It is estimated that floor covering failures in the US amount to over a billion dollars a year to cover repair, replacement, downtime and damages. Many rapid changes are occurring within the construction industry, including but not limited to:
- Fast track construction schedules
- Increased use of natural materials
- The loss of asbestos as an ingredient in resilient flooring
- The loss of solvents from adhesive and coating systems
- Increased use of water to allow easier placement of concrete
- Absorptive aggregate in lightweight concrete
Concrete moisture and alkalinity problems are the biggest obstacles facing what would otherwise be successful flooring installations on concrete slabs. Some of the problems and costs associated with installing moisture-sensitive floor coverings over a concrete subfloor with high moisture and alkalinity (pH) content include:
- Adhesive breakdown and emulsifications, debonding, oozing / bleeding
- Flooring and underlayment expansion, peaking, curling, bubbling, gapping/seam separation
- Alkali attack, efflorescence, staining
- Microbial growth, mold, mildew, fungi
- Damage to fixtures, walls, ceilings
- Indoor air quality (IAQ) and “sick building syndrome” issues
- Lost time and productivity of building staff
- Downtime for repair and/or replacement of floor covering, concrete subfloor and/or underlayment and fixtures