A Little Too-Much Concrete Moisture Can Make You Sweat a Whole Lot

Transcription

1 DISCOVER WHY A Little Too-Much Concrete Moisture Can Make You Sweat a Whole Lot Buckles, blisters, discoloration and lawsuits can occur after you install your flooring. Now you can reduce your risk with a No Sweat method to test moisture. (See page 12) INSIDE this special report you will discover Why moisture testing with old technology can increase your financial risk Small flooring problems that can mushroom into big liabilities How a team approach to moisture testing can maximize your flooring results The best way to know when concrete is dry enough to install your floor The Moisture Measurement Leader

2 Table of Contents Learn What Can Happen To You When Concrete Is Not Dry Enough... 3 Moisture Can Affect All Types of Floors... 5 Discover How One Bad Decision About Concrete Moisture Can Affect Your Flooring Outcome... 6 How Too Much Moisture in Concrete Can Make You Sweat a Whole Lot Over Flooring Risks and Financial Liabilities... 9 How Early Planning Can Minimize Your Risk Get Everyone to Agree On Moisture Testing Before You Start Your Project Discover Why the Calcium Chloride Test Can Increase Your Risk Relative Humidity Testing Today Is The No-Sweat Method To Test Moisture How You Can Resolve the Moisture Problem Professional Endorsements of RH & About Wagner Meters...14 References... 15

3 Learn What Can Happen To You When Concrete Is Not Dry Enough Your client a well-known commercial real estate developer - is happy with the new floors you put down. You shake hands. You and your team feel proud of the job. It s among the best you ve ever done. You expect this project will help to solidify your position with this developer. You take photos of the floors. Your photos and story appear in trade magazines, videos and other media. The number of visitors to your website goes up. So do client referrals. Over the next year, your phone rings, new jobs come in, and you complete two additional negotiated jobs for this developer. Things are going well. Then one day your phone rings. You expect it s a prospect calling to tell you you ve won the bid. Instead its the building developer calling with an angry voice and the words we have a huge issue with the first project you did for us over a year ago. I need you to address it now. Your jaw drops! Your dream project now turns into a nightmare. And it threatens your reputation, your wallet and time you need to spend on new projects you need to complete. Page 3

4 Too Much Moisture Turns Your Dream Project Into A Nightmare You and your team visit your client. You observe that the wood floor buckles in places. In other places the epoxy floor blisters. And yet in other parts the carpet tile is easily pulled up revealing a gooey mess. The problem of too much moisture under the floor is now rearing its ugly head. This is an expensive and time consuming repair job. You ve got to demo the floor, re-prep the concrete, and reinstall the finished floor product. But first, you must properly diagnose the problem. After your initial visit to the jobsite, you request to meet with all of the parties involved. These include representatives from flooring manufacturers, adhesive manufacturers, flooring distributors, and your client. You perform a cursory exam. And you share the results and documentation from the initial moisture tests. The results from all of the calcium chloride tests performed on the job prior to the floor installation were within required specifications.yet RH tests that you perform after the failure all show that moisture levels exceed the manufacturer s recomendations. Your Risk Exceeds Replacing the Floor This flooring problem can cause a loss to your client s business. And this loss can cause a loss to their client s businesses. You may also incur a lawsuit that can cost you more money than to repair or replace the floor. With the legal system today, this problem can mushroom into multiple financial risks that can extend way into your future. Time conflicts may hinder your ability to satisfy this client. You may have to delay or postpone time to serve other clients. This can affect your cash flow and reputation. Your nightmare is only beginning.but there is a solution... Page 4

5 Moisture Can Affect All Types of Floors Moisture can cause problems for all types of floors. 1 These include carpet, wood, poured polymeric and resilient floor covering such as linoleum, vinyl, rubber tile and sheet. Page 5

6 Discover How One Bad Decision About Concrete Moisture Can Affect Your Flooring Outcome Planning for flooring involves three main stages: Determining the correct finished floor for the application. Specifying the right concrete design and pouring the slab. Installing the floor. Design Floor Specify Concrete Slab Install Floor Each stage impacts the next stage. One mistake in a prior stage can impact the finished floor. It can affect the look and long term stability of the floor. And it can increase your liability. Stage 1: Determining Your Floor It takes a team effort to specify the concrete slab and floor. The ideal team includes architects, engineers, flooring consultants, floor covering manufacturers and installers. Together, your input can affect the look and feel and the long term outcome of the floor. Architects and engineers must work together to make sure the floor and concrete are compatible. Moisture levels in concrete may differ by the type of floors and environment. Flooring consultants, floor covering manufacturers and installers can help find differences in flooring products and determine optimal requirements for concrete. Engineers & Architects Flooring Consultants Test for Moisture Floor Covering Manufacturers Flooring Installers Page 6

7 The team must plan each step of the whole flooring process. There are three key steps they must plan to achieve a successful floor: 1. Assure the construction methods are optimal for the specific flooring application. Confirm this by getting a written approval of the final specifications from the floor covering manufacturer. 2. Reduce the risk of moisture: Decide on the type of moisture tests you will use. Determine when in the construction process and where in the concrete you will test. Define how you will know the concrete is dry enough to install the floor. 3. Develop a budget that includes funds for moisture tests Omitting these steps in the plan will increase your risk as you get further into the project. Stage 2: Pouring the Slab The goal for this stage is to make a functional concrete slab that is strong and durable. It must have a surface finish and flatness that is compatible with the floor. You must test the concrete for moisture so it is dry enough for the next stage of flooring installation. Builders and/or concrete contractors build the structural portion of the slab. They also pour it and finish it. They make decisions along the way that may affect time and budget. Page 7

8 Stage 3: Installing The Floor All the planning and implementation thus far has led the groundwork no pun intended for the final stage. This stage is to install the floor. Installers put down the floor on the concrete slab. In this stage you make the floor ready for the client to use. Many installers test the moisture of the concrete to verify it is dry enough to install the flooring. Even when the general contractor or an independent third party has tested and verified the slab for dryness, installers may also test to reduce their own liability. Yet several conflicts may emerge: Use of the same type and/or method of testing for moisture. Different tests will give different results. Determination of the appropriate level of dryness to start installing. If you install the flooring while the concrete is still too wet, the outcome can affect the short and long term viability of the floor. Environmental conditions may not be appropriate during testing period or may have changed between when the initial moisture testing was done and the installers test. This can affect outcome and increase risk. Page 8

9 Did You Know Concrete Is Made Of: 41% gravel / crushed stone 26% sand 16% water 11% cement 6% air Although water and cement make up roughly one-fourth of the substances in concrete, they impact the risk in your flooring. Most if not all of the cement used in concrete is Portland cement. Portland cement sets and hardens to between 4-5K PSI when you add water. It can get hard even under water. Certain add mixtures can affect the water to cement ratio and rate of hardening. In general: A cubic yard of concrete with a water-cement ratio of 0.5 contains 275 lbs of water. About half of that water will combine with cement during hydration. The other half must partially evaporate to reduce RH in concrete to an acceptable level. Several pounds of water must evaporate from each SF of concrete to be dry enough to install the floor. Concrete is porous. It needs water to cure. It dries from top down and gains strength overtime. How Too Much Moisture in Concrete Can Make You Sweat a Whole Lot Over Flooring Risks and Financial Liabilities A Little Moisture Can Cause a Big Problem Long After You ve Completed the Job Too much moisture can cause your floor to cup, buckle, blister and discolor. 2 And it can happen days, months or years after installaton. Wet Concrete Is the Source of Your Liability Concrete breathes with the environment. In humid environments, concrete can actually act like a sponge, and absorb moisture from the air, thus increasing moisture content. Dry, warm climates lower moisture in concrete. Cold weather lengthens drying time. These are some key factors in reducing yours drying time, along with specifying a lower water to cement ratio in the mix design. When you do not give concrete enough time to dry, or the appropriate environment for drying, excess water liquid or gas may move throughout. Vapor Retarders Are a Blessing and a Curse Vapor retarders or barriers separate the concrete from the ground, preventing moisture from migrating into the slab, from the soil. It will also prevent any moisture from being able to disperse into the soil, at the time of concrete placement. This makes for a larger amount of moisture, in the slab, that needs to move out prior to finished flooring being installed. At the end of the day, the positives outweigh the negatives. Small Flooring Problems Can Mushroom Into Big Liabilities Any mistake you make can increase your liability. Fast track construction can cause quick decisions that induce big risk. Your liability can exceed costs of materials and labor. It can cost you millions of dollars and lost time. And your liability can occur long after you finish the job. These risks and liabilities can make you sweat. But by planning ahead you can feel safer. Did You Know You Induce Excess Moisture by: Too much water in concrete mix which causes high alkalinity Too little drying time to cure Sealing the concrete s pores through telescoping Lack of HVAC climate control Rainfall (if outdoors or if indoors roof is uncovered or leaks) Poor landscaping Page 9

10 How Early Planning Can Minimize Your Risk Get Everyone to Agree On Moisture Testing Before You Start Your Project Planning early to test for moisture can give you peace-of-mind. Planning the type of test to use to measure moisture can save you time and money. It can help you to decide when to install the floor. And it can minimize risks from decisions made by workers downstream in the project. Early planning ideally should include everyone on the team. This means everyone involved with the design and installation of the concrete and floor. Early plans should include: Consulting the flooring manufacturer to find out optimum moisture conditions Deciding on the type of moisture test to use When to install the floor and when to avoid installation based on moisture test results A budget that contains moisture tests, equipment and labor to avoid any rash decisions Contingency budget for necessary remedial action, if the moisture levels in the concrete are shown to be install the finished floor product alone. Determine Optimum Moisture Conditions Each floor is different. Each one contains different substances. The concentration of substances can differ in floors of the same type because of manufacturer specifications. Each floor can also differ in how it reacts to moisture and temperature in both the concrete and environment. Therefore it is ALWAYS safest for you to consult with the flooring manufacturer. Find out what they tested and recommend about moisture levels and installation. The Old and New Ways to Test Moisture There are many ways to test for moisture. The two most common methods are the anhydrous calcium chloride test (ASTM F1869) 1, 4 and internal relative humidity probe (ASTM F2170). 1, 5 The calcium chloride test is an old method with unreliable results. The internal relative humidity probe is a more modern and researched method with reliable results. The calcium chloride kits cost less than RH testing kits. But calcium chloride tests can cost you much more over time in additional work and litigation should moisture be higher than thought. RH kits may cost more than calcium chloride kits. But when you use the RH test to measure moisture, you can save thousands of dollars in labor and millions of dollars in long term liability. Page 10

11 Discover Why the Calcium Chloride Test Can Increase Your Risk Engineers in the U.S. first used the chloride kit - called dampness test - as early as , 6 They drilled a 1/2 inch diameter hole one inch into concrete. On top they put a small glass dish of calcium chloride crystals and covered it with a glass dome. The crystals sat there overnight. The next day they would assess the crystals for wetness. If they thought the crystals looked wet, they would not put the floors down. But if the crystals looked dry, they would install the floors. The test back then was qualitative. There were no numerical measurements to analyze. And there were no studies for decades to support the test nor size and shape of the dish and dome. An Old Test with Little Research to Support Its Effectiveness For many years the calcium chloride test 4 now called ASTM 1869 has been the standard test for moisture in the U.S.; no other country uses this test. The test today is quantitative. It reflects rate of moisture vapor emission from the concrete surface. The measurement is the equivalent weight of water that evaporates from 1000 ft 2 of concrete surface in 24 hours. Yet this test still has no evidence it is effective. There are several risks you incur when you use the ASTM F1869 moisture vapor emission kit: 2 False negative results for dryness. The test indicates moisture at the top ½ to ¾ inch onconcrete. But it does NOT provide information about moisture levels at lower depths. False positive results for dryness. Calcium chloride tests can suck out moisture from the concrete and give a false positive reading which could delay floor installation. The test does not provide accurate and precise moisture vapor emission levels; it can underestimate high moisture emission levels and overestimate low levels. Results show moisture at top of concrete at test-time, not future environmental change. Ambient conditions can interfere with test results. Warmer or more humid room air can cause higher moisture level results than the actual moisture in the concrete. Colder or less humid air in the room can cause lower moisture level results. Since 2010 the ASTM disallows F1869 tests for all lightweight aggregate concrete or concrete with over coatings, reactive penetrants, over patching or leveling compounds. 7 Don t Judge Concrete Moisture by Its Top A big risk with the calcium chloride test is that you judge moisture levels from the top of the slab. Moisture levels at the top ¾ inch of concrete do NOT indicate moisture levels below. Testing at a moment in time does NOT tell you moisture levels that occur from changes in environment. You take a BIG risk each time you decide to install floors on concrete using calcium chloride test results. If results come up dry when in fact the concrete is too moist you ll likely find out when it s too late. This can cause you to sweat a whole lot about short and long-term liabilities. Page 11

12 Relative Humidity Testing Today Is The No-Sweat Method To Test Moisture Relative humidity (RH) tests are fairly new. They are gaining momentum as the new standard in the flooring industry. RH tests signal chemically active water available to interact with floor coverings and adhesives. 1 These tests measure moisture at 40% depth of the concrete slab. 1, 5 They give an accurate reading. So you can feel safe when to install floors and stay sweat-free. Replace the Old Standard with the New Accurate Way to Test Unlike calcium chloride tests, research verifies the effectiveness of RH tests. Since 2002, ASTM F2170 In-Situ Relative Humidity testing has been replacing ASTM 1869 calcium chloride as the new standard to test for moisture. And it s the new standard for lightweight concrete. 7, 8 Flooring associations, such as the Maple Flooring Manufacturer s Association, recommend RH tests for concrete moisture management. They find RH tests are more accurate and dependable than calcium chloride tests. And RH test results show greater success for installing floors. The Optimum Way to Measure Moisture Equilibrium After you cover concrete with floors, moisture redistributes to equalize a constant concentration throughout the slab. Some moisture at lower depths of the concrete will rise to the top after you install the floors. That s why it is inaccurate to test the top layers. The most accurate way to measure moisture is to install sensors into the concrete, in-situ,t 40% depth. The RH test measures the moisture at a point in the concrete that is equal to the equilibrium that will take place after you install the floors. When using the ASTM 2170 in-situ moisture tests, you install sensors in the concrete at strategic places throughout the slab. As the concrete dries, moisture migrates from the bottom of the slab to the top surface. The moisture evaporates in the air. The test results accurately portray the moisture levels that would occur throughout the slab after you install the floors. Stop Sweating About Moisture Risks. RH tests are user friendly and more cost efficient than calcium chloride. Plan to use RH testing when you start your next project. No sweat! Page 12

13 How You Can Resolve the Moisture Problem In summary, the next time you start a flooring project you have two ways to measure moisture. A Tale of Two Meters. Don t risk your reputation and wealth by using old technology that is associated with myth and not science. Instead invest in the new standard technology that research shows measures moisture deeper. Calcium Chloride: The Old Way Based More on Myth than Science One way is to use the traditional calcium chloride test. This is the old method supported more by myth than by science. When using this test you measure the moisture at the top ¾ of an inch. Your decision when to install the floors does NOT take into account moisture in the remaining part of the concrete or effects from the environment. Your risks and financial liabilities are high. This is something to sweat about if your client calls you to fix or replace the floors. And you ll sweat even more if it turns into a lawsuit. See Why You Should Choose RH Tests For Your Next Flooring Project 9 ASTM ASTM Technology Relative Humidity Calcium Chloride Flooring Industry Standard New Global Standard Old U.S. Standard Lightweight Concrete New Global Standard 10 Disallowed 7 Research Based on Science Based on Myth Moisture Test 40% Depth of Concrete Top 1/2 to 3/4 inch of Concrete Time Frame of Moisture Ambient Conditions Can Affect Test Results Moisture Equilibrium at Time of Test and After Sealed No Material Costs for 13 Tests $600 $150 Time for Test Results 2 Hours 72 Hours Flooring Risks Low High Risk of Long Term Liability Low High Savings of Time and Labor Yes No Only at Time of Test Yes Relative Humidity: The New No Sweat Way Supported by Science A second way is to use the new RH test. This is the method flooring associations recommend. The RH test measures humidity at 40 percent depth. This is the point closest to equilibrium. The reading at 40 percent slab depth accurately shows true moisture levels and represents the final RH in concrete if you were to install the floors at that time. That s because moisture in the concrete redistributes equally throughout the slab after you install the floor. By using this method you can reduce your risks and liabilities. And that can help you remain sweat-free. Page 13

14 Professional Endorsements of RH Rehumidity is the only method that s necessary because it reveals the true moisture condition within the concrete, which is what the floor covering will see after it s installed. Other methods, such as the calcium chloride moisture emission test, we ve shown to be misleading. Howard Kanare, former Sr. Principal Scientist with CTL Group 11 The RH tests can provide us with information before, during and after the drying process, which can only help us to make a better determination if the concrete is dry and ready to receive floor covering of any type 8, 12 Claudia Lezell, past President of the Flooring Technology Institute About Wagner Meters Wagner Meters is the trusted world leader in moisture meters and moisture management solutions. For over 40 years, Wagner s field proven moisture meter technology has helped thousands of customers solve and eliminate concrete and wood moisture problems. Plus Wagner has helped customers improve profits. Highest Quality Moisture Meters That Meet ASTM 2170 Liner Requirements Wagner Meters provides a solution that ensures flooring design teams, builders, contractors, flooring experts, inspectors and installers can fully comply with the latest industry requirements. Fast & Easy to Use Wagner Meters offers a variety of high quality moisture meters for concrete slabs and wood floors. These meters meet the latest ASTM F2170 liner requirements. Each RH meter provides quick, easy to read, accurate and consistent measurements that verify the moisture content level deep in the concrete slab or wood. Saves You Time & Money Each RH meter can save you time and money in your project. And Wagner s customer care in the USA backs up each meter. So you can focus on getting your job done right the first time. Page 14

15 References Your Source For Moisture Management Information Resources Wagner Meters provides you with a library of resources on moisture management lms. html Hanleywood University; Moisture Testing of Concrete Floor Slabs; Kanare, H.; Armstrong Commercial Flooring; Moisture Testing of Concrete Slabs: Moisture Vapor Emissions (Mver) Vs. Insitu Relative Humidity Testing Decorative Concrete Supply, Inc.; Moisture Issues in Concrete Floors; 4. ASTM International; Astm F Standard Test Method for Measuring Moisture Vapor Emission Rate of Concrete Subfloor Using Anhydrous Calcium Chloride; F2170.org; Astm F2170 Explained; Duncan, T.; Wagner Meters; Calcium Chloride Shown to Give False Readings; F2170.org; Calcium Chloride Testing (Astm-F1869) Disallowed for Lightweight Concrete; Duncan, T.; RHSpec.com; Calcium Chloride Testing (ASTM-F1869) Disallowed for Lightweight Concrete; Duncan, T.; Wagner Meters; Comparison of Material Costs and Labor Hours for Floor Moisture Tests; F2170.org; Rh Testing: The New Standard for Lightweight Concrete; Duncan, T.; Wagner Meters; Relative Humidity: The Most Accurate Method; Kanare, H.; Restoration & Remediation; Concrete: When Do You Know It s Dry?; Lezell, C.; 2007 Questions? Call Wagner Meters today at Wagner Meters 2014 Page 15