How to check for DPM?

[CaptainC]

Hi all,

About to lay some LVT in the hallway to replace the grubby carpet that is there currently. From reading a few threads on here, there's quite a bit of talk of using Ardex NA sandwiching a liquid DPM layer - and my question is, how do I know if I need to add in a DPM layer or can I just level straight on top of what's there already (which looks to me to be concrete)?

House is 1970-72 build, no smell of damp or any sign of moisture under the carpet. Any tests that I can do myself?

Many thanks.

 

[Wayners]

Damp meter to test.

My house was built in 1964 and has clear plastic under the concrete floor

 

[CaptainC]

Thanks - I can get my hands on one of these if that's sufficient?

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Dryzone-Moisture-Meter---Plastic/p/278297

 

[dazlight]

Waste of money so don’t buy it.
You won’t have any sign of damp as a carpet been above it so it’s been breathing.
Is the floor black or clean concrete.
Are the skirting on ?

Imo it needs a Dpm at that age property if it’s a ground floor.

 

[CaptainC]

Waste of money so don’t buy it.
You won’t have any sign of damp as a carpet been above it so it’s been breathing.
Is the floor black or clean concrete.
Are the skirting on ?

Imo it needs a Dpm at that age property if it’s a ground floor.

Thanks, wasn't planning on buying one as the in-laws have something like that - but will save me a trip to collect

As for the floor, looks straight concrete to me but with some adhesive residue from the carpet (and prob tiles before); and the skirting is all in place currently, but could pull some off if needed.

Here's the floor:

A couple of other things I noticed, firstly on the adjoining room it looks like there are some black vinyl(?) tiles under the carpet:

Also, the WC off the hallway seemed to have some glue LVT installed (must be a fair age, as nothing else has been touched in the house for a while from the looks of it) that I've pulled up and was all attached with nothing loose:

Does any of that help?

Many thanks all, the help is much appreciated!

 

[dazlight]

Defo needs a coat of ardex na or Mapei na or fball 1200 pro.

Are you doing glue down LVT ?

 

[CaptainC]

Thanks - yes, planning on glue LVT and was going to Ardex NA it as have used that before (just a small room) in a previous house.