Before installing floor covering in rooms with concrete floors, it is always important to properly prepare the surface. This insures that the floor covering will lay properly on the surface and make it last longer. The same goes for any stains or paint that is applied to the concrete surface.

To prepare the concrete surface for installation the area must be clean, sound, dry and free of any foreign matter that would interfere with a solid bond especially if you are applying adhesive, stain or paint. This mean removing any dirt, oil, wax, curing and sealing compounds that may have been applied to the surface. Some concrete curing and sealing compounds can interfere with stains, paint or primers penetrating and mechanically bonding to the concrete surface. To determine if a surface has a sealer or curing, test the surface by putting small puddles of water one-inch across at various points over the surface of the floor. If the water substantially soaks in with 30minutes the floor is porous. If after testing it is determined that the surface is nonporous, it may be necessary to remove the sealers or curing compounds that are causing the moisture from absorbing by mechanically abrading, sanding or shot blasting the surface. Achieving a good bond is imperative to a successful application of any product such stains, paint or adhesive. If a surface is nonporous it will lack adhesion.

A moisture test should always be preformed on a concrete surface before installing any floor covering. Moisture vapor and hydrostatic pressure comes from ground water and water vapor coming up from the slab. This moisture may prevent adhesive from curing when installing floor coverings that require adhesive.  Test floor for vapor emissions in accordance with anhydrous calcium chloride test. Vapor emissions should not exceed the floor covering and adhesive manufacturers moisture limitations. Be sure and check with the manufacturers for their recommendations. This is very important to most floor covering and adhesive manufactures warranties. If a moisture test is not performed, it can void their warranties.

No new floor covering can correct an uneven floor. Level any high spots, holes, minor depressions and repair all cracks with a suitable underlayment or floor patch compound. Otherwise, irregularities can “telegraph”through the new surface.

For best results, acclimate the room, floor covering and adhesive. Most floor covering manufactures recommend the room temperature and humidity to be a certain level before, during and after installation. Be sure and check with the floor covering manufacturer for their recommendations.

CRS can help you with your surface prep. We specialize in crack repairs and leveling concrete surface using professional products. We can also do moisture tests using anhydrous calcium chloride test (ASTM F-1869) or insitu relative humidity test (ASTM F-2170) which is recommended by The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)