After flood or other water damage disasters, drying outside that the house is crucial. Everything has to be dried correctly: walls, ceilings, furniture, hardwood floors, but also concrete floors. But, proper concrete flooring water damage repair presents exceptional challenges.
When inexperienced contractors dry the walls and contents, concrete flooring is often assumed to be dried. People then proceed to restore their room and include new flooring. Not too soon after, they start to have problems with the new flooring and assert it is defective. The actual problem is probably that the concrete was not completely dried when they laid the new flooring down.
Many builders are unaware of this and may create problems for their clients by failing to remove excess moisture from the concrete.
The Water-Based Adhesive Problem
A problem it is possible to encounter with concrete floor water damage is the fact that water-based adhesives will not cure properly. As water-based adhesives are becoming more popular, this has become a larger issue when dealing with recovery.
Since moisture disappears from the concrete, then the water-based adhesive absorbs it. If the adhesive absorbs more moisture, it cannot stick to the ground correctly. Since the adhesive fails to become fixed, it is going to soften and move. Signs that have occurred are bubbles or blisters in certain flooring materials.
After employing tile, the glue may ooze or leak out along the edges of the joints or seams. People may believe that the flooring material is defective, but the true issue is that the concrete hasn’t been dried properly.
How professionals dry water-damaged concrete flooring
Successfully drying concrete following water damage demands the help of a professional restoration firm. Just when professionals properly dry the concrete can you install new floor coverings.
Here are essential tools and methods that professionals use:
- Containment chambers assist with the evaporation of the moisture from the concrete. All these are either boxes or bubbles of plastic taped to the floor. By trapping the moisture released from the concrete in a small space, you can reach the right quantity of humidity quicker.
- Thermo-hygrometers and non-evasive yards are used to help determine whether the concrete is hitting the ideal humidity. Because concrete is water-loving, this ideal humidity can often be in the upper 60s. Any reading below 72 percent is sufficient to install carpet or tile flooring. Wood floors should have readings below 70%. If your floor still requires more drying, then that’s not an issue for a professional water damage restoration company.
- Low Water Resistant (LGR) dehumidifiers — those apparatus lower air temperature in the moisture-filled area, which helps the dehumidifier remove more moisture in the air that passes through it.
- Extra drying can be accomplished through air motion. Taking away the boundary layer in the surface of the concrete also facilitates drying.
Be aware that each of the various trades associated with installing floor coverings has generated installment standards. All those criteria require the installer to ascertain that the subfloor (regardless of type) is in a decent condition to permit proper installation of almost any floor covering.
For concrete flooring water damage repair, contact PuroClean!
In case you have experienced concrete floor water damage at your home, it’s important to get hold of restoration professionals, such as PuroClean. We’ve got the right tools to wash your home’s concrete floors correctly.
We’ll help minimize the reduction to prevent further harm. We will then offer restoration services to return the home to a pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. All of PuroClean offices have qualified specialist technicians. They supply the latest state-of-the-science services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke, mold, and other disasters. Click this link to find out more about their services.
Learn the best way to protect your house from water damage and read this guide on things to do after enduring water and storm damage.