Epoxy Floor Moisture Test

There are two tests that are typically used one is a calcium chloride test astm f1860 11 standard and the other is an in situ relative humidity test astm f2170 11.

Epoxy floor moisture test.

It is necessary to test your concrete for moisture before applying any coat of paint or epoxy on it. This is a low cost low tech moisture test that can be useful for determining if you have moisture in a garage or basement floor. The calcium chloride test is the only quantifiable test method which identifies the rate of moisture transmission within the concrete. Are placed on various areas of your floor as a single test on a large area cannot accurately determine moisture levels.

One test kit is normally used for the 1st 1 000 sq. Only then can you test properly for moisture using the following test methods. A third option a simple diy test can indicate the presence of excess moisture either on the slab surface or in the room s air but it cannot measure. If there are any mortars grouts or adhesives they must be removed and ground down to expose a clean section of concrete.

It is not however the best test if you are planning to put an epoxy coating on the floor. For those slabs with a pre existing floor covering an extra step is involved to test for moisture. Avoid the problem by doing a simple moisture test to determine if the floor is right for an epoxy coating. Concrete is thick solid and hard.

Excess alkalinity will eat epoxy coating causing it to bubble and split. Moisture testing per astm f 1869 calcium chloride test before installation of floor coverings on concrete substrates it is wise to test the rate of moisture vapor transmission mvt. Sweep vacuum and dry the concrete floor with a shop vacuum to ensure it is emitting as little moisture as possible. Planning ahead and installing a 10 mil reinforced moisture vapor barrier film before the slab is poured is a great first step toward avoiding eventual moisture issues in your epoxy flooring.

Flooring manufacturers rate their products based on the moisture levels they can tolerate and testing your slab can tell you if a particular flooring material is likely to perform adequately. The floor covering must be removed. You need to do an mvt or moisture vapor transmission test on your floor s surface prior to applying either epoxy or paint on it. Clean and dry the concrete floor.

One way to eliminate epoxy floor coating failure is to test it before you coat it. Include a plastic sheet test which really is as simple as it sounds in your timeline so that you know the slab is truly cured and ready for the. Ft then additional kits for every 2 000 3 000 sq. Follow the steps outlined below to perform a moisture test prior to an epoxy floor installation.