Laminate Flooring Concrete Moisture

There could be unsuspecting areas of moisture you were not aware of.

Laminate flooring concrete moisture.

The primary source of moisture in a concrete slab is the proportion of water mixed with the cement. Before pouring cement builders will mix it with excess water meant to dry out over time. You can also use the calcium chloride test. Tape the seams using a polyethylene tape.

Even if your concrete subfloors are a few years old it is still important to check the moisture levels. Depending upon whether it s new construction or a renovation project building professionals need to understand the underlying issues inherent in both scenarios when it comes to the presence of moisture in concrete slabs. I have a relative moisture meter that measures a large difference between the unnafected areas and areas that had water coincidentally darker in color difference is as large as 60 and unchanged. As a rule new concrete must cure for 60 days before you can install laminate vinyl or hardwood flooring on top.

But when flooring is laid directly on the concrete it effectively creates a watertight and airtight barrier. Yet you have other water sources to worry about. There are two areas of concern when identifying and preventing moisture related flooring issues in construction. If given ample space warmth and ventilation water vapor will simply evaporate.

We recommend you choose a moisture resistant flooring material when installing over concrete since many factors influence its moisture levels. After ensuring that the floor is level install the moisture barrier sheeting of polyethylene film overlapping the edges by 8 inches. To check your moisture levels by using a standard moisture meter. Concrete laminate subfloor moisture standards shaw pergo kronotex mannington torlys columbia mohawk quickstep unilin all require calcium chloride testing performed to astm standards.

Sources of moisture in concrete. Some laminate flooring comes with a foam backing. 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. As the concrete hardens water ensures it stays hydrated throughout the curing process.

Before installing laminate flooring over concrete prepare the surface properly. If your concrete passes the moisture test then plastic sheeting at least 6 mils thick will prevent moisture from getting into your laminate flooring. Where plastic sheets must be joined overlap the sheets by several inches and use strong vinyl tape to secure them. Hi we had some rain getting under our laminate floor that stayed a few weeks we removed the laminate completely and had the bare concrete drying with a dehumidifier for several days now.

No water source has a greater impact on the time it will take concrete to set. The vapor emission standard for each of these companies is a vapor emissions reading of less than 5 lbs per 24 hours per 1000 square feet. Install a plastic vapor barrier.