Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Preventing Moisture-Related Flooring Issues

Concrete slabs are the most common flooring base used in a range of buildings, including schools. Unfortunately, excessive moisture found in concrete slabs prior to a flooring installation can cause significant floor-covering system failures such as debonding of coatings, microbial growth and flooring expansion.

There are several steps that can be taken to mitigate and potentially prevent moisture issues before a floor covering is installed. These apply to either new or remodel projects.

The first step is to conduct moisture testing. Substrate surfaces must be tested for moisture emission prior to starting the installation. Most manufacturers and flooring installation contractors recommend relative humidity probe moisture testing, as the results of this type of test are typically more accurate, reliable and consistent than other testing methods.

If moisture emission is discovered then proper precautions, such as the use of several topical applications prior to the flooring installation, can be used for moisture mitigation. Some of these topical applications include using reactive penetrants and moisture-retarding coatings.

Finally, consider selecting a floor covering that has a higher tolerance for moisture and can perform on concrete slabs with elevated relative humidity levels. Some flooring options, such as textile composite flooring, perform in areas with elevated moisture. The breathable nature of these flooring products allows moisture to pass through the backing rather than trap it underneath. This method of vapor transmission enables the flooring to be installed with no moisture mitigation as long as the relative humidity test reads 95 percent or below.

Taking these steps prior to installation can save money and mitigate potential flooring system failures.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

David Daughtrey is the director of business development for education with J+J Flooring Group.

Featured

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • Photo credit: Elkus Manfredi Architects

    University of Virginia Selects Design-Build Team for New Residential Complex

    The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., recently announced that it has selected a design-build team for a new upper-class residential development on campus, according to a news release. Capstone Development Partners—in partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Hoar Construction/Hourigan construction team—will move forward with the three-building, 310,000-square-foot housing facility.