Page 6 - 2018-10-CFR Volume 121 - It's Not Always Moisture - October 2018

Some other things you should be aware of:

• Just because the flooring manufacturer says something will work to take the substrate out of play
doesn’t mean it will. Almost all manufacturers rely on what someone is telling them about a product
that works miracles when it doesn’t.

• Most manufacturers moisture guidelines are not based on science.
• Flooring material MVER rates and RH rates are arbitrary and most often marketing driven. There are

no guidelines for the ratings relative to what they mean to flooring and its installation.
• Having said this you must still test so make sure you do.
• Moisture in concrete is an elusive issue with many variables and not definitive; every case and situa-

tion is different as is every concrete slab is different.
• Moisture and alkalinity though very real have become a scapegoat for a variety of flooring failures.
• There are many new products entering the market that do in fact work for moisture and alkalinity. I

would suggest you try them to make sure they work and insist on getting all the facts from those who
supply these products to you. Most of all know the limitations of these products and where and how
you have to use them.
• Make sure you know if moisture readings were conducted, correctly, what the conditions were, by
whom and if they were ICRI certified before starting. Even when this is done there is no guarantee
that there won’t be a flooring installation failure due to moisture. The testing shows you what you
have now not what may happen in the future – that’s something no one can foresee.
• Don't take responsibility for that which you cannot control - you are not scientists, chemists or sub-
strate expert. You are flooring contractor and installation expert that's all.
• GET IT IN WRITING. Should you be asked to install flooring and you are not comfortable with the
substrate always, always, have it documented and take pictures.

And again I say to you, words do not change the
laws of physics, alter chemistry or prevent the in-
evitable. I want to scare you lest you all get
sucked into the black whole of ignorance. To this
we defer to the old saying, “if you can’t dazzle ‘em
with brilliance; baffle ‘em with obfuscation.”

Fear not however because we’re here to help with
real honest answers. You’ll know what went
wrong and why, who or what is at fault, how to fix
it and what to use to make the job work. And, to
keep you out of trouble, come to us first with your
questions so we can help guide you through what
is becoming a flooring mine field.

6 Commercial Flooring Report October 2018