Measuring & Recording Substrate Conditions

Moisture is one of the most important factors to consider before applying any resin flooring system. Although a concrete surface may appear completely dry, significant moisture can remain within the slab or screed. If this is not identified before installation, it can contribute to problems including poor adhesion, blistering, , blooming, bubbling, discolouration and, in severe cases, delamination of the completed flooring system.

For this reason, Star Uretech recommends that the moisture condition of the substrate is checked and recorded as part of the pre-installation assessment whenever an Aspartech flooring system is applied.

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This is particularly important with new concrete and screeds, ground-bearing slabs, recently washed or prepared floors and substrates where the presence or condition of a damp-proof membrane is unknown.

Aspartech & Moisture Tolerance

Aspartech systems have been developed using advanced resin technologies, with several products offering considerably greater moisture tolerance than many conventional resin flooring technologies.

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However, moisture tolerant does not mean that substrate moisture should be ignored.

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Testing allows the installer to establish the condition of the substrate before work begins and to determine whether it falls within the requirements of the particular Aspartech product being installed.

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It can also identify isolated areas of elevated moisture that may otherwise go unnoticed. A floor should therefore never be assessed from a single reading alone.

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Using a Concrete Moisture Meter

Modern electronic concrete moisture meters provide installers with a fast and generally non-destructive method of surveying a floor.

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Instruments such as the Tramex CME5, for example, can take instantaneous readings from the concrete and are specifically designed for flooring and coatings applications.

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The precise operating procedure will depend upon the instrument being used, but a typical site survey should include:

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1. Prepare the test area – The concrete should be clean and free from surface contamination that could interfere with the instrument.

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2. Check the instrument – Ensure the meter is suitable for concrete or the particular screed being tested and that it is operating and calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

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3. Take multiple readings – Test at numerous positions across the installation rather than relying upon a single measurement.

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4. Investigate variations – Particular attention should be given to areas adjacent to walls, joints, cracks, entrances, drainage channels and locations where water may previously have been present.

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5. Record the results – Document the readings together with their approximate locations so that unusually high readings can be identified.

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6. Compare with the Aspartech requirements – The recorded results should be assessed against the requirements stated within the relevant Aspartech Technical Data Sheet before installation proceeds.

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Rapid non-destructive testing is particularly useful because large areas can be surveyed quickly, allowing the installer to build up a moisture profile or moisture map of the floor.

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Don't Rely on a Single Reading

Concrete does not necessarily dry uniformly. One section of a floor may produce an acceptable reading while another area only a few metres away may contain significantly more moisture. Changes in slab construction, previous water exposure, damaged or absent damp-proof membranes and environmental conditions can all contribute to local variations.

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Taking readings systematically throughout the installation provides a much more representative assessment of the substrate.

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Where unusually high or inconsistent readings are identified, further investigation may be appropriate. Surface moisture meters are extremely useful for surveying and identifying potential problem areas, while in-situ relative-humidity or moisture testing can provide additional information about conditions deeper within the slab.

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Record Moisture Readings on Every Installation

StarPolymers recommends that substrate moisture readings are recorded for every Aspartech installation and retained as part of the project documentation.

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Recording the results creates an important record of the conditions that existed immediately before the flooring system was installed. A good installation record should include the project and area tested, date and time, moisture meter make/model, individual readings and test locations, together with relevant environmental information such as ambient temperature and relative humidity where available.

Where possible, photographs or a simple floor plan showing the measurement locations can also be retained.

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Digital moisture meters and associated apps increasingly make this process easier. Some systems can store readings, produce moisture maps, attach photographs and location information, and generate reports that can be retained with the project documentation.

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The Benefits of Recording the Data

Maintaining a moisture record provides benefits for the installer, client and flooring manufacturer.

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It demonstrates that the substrate was assessed before installation, provides evidence that appropriate installation procedures were followed and creates a baseline against which conditions can be compared if the floor is inspected at a later date.

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Most importantly, recording the data encourages moisture testing to become a standard part of every installation rather than something carried out only when a floor appears damp.

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Measure it. Record it. Install with confidence.

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Popular Moisture Meter Manufacturers

A number of professional moisture-testing instruments are commonly encountered within the flooring industry. Examples include:

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• Tramex – The CME and CMEX ranges are specifically designed for concrete and flooring applications. The CME5 provides rapid, non-destructive measurements, while Tramex also offers in-situ probes and relative-humidity testing equipment for more detailed investigations.

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• Wagner Meters – Wagner manufactures concrete moisture meters such as the C555 together with the Rapid RH range of in-situ relative-humidity testing equipment.

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• Protimeter – A well-established manufacturer of professional moisture-measurement equipment widely used throughout the construction, surveying and flooring sectors.

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Different instruments use different measurement principles and scales, so readings from one type of meter should not automatically be treated as directly interchangeable with readings from another. Always follow the meter manufacturer's operating instructions and the moisture requirements specified for the individual Aspartech system.

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A Small Test That Can Prevent a Major Problem

Checking substrate moisture takes only a small amount of time compared with the preparation and installation of a complete resin floor, yet it can provide some of the most valuable information collected during the entire project.

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Combined with appropriate surface preparation, temperature and humidity monitoring and dew-point assessment, moisture testing provides the installer with a much clearer understanding of the conditions into which the Aspartech system is being applied.

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For professional installations, testing and recording substrate moisture should therefore be considered an essential part of good resin flooring practice rather than an optional precaution.