Lost $1,500 on a 'smart' concrete moisture sensor that never worked right

I got one of those wireless sensors last year for a slab pour in a Phoenix condo project. The app kept showing weird readings, so we waited an extra three days before installing flooring. Turns out the sensor was just broken, and the concrete was fine the whole time. That delay cost us a full crew day and messed up our schedule with the flooring guys. I should have just used the old plastic sheet test. Has anyone found a digital sensor that's actually reliable for this kind of work?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_luna1mo ago

Old plastic sheet test" is right, I've had the same headache with those fancy sensors.

wyatt8511mo ago

Saw a forum post where a guy said he just uses the old plastic bag trick. He wraps it around his hand and checks for condensation after a few hours. Claims it's more reliable than his digital reader that keeps giving him wild numbers. Makes you wonder why we overcomplicate the simple stuff. Sometimes the low tech fix is just the right tool for the job.

elliotjenkins1mo ago

My uncle's greenhouse still uses that bag method for humidity.