Moisture Related Floor Covering Problems.
What Causes Moisture Issues for Floor Coverings?
Moisture related failures are most often due to one or all of the following:
1. Excessive moisture from the concrete slab.
2. Insufficient drying time before installing the floor covering.
3. Improper or lack of moisture testing.
4. Changing conditions during the initial test.
5. High alkalinity in the concrete slab which weakens adhesive bond.
What can happen to your flooring due to moisture issues?
Damage to floor coverings include debonded flooring / lifting, bubbling, blisters, discoloration, adhesive degradation or oozing, cupping, dents, indentation, gaps between tile, the smell of adhesive coming from your floors and even mold are all also signs of a moisture issue. Without moisture correction precautions, the flooring could be destroyed completely.
Examples of Flooring Susceptible to Sub-floor Moisture:
Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)
Unbacked Sheet Vinyl
Rubber Flooring
Carpet Tile
Vinyl Tile
Other non-breathable finished floors
There are many methods of correction depending on test results. Sometimes changing the product is enough, other times changing to high moisture adhesive works, and sometimes you need a full remediation system. What choice you make depends on application, product and levels of moisture.
Brief Guideline to Moisture Issue Remediation:
1) Moisture Testing
Remove current floor covering and perform flooring tests. The results from these tests will point you in the direction to correctly address any issues.
Types of tests include:
RH (Relative Humidity): Shows the available moisture in the slab in its final state.
Calcium Chloride: Shows the amount of moisture in the concrete at the surface.
Alkalinity Test: Measures the pH levels in your flooring.
2) Floor Prep and Moisture Mitigation
If we find moisture, we can take precautions by using certain coatings and treatments before installing the flooring. This is especially important for LVT. Properly preparing the subfloor is the most time-consuming part of the installation, but it's also the most crucial. Good installers spend about 70% of their time preparing the floor before starting to lay new floor coverings.
A few important steps for preparation include:
Scraping or grinding old adhesive or foreign substance from the concrete. This is especially important when replacing old flooring. A dust-control system could be helpful in high dust-sensitive areas.
Patching and repairing any holes, large cracks, or surface defects in the concrete.
Use concrete patch compound for light repairs.
Use self-leveling underlayment for larger areas.
All concrete subfloors should receive a thorough skim coat with a quality self-drying cement-based finishing underlayment.
3) Determine an appropriate floor covering option.
In some cases, selecting a floor covering that has a higher tolerance for flooring moisture and can perform in concrete slabs with elevated relative humidity levels. Some flooring options, such as a textile composite flooring with pre-applied adhesive backing, perform in areas with elevated moisture. The breathable nature of these flooring products allows moisture to pass through the backing rather than trap it underneath. This method of vapor transmission enables the flooring to be installed with no moisture mitigation.
Our flooring experts can assist you in selecting the right floor covering for your specific needs. We provide guidance on moisture testing and proper installation. We offer water-resistant, floating, and breathable floors, which are ideal for locations with high moisture levels.