Flooring Performance

Resilient flooring has similar performance issues as other flooring related to moisture control, particularly since it is commonly installed over newly poured concrete containing moisture. High moisture level in the concrete subfloor is the number one concern of flooring installers across the United States since it can create issues that cause installation delays and flooring failures. It is also the number one source of claims in the flooring industry. In terms of addressing this concern, some manufacturers offer a one-step moisture mitigation solution for their resilient flooring products. In effect, this is an integrated product that combines the flooring with a moisture wicking backing. When paired with innovative adhesives, it is possible to design a flooring solution using a one-step system to secure the flooring in place while mitigating any excess moisture in the floor slab, up to 98 percent relative humidity (RH). This type of flooring solution saves time and money since it follows the same subfloor and installation requirements as standard sheet flooring products. This unique solution allows time savings of a few weeks over newly poured concrete and cost savings of up to 70 percent when compared with other moisture solutions. Other systems, which may be expensive and time consuming, or use a “loose-lay ” installation, can cause shifting and curling under rolling loads very common in healthcare environments.

This type of integrated solution has been incorporated in a variety of building types including schools. Dennis Albanello, construction supervisor at the Rockwood, Illinois School District, said he chose to install this type of system “in 10 gyms that had high moisture issues. It saved us over $15,000 per school in additional mitigation costs—and the project was completed by the start of the school year.” The ongoing result is that the flooring does not suffer from issues that it would normally encounter from the excess moisture.

Images courtesy of Gerflor USA

Resilient flooring used in settings with potentially high moisture content can benefit from an integrated system that combines a backing material with specifically formulated adhesive to mitigate moisture issues.