I have just meet the hardwood installer at our new place and he provided me an estimate which we feel is acceptable. We are going to be installing bamboo over concrete and I asked him about the glue and moisture barrier he would use.

He is going to be installing Bostiks Best and does not feel an MVP is needed for this floor. Having spent the last month searching the forum it seemed to me that a moisture barrier is good insurance for any floor.

His feeling is that with the glue and the bamboo coming with a moisture gloss that it is not necessary. Obviously I am not the expert and would like to hear what you guys think of that?

Thanks,

Nathan

What did the concrete moisture tests conclude needs to be done?

It sounds like he is in the majority of installers out there. He knows just enough to be dangerous. TEST THE CONCRETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will tell you if you need MVP or not. It will talk to you.

Calcium Cloride Dome tests (3 per the first 1000 sq.ft. and 1 for each addition 1000 sq.ft.) If it is close to 3# or over, you need MVP.

2071 humidity tests. If it reads close to 75% you need MVP(this is the best test IMO)

Tramex Concrete Moisture Meter: Map the floor about every 2 sq.ft. If you get a reading near 4.5 on the upper scale, you need MVP.

Currently we do not own the house and we are in escrow. The carpet is laid over everything and we can't remove it untill the owner leaves. Also the installer found tile installed under 50% of the carpet and will need to remove that also. He believes the concrete is hard enough so it will not require levelling from the tile removal. He told us that if levelling is required we will need to get someone else to do that.

We take ownership of the place on a Sunday. We plan to pick up the wood on the Sunday and let the acclimation happen before the installer starts. The installer will remove the carpet and tile on the Wednesday and start the floors Thursday, with the expectation of being finished Saturday.

I am thinking that maybe we should remove parts of the carpet on the Sunday and try and do some DIY moisture test ourselves. That way we should bhe able to do the tests before the installer arrives?