Moisture Mitigation Systems
Moisture Management
Successful installations of flooring elements require careful planning and management of moisture presence and content. Through proper planning and management of flooring moisture issues by using moisture measurement tools and (if required) the application of moisture mitigation systems, the installed floor can last a lifetime. In the opposite, the failure to manage flooring moisture specifications (be it from ensuring proper curing of its different elements if time is available to do so or by adding impermeable products between the layers) may cause any of the following:
• Blistering
• Bubbles
• Delamination
• Adhesive failure
• Warping
• Crazing
• Scaling
• Pop-outs
• Efflorescence
• Discoloration
• Gaps or cracks
• Swollen joints
• Mold or mildew growth
Flooring moisture management will usually include the use of moisture mitigation systems that will limit or eliminate the movement of water vapor into the flooring systems. The moisture source may come from water vapor present at exterior sources (groundwater, high relative humidity geography, etc.) or from moisture vapor coming from a subfloor system that includes an insufficiently dry concrete slab. Regardless of the source, high moisture levels will move from high concentration areas to low concentration areas until they reach a state of equilibrium throughout. Interrupting that natural process is the key to preventing moisture-related complications at the finished flooring level.
Efficient management of moisture issues may involve one or more of the following elements that are the main features of moisture mitigation systems that Floor Solutions can provide, to ensure successful high-quality flooring work:
• Moisture testing
• Vapor retarder application
• Surface membrane / barrier application
• Adhesives’ application
Note: It should be noted that if any other provider will be used to perform any of these preparation steps, that Floor Solutions will need to certify the work quality level before performing any subsequent flooring steps.
Moisture Testing
It’s critically important to know accurate moisture or RH levels in the subfloor before and during the flooring installation project. For concrete subfloors, relative humidity (RH) testing provides the best indicator of the slab’s RH level to know when the subfloor is ready for the flooring installation and can even assist in determining the proper flooring product selection for the job site. If the installer does not measure and plan for potential moisture problems in advance of installing the flooring, there can be a potential for a future flooring failure.
Vapor Retarders
Vapor retarders or vapor-retarding membranes provide a preformed layer that is put in place between a sub-grade and a poured concrete slab (performed by the hired pouring crew) or at times recommended above the slab for other types of flooring applications, typically under absorbent flooring types like wood or laminate. Vapor retarders have different “perm ratings” that identify the level of permeability they provide between various flooring layers and some are also designed to prevent certain gases from transmitting along with any water vapor.
Surface Membranes/Applied Barriers
This category includes epoxy primers, sealers, and sheet membranes that are applied to or on a concrete slab or subfloor to reduce the permeability between the subfloor and final flooring applications and acrylic latex resins or cementitious layers that create a non-permeable layer to prevent moisture migration. Floor Solutions will use the product that is recommended by the flooring manufacturer to ensure proper installation and performance.
Adhesives
Similar in functionality, there are many flooring adhesives out on the market that are claimed to be able to withstand higher levels of moisture. Utilizing these products, in some cases can be a good proactive solution if recommended by the manufacturer. In all cases, the key to success for any mitigation product or adhesive is to follow proper installation techniques and always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.