I second the suggestion for the waterhog mats. I'll post where we purchase them if I can find the link - you can get custom sizes, colors, styles, etc. LL BEAN sells them too but they are very pricey IMO. We use them around our dogs water bowls too since they are sloppy drinkers. In addition to our entry way, we also use them in the back of our SUV's in the cargo area since we travel with our Boxers. Keeps the truck nice and clean and absorbs liquids. After my dog had surgery he peed in the truck on the drive home from the vets office (post-anesthesia, if I remember correctly) and I was thankful for that waterhog mat. Not a drop of urine on my upholstery; the waterhog captured all of it, and it was easy enough to clean -- I sprayed it down with a hose and some cleaning solution, left it out to dry and no residual smell whatsoever. They're awesome mats.

We are having the exact same problem with a new slab which is below grade on one side. It is my understanding that this makes it "below grade". The calcium chloride test read 5.9 -- I don't know what that means except the flooring people said that was too high. The installer's hand-held reader comes out at at least 20%. I know the foundation has a French drain system as well as another 6 inch pipe all around. In 4 places I duct taped down 2 foot squares of plastic and after 3 days there is no moisture under the plastic. The flooring store says you can't glue down or float over this much dampness. They don't even think laminate would do. We are at a loss as to what to do. Can anyone help? (My dream floor was tile around the outside of the wooden floor. Naturally, the tile is already laid.) carole

JeffW I wouldn't worry about termites. If they are tunneling under the slab, they can find other ways to get to wood. If they come up through the holes you drill they will need to build a mud tube and that should be easily seen. I also wouldn't worry about heaving. I drilled holes in ours with no ill effects despite going down below zero F almost every winter, often way below zero. I suppose if you had very little drainage below the slab and you put lots of water there it could cause trouble, but as you say you are only dealing with a few gallons spread out over a long time.

Sorry, I misread the statement. The humidity in SUMMER was 20% (too low) and the humidity NOW is 43% (perfect)??? That's a bit odd. Usually it is the reverse (winter is dry and and summer is often humid). So we still have an issue with maintaining humidity, it is just the reverse of what I described above. Again - HOLLOW sound is from lack of preparation where "low spots" in the concrete could have/should have been filled. So your summer humidity levels are low (and the floors were installed during the driest time of the year) and now the floors are sitting in "perfect" conditions (43% humidity). The other issue is the adhesive use and coverage rate for the slab you have. The COVERAGE rate is how much glue is used to get the floor to stick. Too little and the floor won't GRAB the concrete. This is where there *MIGHT be another issue with the installation. If you feel you want to have the installer pull up a plank to see how much COVERAGE there was during the initial install, then you are within your rights to ask for a piece or two be lifted (do this at an edge so that it is easier to see). If you do this, make SURE you have enough planks on hand to repair the areas....it is possible the planks will be damaged in the process. The installation directions for the glue indicate the planks MUST be 90% covered in glue (the installer is supposed to check this periodically). That's what you are looking for = 90% of the plank COVERED in glue. http://www.royaladhesives.com/Files/Fortane/Fortane_One-TDS_08222016Rev1.pdf Then there is ONE MORE thing to check - the instructions for the hardwood floor you purchased. The floor will have installation instructions. So long as "glue down" is allowed as an installation format (most engineered are allowed to be glued....but not all) then we can eliminate the wood itself as the problem (ie. wrong product installed in the wrong way). Good luck. Have the installer check the GLUE coverage...(a few planks can be pulled at the wall edge to see how much coverage the back of the planks have). And check the installation for the HARDWOOD just to make sure the glue down option is listed. If all of it checks out, then the humidity control is going to be the only other thing you can do for your floor (other than rip it out and start again).