Moisture Emissions Testing
A caller asked me to come look at her new hardwood flooring in the
basement family room of her home. The flooring strips of expensive
Cherry that she had gotten at a discount building materials outlet were
buckled 4-6 inches off the concrete in several places and were starting
to warp. She was not aware of the problems caused by Moisture Vapor
Emissions and the handyman she used for the installation wasn't either.
Interior floor coverings and coatings of all types are vulnerable to moisture emissions coming up through the concrete slab. It's an invisible, odorless cause of catastrophic failure for wood, tile, sheet vinyl and VCT flooring and causes carpeting to mold and mildew.
What can be done?
In a word...prevention. Once you know that you are at risk and how much moisture is coming up through the slab, remedial steps can be taken to block the moisture from contacting the flooring material. This vapor barrier can be a sheet of plastic or a surface applied coating chosen to stop the amount of transmission for each case.
How do you know you are at risk?
Moisture emissions testing is available from CRS at a nominal cost that can save you the replacement costs of your flooring. We use Vaprecision testing equipment to accurately determine the exact amount of moisture coming through the slab. This allows the remedial measure to be selected to stop the problem in the most efficient way possible. First a hockey puck sized sample of Calcium Chloride material with a known weight is placed under a sealed plastic shell and left for a measured amount of time. It is then digitally weighed.
The weight gained is the water vapor coming through the slab and that number is used to determine the best way to counteract the effects of that amount of moisture emissions.
CRS can offer you precision Moisture Emissions Testing and make the correct recommendation for the protection of your flooring installations. Call today to set up an appointment.
Interior floor coverings and coatings of all types are vulnerable to moisture emissions coming up through the concrete slab. It's an invisible, odorless cause of catastrophic failure for wood, tile, sheet vinyl and VCT flooring and causes carpeting to mold and mildew.
What can be done?
In a word...prevention. Once you know that you are at risk and how much moisture is coming up through the slab, remedial steps can be taken to block the moisture from contacting the flooring material. This vapor barrier can be a sheet of plastic or a surface applied coating chosen to stop the amount of transmission for each case.
How do you know you are at risk?
Moisture emissions testing is available from CRS at a nominal cost that can save you the replacement costs of your flooring. We use Vaprecision testing equipment to accurately determine the exact amount of moisture coming through the slab. This allows the remedial measure to be selected to stop the problem in the most efficient way possible. First a hockey puck sized sample of Calcium Chloride material with a known weight is placed under a sealed plastic shell and left for a measured amount of time. It is then digitally weighed.
The weight gained is the water vapor coming through the slab and that number is used to determine the best way to counteract the effects of that amount of moisture emissions.
CRS can offer you precision Moisture Emissions Testing and make the correct recommendation for the protection of your flooring installations. Call today to set up an appointment.
Posted by David Gordon at 8/17/2011 9:00 AM 
Categories: Surface Prep, Technical Consultation
Tags: vapor emissions commercial floors concrete slab concrete surface interior flooring moisture test technical consulting surface preparation
Categories: Surface Prep, Technical Consultation
Tags: vapor emissions commercial floors concrete slab concrete surface interior flooring moisture test technical consulting surface preparation
I have observed this same issue several times and it is indeed a heartbreaking occurrence for any homeowner. It definitely pays to explore what potential pitfalls may occur with the installation of any flooring material. Additionally, it is definitely in one's best interests to hire a contractor who is familiar with the installation of the flooring material in question.
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Excellent article. No doubt, our industry must do a better job in preventing problems rather than pointing fingers after a job goes bad. Some flooring mfgs. may require RH testing as well. Double check the job before proceeding. It is my opinion that RH in the concrete is important; however, the moisture emitting from the slab is what causes the long term damage to many of today's high performance flooring.
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Steve, that's a good point about the alkalinity in the concrete. That can also affect the floor covering's performance. We also recommend doing alkalinity testing. Thanks for your reply!
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