Frequently Asked Questions
Previous FAQ's
Q. Why are flooring failures becoming more frequent?
A. Increased frequency of flooring failures is due to a complex mix of:
1. Changes in flooring materials: water-based adhesives; less permeable flooring materials.
2. Changes in concrete: less cement in the recipe; lower availability (higher price) of good quality aggregate; curing materials and practices have changed; latent aggregate reactivity has begun to mature.
3. Lifestyle changes: both living and working environments demand more isolation between interior and exterior.
4. Social changes: consumer-driven demands for more durable, less permeable flooring materials have exacerbated the problems in concrete and flooring materials.
5. Increased awareness: As owners (and lawyers) have become more aware of these problems, a vicious cycle has developed. More awareness breeds more legal claims and vice-versa.
Q. How can these problems be avoided?
A. Construction specifications and practices MUST be modernized.
For example, concrete specifications are substantially unchanged from the late 1930’s. Awareness of the problem(s) has increased, but implementing changes has proven to be a significant challenge. The biggest threat to construction today is the lack of cooperation between the trades. Too much effort, time, and money is being spent on determining who is or isn’t at fault rather than how to avoid these problems in the first place.
Q. At what level does moisture become damaging to flooring materials?
A. There is no single answer to this question.
Some believe that the established 3.0 lbs. limit imposed by flooring manufacturers will provide an environment where flooring materials will not fail. This simply has not proven to be the case. Numerous flooring professionals will attest to the fact that they have witnessed "moisture-related" failures at levels under the established 3.0 lbs. limit. They also attest that floors can be virtually problem-free, even at levels that are more than 5 times the allowable maximum. In other words, no upper or lower limits on what constitutes a "safe" moisture level have been factually established.
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