brown1mo ago

Roses ain't wrong lol that slab was basically a sponge with a floor on top.