Never stop learning (xcep fer speling en typeing): Plus, I live in MN and the ground is completely frozen, so I doubt its leeching up from underneath. Tape a 18"x18" piece of aluminum foil to the concrete keeping it as flat to the floor as possible with contact to the concrete preferred. The preventive measures for concrete sweating are listed down below – 1. The concrete slab is darkened and slick. ● Use Floor Treatments with Caution - Avoid surface densifiers, paints, coatings and sealers as they may interfere with the porousness of the concrete and make Sweating Slab Syndrome worse. Bashing my head against the walls in some of the internet's finest chat rooms. Exterior humid air that enters … excessive moisture migrating out of soil into home can be a hazard in many areas of the home as well as a health hazard, thats why i was asking about vapor barrier. Dirty or damaged warehouse floors might seem like small issues at first, but they can be costly to replace later if left unchecked. The concrete surface must be kept clean from any salts and deposits. ● HVLS Fans - By far the simplest and most cost-effective solution, a high volume, low speed fan can significantly reduce or even eliminate Sweating Slab Syndrome. ● Salt Buildup - Another common cause is salt and other hygroscopic substances that build up on the floor, which then absorb moisture from the air. Moisture Management Requires Accurate Moisture Readings If you have concrete in your home that routinely appears to be wet or feels damp, then you may have sweating slab syndrome. Senior... if like you say... the concrete is too cold and the humidity is too great... water condenses under the rug just like on a window.... so why does it not collect on all the concrete.... From BSC; carpet or box acts as insulator; cooling slab under carpet. Interior moisture sources such as humidifiers, unvented clothes dryers, bathrooms and cooking, as well as the moisture in concrete after construction. Step 3 1. All slab is at same dew-point- including under carpet. I don't mind spending money, I mind wasting money. You bet. When concrete sweats, they can create serious hazards for your products, your equipment and, most importantly, your employees. Though this can occur year-round anywhere in the world, it is most problematic in warmer regions or during the spring and fall seasons when warm, humid air during the day settles on floors that have cooled during the night. This is just like the sides of a glass of iced tea. Depending on the cause of your sweating slabs, there are a number of solutions available. Damp floor under carpet (17 Posts) Add message | Report. The rubber backing on those rugs is acting like a vapour barrier, effectively isolating the concrete under the rug from the air above. These fans rotate large amounts of air throughout your facility to minimize ceiling-to-floor temperature differentials. above 75% and you have a concrete moisture issue, but I still would not cover it with a moisture barrier, as carpet and padding are able to breath. We look forward to helping you. The entire basement floor is tiled with either porcelain or ceramic tile that looks like wood. A persistently Other causes for sweating floors is lack of moisture barriers beneath the slab hence the movement of moisture from underneath to the surface. If any ads are present below my answer or words underlined/colored, I do not condone/support/use the product or services listed/linked to, they are there without my consent. There is a moisture build-up on the concrete floor. Some carpet is backed with jute, which is too absorbent to use on concrete. Continue reading to learn how to stop concrete sweating. Without the right carpet pad thickness and other considerations, your new carpeting will not be as comfortable and can degrade faster. This vapor condenses most where it cannot escape. QUOTE: So, I'm guessing the moisture is coming from the air inside the home and due to the science of relative humidity (do I sound like an idiot? If you want to see, put a piece of plastic on the floor. A slab without a vapor Barrier will sweat under rugs. This lower temp causes high humidity level under carpet area. Unfortunately, this solution is often impractical for warehouses and other large structures, which can be expensive to heat and cool. The moisture test has already been accomplished with the rubber backed rugs and it tells absolutely nothing other than the air underneath has reached dew point temperature just the same as if the windows were sweating with condensation. Imsorrylhaventaclue Fri 03-Aug-18 09:00:10. It is directly related to the dew point. How to Seal Concrete Floor Before Installing Your Carpet. No matter how the concrete sweats or how the concrete moisture is increased, it usually happens when atmospheric conditions are high in … I have a similar issue I hope someone can help me with. Anytime moisture under the slab comes through its vapor. We are hearing more about efflorescence related issues because of the popularity of stained floors. You then have two options, depending on your circumstances. Any kind of persistent moisture will allow mold to get a foothold and soon ruin carpet or wood flooring. The chosen fiber material type should be a synthetic form, such as olefin face fiber. Yesterday we decided to lift the carpet/underlay in our front room (ground floor) to expose the lovely parquet underneath - only to find that the whole thing was saturated with water . If a high amount of moisture is present in the concrete (over 3 lb according to a calcium chloride test) it is best to use a moisture vapor barrier coating. Sweating Slab Syndrome is caused by one or a combination of the following factors: Alkali content; Hydrostatic pressure; Salt deposits on the surface of the slab can lead to SSS. I have a whole house dehumidifier that manages the humidity in the basement. ● Moisture control and HVAC Systems - Heating and air conditioning can better control temperatures in your warehouse, which limits the opportunity for moisture to collect on your warehouse floors. Therefore, it is recommended to implement necessary […] The sweating is "condensation" the cold slab reacting with the high humidity of the rainy day. Concrete floor sweating will certainly cause hazardous conditions such as forklifts running into racks or columns and dangerous employee falls. Typically, this is when warmer outside air enters the building through an open loading dock, windows, or the ventilation system, then comes in contact with a much cooler floor. Good Housekeeping Practices. By taking the floor surface temperature, I believe you'll find the floor has reached dew point temperature in the areas where condensation is beneath the rugs and the rubber backed excel in this department.. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. I have a fully finished walkout basement. Efflorescence is a fact of life with most concrete. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. When posting in forums, letting us know your location will help others give better feedback/advice/solutions to your questions. There is efflorescence on the concrete floor surface. A good way to do this is to use commercial cleaning agents to scrub your floors and vacuum your machines. I believe a damp-proof sheet was used under the concrete floor as indicated by the telltale black sheeting used before the concrete floor was poured. Often times the screw is metric, use a standard wrench and it's going to just round out. ● Dew Point Condensation - The leading cause of SSS is when warm, moist air meets cooler floors below the dew point temperature. There are a few things you can do to try and reduce concrete sweating, and protect concrete against the damage and deterioration caused by the absorption of the condensation. *That concrete will look cool and contemporary, right? No. Prevention Measures for Concrete Sweating. Commonly, concrete floors are vulnerable to moisture and suffer from different detrimental influence of moisture such as lifting tile off the floor, rotting hardwood, damping carpet, coating delamination and many more. As the trend to have exposed concrete floors grows, the industry is struggling with the problem of unsightly efflorescence, especially when it is trapped under a film forming sealer. This can cause issues with mold and mildew, especially if you have carpet or furniture on top of the concrete. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 240,160 nonfatal workplace injuries due to falls, slips, and trips in 2018. Find out how improving drainage conditions, cleaning gutters and using a concrete sealer will stop a concrete floor from sweating with condensation. Lots of dirt. Consider carpet made from olefin face fiber. 1st step would be to determine if a vapor barrier is there or not as this can rule out ground moisture, or possible lead to a broken vapor barrier and possibly a leaking pipe. Even small amounts of moisture buildup can create slick floors that can cause employees to slip and fall. Good, because I don't know what I am talking about) the moisture is getting trapped underneath the rug. While your floors did put in a good hard day of work, the sweating floors are actually the result of a temperature change. An additional 791 fatal incidents were attributed to the same cause. The phenomenon known as Sweating Slab Syndrome occurs when moisture collects on a surface (usually concrete), creating slippery conditions that pose a danger to workers, equipment, and products. This is not actually a problem with the construction, however, but an issue that can often be controlled or eliminated by changing the upkeep of the area and, in some cases, the controlled climate conditions. Helping You to Do It Yourself! The moisture is most likely coming up from under the slab. Follow up with a light vacuum, using the vacuum's floor attachment. Oh, and dirt. Excess moisture is caused by a number of ways a few being: the hardwood floor is cupping or cracking, you see efflorescence or a white residue on the concrete floor, or the floor over the concrete is blistering or peeling away. After a humid night, water vapor in the air will come into contact with the cooler concrete floor and will condense into morning dew. There are just three sources of moisture: Liquid water from rain or ground-water. I have it set to keep the basement at 45%. Something like this. Removing Carpet before Installing Concrete Floors Time: 02:24 Tips on installing concrete floors if you have carpet. In most cases, this will cost you even more money as those products may become unusable. Seems like a wet floor. In order to determine what concrete sealer to use it is best to perform a calcium chloride test to determine the moisture vapor emission rate (MVER) of a concrete slab.. Jennie, concrete will always continue to wick water and some parts of the country call it it sweating. “If the surface of a floor slab is colder than the dew point temperature of the ambient air above the slab, moisture will condense on the surface of the slab. And both of the options use the same layers of 1/2-in. These problems are not only disrupting functions of the building due to maintenance operations but also costly. That condensation on your concrete means you have sweating floors. He has more than 34 years of experience with concrete slabs and specializes in diagnosing and correcting moisture-related flooring problems. Learn how to fix a sweating concrete floor. Moisture buildup can also damage products by dampening packaging and paper or by rusting metal. Tape it around all four sides to seal the plastic to the floor. This, paired with the condensation issue above, leads to slick conditions. JavaScript is disabled. No wrinkles. To help us serve you, please select a button below that best represents your need. On a humid night, the water vapor of a warm day comes in contact with the cooler ground, and condenses (on your floors) into morning dew. Most likely it will have many imperfections, from lots of paint overspray to footprints to divots (where someone dropped something heavy) to stains from spills. Under rugs with glues, plastic and other locations. Causes of Surface Dampness on Concrete Slabs and Garage Floors: Humidity—warm and humid air condenses into surface moisture when it comes into contact with the cool surface of your concrete floor or slab.. Faulty/Missing Vapor Barrier—moisture from the ground can seep up and surface through the concrete if no vapor barrier has been installed or is faulty For below-grade slabs, assume that the concrete floor will get damp at some point. From an equipment perspective, sweating slabs can make it difficult for forklifts, carts, and other equipment to stop, which could lead to them crashing into walls, other equipment and people or even sliding off loading docks. Here is a test. They also increase surface evaporation to prevent moisture from pooling on the floors. If you’re struggling with slick floors in your warehouse, learn how HVLS fans can help. plywood, carpet pad and carpet as shown. ● Regular Maintenance - Ensuring that your warehouse floor is regularly cleaned and maintained with commercial cleaning agents can go a long way in preventing condensation. Any carpet fiber style, from plush to loop, can be applied to a concrete floor. All seemed good and it dried well. If you’re struggling with slick floors in your warehouse, get in touch to learn how Rite-Hite’s industry leading HVLS fans can help. The majority of commercial and industrial buildings are constructed with a concrete substrate laid over prepared soil, called slab-on-grade. approximately 240,160 nonfatal workplace injuries due to falls, slips, and trips, one of the leading causes of workers’ compensation claims. Published: 1/24/2017 and Updated: 8/11/2020. You can run a de-humidifier to try and reduce the moisture in the air. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm_ZUaqybug, http://www.buildingscience.com/docu...ybrid-foundations-retrofits-measure-guideline, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Are you experiencing any of the following? Check it the next day for moisture between the floor and the plastic. If that wasn't happening, the concrete under those rugs would be dry just like the rest of the floor. Is it possible to remove worn carpeting, ceramic tile or sheet vinyl from an existing concrete subfloor and then stain or polish it? No, it's not the indoor humidity in your house that's causing moisture to accumulate under those rugs. Craig in an independent concrete floor consultant with the firm Concrete Constructives. The concrete floor should be completely free of all adhesive residue, dust and dirt before applying a cleaning solution. ● Dirty Slabs - Tire marks, debris, and other grime can also impact the porousness of your floors, making it more likely that moisture will build up on the surface. Editor's Note: Concrete Surfaces welcomes Peter Craig as a regular contributing editor for Problem Clinic. Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! One major reason for these slips and falls is Sweating Slab Syndrome (SSS), sometimes referred to as concrete sweating - an issue that has plagued warehouses and left countless tenants, landlords, and contractors scratching their heads. This is a situation where the floor develops white patches caused when water that had previously been absorbed into the concrete floor slab comes to the surface and evaporates leaving behind mineral deposits carried from the concrete. Concrete sweating, also known as sweating slab syndrome (SSS), refers to condensation that develops on the surface of the concrete. Concrete sweating usually occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cooler concrete slab and it causes the concrete floor to sweat. Sweep the concrete floor well using a broom and dust pan. If you want a definitive moisture test, drill a hole ½ as deep as the slab is thick and insert a humidity probe. post #12, not really a solution. Under the carpet is a pad, and under the pad is the concrete. 1. Not only does this cause expensive damage, but it could put your employees’ health at risk. Why Does Concrete Sweat and What is Sweating Slab Syndrome The phenomenon known as Sweating Slab Syndrome occurs when moisture collects on a surface (usually concrete), creating slippery conditions that pose a danger to workers, equipment, and products. Selecting the best carpet padding for your home may not be as much fun as choosing from the wide selection of indoor carpet colors and styles, but what's underneath your carpet is equally important. If you're not going to install your carpet on a subfloor, you'll need to make sure that you're picking a kind of fiber that will stand up to concrete's tendency to collect moisture. I’m guessing that this sheeting is the vapour barrier you talk about. I live in GA. After the construction was finished I painted the concrete floor in the new extension. As mentioned above, condensation forms when moisture from the warm air lands on the cold concrete. 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