Page 1 - 2018-03-CFR Volume 114 - Old Versus New Concrete Slabs - Staying Out Of Trouble With Both - March 2018

I’ve just returned from having attended Surfaces (TISE), the Fuse Alliance An-
nual Convention and the National Facilities Managers Tradeshow where I did
presentations at each. I am also giving a presentation at Neocon in June and
NFMT in November. The underlying theme of these presentations is basically
the challenges being faced by flooring contractors and end users with new
flooring products, installation methods and materials and site related condi-
tions that cause flooring materials and installations to fail. The list is long so
we’re going to skim the surface of things that are creating havoc.
OLD SLABS V. NEW SLABS - there is a big difference in the two as new
slabs may contain several and varying components that old slabs don’t. The
finishing process is different and unfortunately often creates a surface that is
slick as glass and aids in holding moisture in due to ride on trowel machines,
there are chemicals used and being touted as moisture mitigators that aren’t as well as curing agents
and bond breakers that can wreak havoc with flooring
installations. The concrete will also vary throughout the
country due to different aggregates available or being
used. In addition with Fast Track construction the con-
crete may not dry adequately or be rehydrated if rained
upon or gets wet for any reason. So you may have to
deal with elusive conditions affecting the slab which you
have no control over. You need to take some time and
research concrete substrates so you get to know it and
understand it. Concrete substrates are what you install
almost all of your commercial flooring on so it’s impera-
tive you understand what it is, it’s make up and all you
can about it. Understand also that no matter if the con-
crete is new or old, no two slabs are alike. You can’t
make blanket statements and think they apply to every
concrete slab because they certainly don’t. And please don’t believe what you hear about any flooring
product being touted as the end all to be all when it comes to resisting the effects of moisture in a slab –
that doesn’t exist. Everything can be compromised with the right influences.

1 Commercial Flooring Report March