Concrete floor tiles are known for their excellent capacity to absorb moisture. They can hold drops of water and other liquid substance transferring to and from the ground. While that feature can be an advantage as your concrete floor can continually look dry, it could also cost you to lose your hard-earned money on constant repairs and replacement.
Of course, concrete floor tiles come with a hard surface which makes them appear solid on the floor when you buy floor tiles, but it may surprise you to discover that your dry concrete floor tiles are wet underneath. In reality, concrete floor tiles are moist-prone. When the moist level becomes high, it springs out of the concrete surface for many years, leading to substantial renovating expenses.
Although this quality of concrete floor tiles might not be much more hazardous if you use them on exterior spaces such as patios and walkways, it can be a great disaster in indoor spaces. That is one particular reason professional tile installers don’t recommend concrete floor tiles for indoor use in residential and commercial buildings. It might not be ideal for industrial spaces.
High Moisture Content in Concrete Floor Tiles Can Affect Your Flooring
It is something worthy of serious concern when your seemingly dry-looking concrete floor tiles are wet. If you can discover it earlier, the best thing is to swing into restorative actions. Concrete floor tiles are porous; moisture can flow slowly from underneath upward in vapor form and damage the entire flooring and every other thing that rests on it.
One of the simplest ways to avoid this moisture disaster is to give ample ventilation and or find a way to create a warm environment in the interior space. That will make the moisture’s vapor o evaporate. Otherwise, your floor might be a severe danger.
Here are some of the adverse results of excessive moisture levels in concrete floor tiles:
- A wet flooring can become a haven where mold and mildew build up.
- Excessive moisture levels in concrete floor tiles can make the tiles degrade, crack and become damaged.
- Continuous build-up of mildew can pose severe health issues for every family member.
As an occupant, it is in your best interest to keep your eyes on your concrete floor tiles to know when the time is right to drain or replace your wet concrete floor tiles. Here is a simple way to check the moisture level in your concrete flooring.
The Simple Method for Checking Moisture Content Level In Concrete Floor Tiles
One of the prevalent ways to measure the amount of moisture in your concrete floor is using a relative humidity meter or a calcium chloride kit. Using either of the two effective methods above will give you a precise amount of moisture in your concrete flooring. However, you don’t have to invest in either of the two methods necessarily; you can conduct a simple DIY test to measure the amount of moisture in your concrete floor tiles. Knowing the moisture content in your flooring will inform your following action.
The Equipment Required
- Scissors
- Clear Plastic Sheeting
- Duct tape
Step By Step Guide on How to Measure Moisture Content of Your Concrete Flooring
1. Cut the plastic Sheeting
The first important thing to do in this process is to clear your plastic sheering into different 24/24-inch squares. Take note to be sure that the plastic has no holes or tears. Using plastic with holes can mar the entire measuring process as it might affect the accuracy of the measurement.
2. Prevent the plastic from moisture
You must secure the Plastic Sheeting from direct moisture contact. To achieve that, spread all the plastic squares out over a dry concrete flooring surface and make sure they lie flat. Next is to tape along the four edges of the plastic square using duct tape or any other waterproof tape available. Press the tape firmly to create a moisture-resistant seal with the concrete and plastic.
3. Examine the plastic
After you have done all that, you will have to wait for 48 hours or more before you start to check the performance of each plastic square. To examine the plastic, first, check the plastic’s surface to see if moisture has soaked upon it. If yes, it is a clear indication of excess moisture on the surface. Your next step is to peel up the plastic’s surface to feel its underside. Suppose you can find moisture in the bottom of the plastic in the form of fogginess or dampness. In that case, it shows that the slab is springing out inestimable moisture amount.
4. Dry the surface and test again
This step is entirely optional but necessary for a more accurate measurement. Suppose you find moisture on the top side of the testing plastic. In that case, it is ideal for drying out the entire space with a dehumidifier. Then, test the floor again with the used or new plastic squares. This step will allow you to know what it requires to keep your concrete floor dry all the time.
However, suppose you find moisture on the underside of the plastic. In that case, it is good to check the moisture content level using a relative humidity meter or calcium chloride kit. By doing that, you will have a more precise measure of how much moisture is there on your concrete floor.
Final Words
The build-up of moisture in concrete floor tiles can bring more problems in naturally humid areas
However, like the basement, it can also cause more headaches in less humid locations, especially if they are just newly installed. One very safe piece of advice to prevent your concrete floor tiles from absorbing excessive moisture is to lay them in areas that are less prone to drops of water and other liquid substances.
Overall, concrete floor tiles are among the best flooring options available. If you know how to keep your concrete floor away from moisture, you will enjoy gorgeous, durable flooring.