Rising moisture is a resin floor system worst enemy. If moisture comes into contact full bond strength may not be achieved. This in turn could result in blistering, partial delamination, or complete failure of the full resin system.
When laid concrete should be solid enough to walk on, without leaving footprints, after anything from 24 to 48 hours. By seven days, the concrete should be cured to at least 70 per cent of its full strength and you should be able to drive on it without damaging it, but it is not until 28 days that concrete manufactures consider concrete as fully hardened. Factors such as Moisture, Temperature when laid and Mix Design can all affect the strength and hardening time.
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Resin Floor Systems | Moisture readings
When laying coatings or screeds onto a newly laid concrete slab, we take moisture readings at multiple points over the floor to assess the moisture present. Every concrete slab has moisture and will always retain some moisture, even when considered dry and fully cured. Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by fluids at rest. As a flooring contractor, we use a Protimter MMS2 instrument to detect the Hydrostatic pressure/moisture content of existing floors. The search mode detects sub-surface moisture utilising pinless radio frequency finds moisture up to3/4 in (19 mm) below the surface. Moisture readings of
0 to 169 – No risk of rising moisture
170 to 199 – At risk of rising moisture
200+ – Classified as wet
A prime concern – DPM (Damp Proof Membrane)
If a reading is over 170 we would always recommend applying a DPM (Damp Proof Membrane) also known as epoxy resin primer.
PSC Flooring was recently contacted by Wye Valley Group. They are a busy waste recycling centre, based on Rotherwas Industrial Estate, Hereford, to look at refurbishing their floor surface in the workshop area, totalling 788 square metres.
Resin Floor Systems | Newly laid concrete slab
The workshop had a newly laid 788sq metre concrete floor. The customer was looking for a hard-wearing, functional floor that could withstand the rigours of their business yet would be easy to keep clean. PSC recommended a two-coat epoxy resin flooring system.
When we took moisture readings at multiple points over the floor, it showed readings between 230 and 240. We recommended applying a coat of Damp Proof Membrane epoxy resin primer to the newly laid concrete floor to prevent residual damp from rising and delaminating the epoxy flooring system.
We applied a coat of Damp Proof Membrane epoxy resin primer to the floor. Once this was completely dry, we laid the two-coat Resdev Pumatect high build epoxy resin flooring system in the client’s chosen light grey.
In preparation for laying the two-coat epoxy resin flooring system, we thoroughly cleaned and prepared the main floor surface. We used a light shot blast and a handheld 110v diamond grinder on the edges. Then, we vacuumed the entire area to remove all residues and dust. After that, we repaired any damaged localised concrete, expansion joints, holes, and cracks.
Finally, to enhance health and safety, a 200mm wide demarcation line was installed. This was around two pit areas and Rolling Roads in Resdev Pumatect high build, epoxy resin flooring, safety yellow.
Completed within just 4 days and within budget, Mr Phil Pilcher-Morris, Construction Manager at Wye Valley Group said, “The high build, epoxy resin flooring system laid by the team at PSC flooring has completely transformed the space, lightening and brightening the area”.
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