Does My Concrete Require Moisture Testing Before a Flooring Installation?

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While concrete slabs may seem fully solid, they are actually quite moist and porous. In their early stages they begin as a mixture of water, cement, sand and aggregate. They then harden into a still-porous substance that continues to absorb and transfer moisture throughout its lifetime.

When installing floors over top concrete, unless the construction is new, it is important to conduct a moisture test. This helps determine what moisture content is present in the concrete and whether it is safe to install over the slab.

Unaddressed ground moisture can adversely affect any flooring system installed over concrete as moisture migrates upward in the form of vapor (moisture vapor transmission). This is because the flooring acts as an airtight barrier that prevents moisture from simply evaporating on its own.

If a moisture issue is not confronted, your facility is likely to experience:

• the growth of mold or mildew.

• degradation, rot, or warpage of certain organic flooring
  materials installed over the concrete.

A resinous floor installed over the right slab may last for decades, even as long as 30 years or more.

To read more, check out our blog series Water and Your Floor:

Part 1: Moisture Vapor Transmission

Part 2: Waterproofing Concrete For Industrial & Commercial Facilities

Part 3: Pitching Resinous Floors To Drains

Stonhard is the unprecedented world leader in manufacturing and installing high-performance polymer floor, wall and lining systems. Stonhard maintains 300 territory managers and 200 application teams worldwide who will work with you on design specification, project management, final walk-through and service after the sale. Stonhard’s single-source warranty covers both products and installation. Contact us to learn more about our precision installation methods and specialized products.