What is a good moisture meter? I would like to find something that doesnt leave a mark on the flooring but is as accurate as possible. Apparently having a wood floor requires near constant monitoring. I have no idea where I stand insofar as moisture readings are concerned, so what is a good meter?

Sorry to say but there is no good cheap meter. And a non-invasive one will not work as good as a pin meter. You can get close with a non-invasive meter if you know how to use it.
Here's a newer one I'd like to have. http://www.tramexltd.com/Our_Products_D ... aspx?ID=14

Things I see about your job that begs an answer:

You said the contractor checked the moisture in the concrete; How was this field test done?

The guys showed up with the plywood and the wood and started installing; Plywood and flooring not acclimated properly? Checked the moisture content of the plywood vs the moisture content of the hardwood.

The floor gapped at first and now is cupped. Are the gaps gone?

Stephen,

Thanks for the meter info.

I told the contractor that I was concerned about moisture because as I've explained at the outset of this thread there were indications that water had intruded into the house at some point before I took ownership. He checked the slab with a pin meter. He drilled two holes into the concrete in about the same area that I'm now having problems, drove nails into the holes and attached his meter to the nails thus completing the circuit. He said the reading was to the high side of normal. I asked what does that mean and he replied that it was fine and we were good to go.

I really do wonder about the aclimation process, but then again the floor performed pretty well for 2 years before this winter when it really started to cup. As far as the moisture content of the ply and hardwood, I have no idea. I didnt know to ask and he didnt offer the info about moisture content.

The only problems I have had with the floor is cupping. The only gaps in the flooring were put there during installation on purpose. The installer walked the unfinished floor wth me and pointed at the gaps and said "I'm sure you are wondering what the gaps are there for" and I said that I was indeed curious. He explained that "they will close as it aclimates over the next couple of weeks". When he returned and looked at the floor he said "huh!" and I asked "huh what?" and he replied that the gaps should have closed up. He then said that it was no biggie and that he would "work his magic". Well his magic involved using filler.

Sorry, but this text box started getting unstable and I couldnt type any more. I sometimes wonder if it isnt just my luck, I mean I cant even do something a simple as post on a forum without some kind of problem.

Anyway, within two months of finishing the floors an area cupped and he refinished the area. The area that cupped was very near where I'm now having problems with cupping.

I think I'll put a rug over it and forget about it. This is more aggrivation than I need. I can tell you I'll never have wood floors again.

Well, I hear people say that about carpet all the time. Stone on the other hand also has it's fair share of issues, even porcelaino tile. And that stuff is cold as all get out. brrrr

That moisture test he did on the concrete is old as the hills. Not used very much anymore. Plus his nails are reading an average from top to bottom. Got in an argument with an X-GC who was a super for a flooring company about that once. I was applying for a job, needless to say I did not get hired because he though the carpet institute knew more about moisture testing than I did. ho ho

On the other hand we have people give wood installers grief cus it's taking so long. I am in a job now, been three weeks, not a Stick O Hardwood on the floor yet. lol First moisture testing using Rh tests, then floor prep...grinding, then MVP4, more moisture tests on top and now the floating subfloor is finally in and drying down.

As far as flooring is concerned, in the future I will strip everything down to concrete slab and stain it and call it done. Anything added to the slab as a floor is just a headache. Stained concrete, Persian rugs, done.

Then I won't tell you about the stained concrete gone bad. Any floor not done wright is all the same as the others.

It is not the hardwood thats at fault.

His moisture test was nothing but smoke & mirrors.

I always laugh, when I hear someone putting a wood meter, to nails into the concrete.