Moisture Content Of Concrete For Vinyl Flooring

A moisture barrier may or may not be needed to insure good adhesion of your vinyl floor so do your homework to avoid problems later on down the road.

Moisture content of concrete for vinyl flooring.

The majority of commercial and industrial buildings are constructed with a concrete substrate laid over prepared soil called slab on grade. Moisture particularly in a concrete slab can come from a number of sources. A safe level of moisture in concrete for an outdoor walkway basketball courtyard or parking lot will be different from what s safe for interior applications such as putting a wooden flooring system over concrete or installing a building s superstructure. Water is an inherent part of the hydration process of concrete.

If the levels are suitable at that time flooring may be installed. Therefore it is recommended to implement necessary. Flooring installers check the moisture level of concrete at the time of installation. Installation should involve thoroughly preparing the concrete subfloor and checking for any water sources that might infiltrate the vinyl.

Given the realities of moisture in concrete and the necessity of measuring the moisture condition of the concrete slab accurately only one clear conclusion exists. Concrete slabs and floors can be excellent subfloor surfaces for tile and other floor coverings but too much moisture in the concrete can cause problems with flooring installations. Moisture prior to installing rubber and or vinyl flooring. Concrete moisture levels can affect flooring.

However allowing excess moisture to leave the slab after it s poured is crucial to a successful flooring installation. Once the slab is poured the excess moisture must leave the slab in order to strengthen the concrete bond. A concrete floor seems like the perfect base for a vinyl floor installation. Therefore it s advisable to have a floor tested for moisture content prior to installing flooring or moisture barriers.

Moisture can be a problem when a floor that looks dry really isn t. A concrete floor with a too high moisture content can wreak havoc on a vinyl floor. If the slab does not have an adequate moisture barrier underneath moisture can wick up from ground sources in a continuous cycle. Astm f2170 in situ rh testing will give you the most reliable information to help you manage your flooring project successfully.

Because concrete is permeable ground moisture can slowly move upward in the form of vapor and adversely affect anything that rests on top of the concrete. If given ample space warmth and ventilation water vapor will simply.