Concrete Moisture Testing & Mitigation
In practice, concrete moisture mitigation: Elevated moisture vapour causes most coating and flooring failures. We test the slab first, then size a mitigation system to what the readings actually show.
Concrete moisture mitigation — fixing the cause, not the symptom
Coatings that keep failing
If a coating bubbled, delaminated or turned milky, moisture is the usual culprit. Typically, recoating over it repeats the failure. We establish the transmission rate first.
Flooring adhesive breakdown
As a result, vapour moving up through a slab breaks down adhesives, lifts tile and buckles resilient flooring. The slab looks fine while the floor above it fails.
Warranty and liability
In short, flooring manufacturers set moisture limits for their warranties. Generally, documented testing protects the installation and everyone specifying it.
Concrete moisture mitigation — testing and mitigation are two separate steps
These get conflated. Because of that, testing tells you what the slab is doing. In most cases, mitigation is the system installed in response. In addition, not every slab that gets tested needs mitigating.
Relative humidity testing
For example, in-situ relative humidity probes read what is happening inside the slab rather than just at the surface, which is what flooring manufacturers reference in their limits.
When mitigation is not needed
If readings come back inside the limits for the specified flooring, no system is required. However, testing sometimes saves the cost of mitigation rather than adding it.
How a concrete moisture mitigation project runs
Site assessment
In other words, we walk the slab, check its condition, test for moisture where it matters, and give you a clear scope with no vague line items.
Read and interpret
Of course, readings are taken over the required period and compared against the limits set by the flooring or coating manufacturer.
Size the system
In practice, where mitigation is required, the system is sized to the measured transmission rate rather than applied as a blanket assumption.
Install and document
Typically, the system goes down, the slab is handed off ready for flooring, and the readings are documented for the warranty file.
Where we provide concrete moisture mitigation
As a result, all West Surface Prep is based in Commerce City, Colorado and works across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota. In short, for Denver metro projects specifically, see our moisture mitigation in Denver page.
Colorado60 cities
New Mexico7 cities
South Dakota6 cities
Common questions about concrete moisture mitigation
How do you test for moisture?
Generally, in-situ relative humidity probes placed into the slab, following ASTM F2170. Because of that, they read conditions inside the concrete rather than only at the surface, which is what manufacturers reference.
Our coating already failed. Can you fix it?
Yes. In most cases, we establish why it failed before specifying anything. If moisture caused it, recoating without mitigation would simply repeat the failure.
Does every slab need mitigation?
No. If readings come back within the limits for the specified flooring, no system is needed. That is one reason testing is worth doing first.
How long does testing take?
In addition, probes need a set equilibration period before readings are valid. We confirm that window up front so it can be built into the programme.
Get a concrete moisture mitigation quote
For example, send the facility type, the approximate square footage and any history of flooring or coating failure. However, you will hear back the same business day.