Importance of screed moisture testing identified

During the construction process, it is vital for the building contractor to ensure the screed has been dried to the optimal level before any final floor finishes such as vinyl, carpets or tiles are applied. If the screed is still wet, it can result in the floor finish lifting after fitting. This not only results in additional cost to repair the damage, it also creates significant disruption for the dweller and potential reputational damage for the contractor.

The challenge
The contractor had not conducted a screed moisture test that would have shown moisture levels before applying the final floor finish. Instead, an element of guess work had taken place as the screed had looked and felt dry. After a tenant had moved into the property, a complaint was made as the floor had begun to lift. The client contacted Polygon late one evening, but was unable to provide much information as to the floor finish and the exact details of the problem.

State of the art equipment 
Polygon’s technicians arrived at the property the next day. Due to the limited information available initially, an extensive range of equipment was taken on-site to ensure that the problem could be identified. The state of the art equipment included a thermal imaging camera to check the underfloor heating system, protimeter readers and RH floor boxes to assess moisture levels within the screed. A calcium carbide test was used to investigate the moisture levels of the screed. A sample was taken which reacted with the calcium carbide and demonstrated that the screed was in fact still wet, meaning that the floor finish had been applied prematurely.

Solving the problem
The wet screed was quickly identified as the issue which was causing the flooring to rise. Due to Polygon’s extensive portfolio of services, they were not only able to identify the issue but resolve it too. Polygon’s technicians created a temporary climate solution that included lifting the final floor finish and drying out the screed. This was done by placing high volume dehumidifiers into the property. These produced extremely dry air; which pulled the moisture molecules out of the screed. The drying process was efficient and allowed the entire process from call to job completion to be finished in a week.