The CrossLink Update:
The challenge is: Excessive moisture from concrete floor slabs can cause floor coating systems to fail. Not easily defined, this delamination can be a result of a high water table, below grade pour, inadequate or non-existent vapor barrier. These failures (as seen below) can include debonding of coatings, variable pH attack, microbial growth and even slab expansion. Simple stated, the bond site can be compromised by hydrostatic pressure, high pH or high alkaline resulting in vapor condensing and drawing high levels of alkaline salts to the bond site.
MOISTURE MITIGATION – In concrete slabs where there is not a proper vapor barrier, moisture may be mitigated by coatings/primers/processes such as:
- Water based epoxy systems allowing vapor to pass through minimizing condensation at the bond site
- Deep penetrating primers which seal capillaries below the bond site minimizing vapor/water from reaching the contact surface.
- Complete substrate preparation creating a clean/dry, rough profile surface/matrix (e.g. shot blast) creating a more secure mechanical bond between coating and concrete.
Advanced Product Review: 700 Floor Coating/301 Penetrating Primer
The GPS 700 Floor Coating is a water based epoxy engineered to allow water vapor to pass through a finished floor over concrete where moisture is the challenge. Our 700 can be installed over a properly prepared concrete substrate with a single or double aggregate broadcast for optimal results.
The GPS 301 Penetrating Primer is a 100% solids ultra-low viscosity epoxy primer engineered to penetrate deep into a properly prepared concrete substrate, sealing capillaries which would carry vapor/water upwards. Our 301 can be applied in areas of moisture challenge to minimize vapor/water from reaching the bond site of the compatible floor topping.
