Coating Applications All About Concrete Moisture Testing

Water is usually the reason why concrete coatings go bad. Thus, testing the concrete for moisture content is imperative to ensure the materials’ proper surface adherence. Guardian Garage Floors, your local provider of high-quality coatings for garage floors residential and commercial, explains further.

CONCRETE COATINGS AND MOISTURE

Water is an essential component in making concrete. While it provides strength during the curing process, too much of it can lead to cracks and other forms of damage. This happens when there’s excess water on the concrete mix or moisture rises from beneath the concrete slab.

All floor coatings are affected to some degree by moisture coming up through the slab’s pores. Some coating products like epoxy are particularly vulnerable. Even if they demonstrate a strong mechanical bond, the hydrostatic pressure causes the materials to delaminate or peel off the surfaces. This creates bigger problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible.

CONCRETE MOISTURE TESTS

Garage floors and other types of concrete flooring must be sufficiently dry before coatings can be applied. For this, moisture tests are performed beforehand, which can be either one of the two types:

• Calcium Chloride Test – Also known as the moisture vapor emission rate (MEVR) test, it is the most common concrete moisture test done in construction. Here, calcium chloride is weighed before and after it is exposed to the concrete slab for 60 to 72 hours. The weight difference is the amount of moisture vapor emitted from the slab, expressed in pounds per 1,000 square feet of concrete per 24 hours.
• Relative Humidity Test – This test involves drilling a hole into the slab deep enough to insert a probe that measures moisture deep within the concrete matrix. Because the probe is less sensitive to short-term changes in ambient air humidity and temperature above the slab, the test provides one of the most accurate measurements of concrete moisture content.

Guardian Garage Floors is your leading provider of one-day garage floors. Our best-trained technicians utilize the necessary concrete preparation and coating application techniques to ensure the floor is guaranteed to perform for a long time. We make a lasting impression and leave our customers pleased for years to come.

Give us a call at (615) 645-3696 or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate. We serve homeowners and businesses in Marietta, GA, and the surrounding communities.