Prior to installing 50,000 square feet of recycled rubber flooring on the concrete slab of my client’s new LEED Silver hospital, are there any useful suggestions that will safeguard this installation from potential failure for at least 10 years?
The number one thing to do prior to the installation of virtually any floor covering on a concrete slab is to test for the presence of elevated moisture vapor emission or pH levels.
It is essential to install a moisture vapor barrier coating if either of these conditions is above industry standards, but also a wise step to take as a precautionary measure to avoid potential problems in the future. Perhaps the greatest reason floor covering installations fail today is due to the breakdown of the adhesives used due to elevated levels of either condition.
The most robust moisture vapor barrier coatings for the installation of rubber flooring are made of epoxy resins and are a great preventive measure for any installation, regardless of size. Bostik is a global leader in the sale of moisture vapor emission control systems and has a choice of two-component coatings available. Bostik’s Durabond D-250 Moisture Vapor Barrier Coating and D-261 Extreme Moisture Vapor Barrier Coating are both high performance, roller-applied, epoxy coatings that meet LEED credit MR 4.2 Low-Emitting Materials – Paints & Coatings. Both coatings have VOC contents well below the 100 g/L LEED limit for this category of waterproofing sealers. These coatings have minimal odor, dry rapidly and contain Bostik’s Blockade™ antimicrobial protection. Either coating can be used in conjunction with Bostik’s complete line of Durabond installation materials that include cement repair patches, self-leveling underlayments and adhesives. In fact, when used as part of a complete Bostik system, the installation can be warranted for a period of 10 years.
From the Floor Up, a Blog for the Flooring Professional
All concrete surfaces regardless of age or grade level will release some level of moisture vapor. Vapor retarders such as Bostik's MVP4 Moisture Vapor Protection has been extremely effective in controlling the rate of vapor transmission from the subfloor when used in conjunction with any approved Bostik Urethane Adhesive. Bostik’s MVP4, being the first one-part, polyurethane product in the market, currently is the only vapor protection product that does not require moisture testing prior to use and also does not have an upper limit! Once your concrete substrate is properly prepared, MVP4 is easily troweled on using a 3/16" x 5/32" V-Notch trowel and has virtually no odor. After a short cure time of 12 hours, you can begin installing solid or engineered wood flooring using Bostik's Best, TKO, BSTurethane or EFA+.
My Tiles are cracking because the concrete underneath them cracked. Is there something we could have done to prevent that?
The answer is clearly YES!
First, if the cracking below your tile is a serious structural crack, then there are other more serious issues you need to address. However, if the cracks in your substrate are from cracking that is typical in concrete substrates (examples include control joint movement/cracks, or controlled/uncontrolled shrinkage cracks, or other nonstructural cracks), then yes you have options.
Bostik has been a pioneer in waterproofing and anti-fracture/crack suppressent membranes since the late 1980's. For the Hydroment brand, Ultra-Set Advanced® and Gold™ can be used over the entire substrate or in strategic areas of the installation. For the Durabond® brand D-222 DuraGuard® Membrane can be used over he entire substrate or in strategic areas of the installation. Both membranes exceed ANSI 118.10 (LOAD BEARING, BONDED, WATERPROOF MEMBRANES FOR THIN-SET CERAMIC TILE AND DIMENSION STONE INSTALLATIONS).
and ANSI 118.12 (SPECIFICATION FOR CRACK ISOLATION FOR CERAMIC TILE AND STONE INSTALLATIONS)
- which can prevent cracks in your Ceramic Tile, Porcelain, Marble, or Granite Installations for cracking in substrates up to 1/8". As always, please refer to Product Literature and industry standards for complete product information and proper installation procedures.
First, if the cracking below your tile is a serious structural crack, then there are other more serious issues you need to address. However, if the cracks in your substrate are from cracking that is typical in concrete substrates (examples include control joint movement/cracks, or controlled/uncontrolled shrinkage cracks, or other nonstructural cracks), then yes you have options.
Bostik has been a pioneer in waterproofing and anti-fracture/crack suppressent membranes since the late 1980's. For the Hydroment brand, Ultra-Set Advanced® and Gold™ can be used over the entire substrate or in strategic areas of the installation. For the Durabond® brand D-222 DuraGuard® Membrane can be used over he entire substrate or in strategic areas of the installation. Both membranes exceed ANSI 118.10 (LOAD BEARING, BONDED, WATERPROOF MEMBRANES FOR THIN-SET CERAMIC TILE AND DIMENSION STONE INSTALLATIONS).
and ANSI 118.12 (SPECIFICATION FOR CRACK ISOLATION FOR CERAMIC TILE AND STONE INSTALLATIONS)
- which can prevent cracks in your Ceramic Tile, Porcelain, Marble, or Granite Installations for cracking in substrates up to 1/8". As always, please refer to Product Literature and industry standards for complete product information and proper installation procedures.
