Transcript Slide 1
Cement-Based Flooring Systems
The Good, Bad and the Ugly
H. Peter Golter, PE
Presentation Agenda
• Brief Overview of Concrete
• Brief Overview of Floor Rehabilitation/Resurfacing
• Project Overview – Moisture Related Problems
• Project Overview – Fast Track Construction
• Project Overview – Structural Deficiency/Floors Out-of-spec
• Recap – Review Successful Finish Floor Installations
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Brief Overview of Concrete
• Indestructible, Right?
• How many types of concrete are there?
• What are they?
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What are Floor Resurfacers?
Toppings*
Underlayments
A layer of concrete or mortar
placed to form a traffic bearing
floor surface on a concrete base
A thin capping of existing concrete,
wood or primed metal floors to
provide a surface suitable to
receive floor covering or coating
* Referencing ACI 116R-00 Cement and Concrete Terminology
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What are Floor Resurfacers?
Skim Coats
Screeds
A thin build of material used to
cover and level defects in
concrete, vinyl, tile, metal, wood
and other subfloors
To strike off a trowel grade, cementitious
material to fill in or level rough concrete
surfaces prior to the installation of floor
coverings
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Why are Floor Resurfacers Necessary?
To correct or modify existing jobsite conditions
There are different industry standards for the different trades
Example:
Requirements for
concrete contractors
Requirements for
flooring manufacturers
+/- 1/4” in 10 lineal feet
+/- 1/16” in 10 lineal feet
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Advantages of Floor Resurfacers
Level a floor within required specification
Wood flooring
• With floor resurfacing
products, installers can
meet any flooring system
requirement
• The following floor finishes
require smooth floors
– Vinyl sheet goods
– Wood
– Thin coatings
– Stains
– Sealers
• Units of measurement:
– +/- “x" inches/10 feet
– Flatness (Ff)
– Levelness (Fl)
Self-leveling
underlayment
Adhesive
Primer/admixture
(when required)
Patching material
Concrete
substrate
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Commercial Applications
• Offices
• Educational facilities
• Municipalities
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Residential Applications
• High rises/condominiums
• Single-family homes
• Townhomes
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Healthcare Applications
• Medical office buildings
• Outpatient facilities
• Assisted living facilities
• Hospitals
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Retail Applications
• Restaurants
• Malls/shopping centers
• Big box and shoe box
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Industrial Applications
• Food processing
• Chemical
• Pulp and paper
• Manufacturing
• Warehouse
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What Technologies are Available Today?
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Available Technologies
High
Polymers
(resins)
• Portland-based: moderately
priced; wide range of
applications
Self-drying
cements
• Modified Portland:
Modified Portland –
polymer
Price
• Gypsum: least expensive,
most common material
– Polymer: Adds density and
flexural capabilities
– Pozzolans: Densifiers and
increases ultimate strength
Modified Portland –
pozzolans
• Self-drying cements:
Extremely quick return to
service due to rapid internal
hydration
Portlandbased
• Polymers (resins): Very
expensive, engineered
plastics; typically vapor
barriers
Gypsum
Low
Low
High
Performance
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Advantages of Floor Resurfacers
Support the traffic load
• A variety of products are engineered for
longevity and durability for the following
traffic conditions:
– Residential foot traffic
– Commercial foot traffic
– Vehicular traffic
– Industrial hard wheel traffic
– Steel wheel traffic
NOTE: Contact the manufacturer for specific material or product recommendations
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Advantages of Floor Resurfacers
Abrasion resistance
• Conventional concrete is 3,0004,000 psi compressive strength
• Engineered materials with
performances up to and exceeding
10,000 psi for greater longevity and
reduced maintenance costs
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Who is Typically Involved in These Projects?
What does a winning team look like?
Owner
Architect
Contractor/
Specialty
Contractor
Engineer
Supplier
Manufacturer
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What is the #1 Priority for Any Property Owner?
VALUE!
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Perception versus Reality
• Factory-fabricated samples for system selection
• Insist on representative jobsite mockups
• Use jobsite mockups and field flow tests as quality
assurance
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What Happens with Moisture in the Concrete?
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Concrete and Moisture
Every flooring manufacturer has specific
requirements regarding the moisture
content of concrete to receive their flooring.
These requirements must be made known to
the specifier, architect, general contractor
and flooring specialist.
• Setting and Meeting Expectations
When Moisture
Testing Fails…
Don’t install until it passes
Wait for the concrete to dry
Accept a sign off from the general
contractor!?
Modes of Concrete Floor
Moisture Failures
Adhesive breakdown
Disbonding
Alkali attack
Microbiological activity
Staining
Efflorescence
Condensation
Curling
Adhesive Breakdown
Disbonding
Adhesive Oozing
Mold
Efflorescence
Moisture in New Concrete
New meaning to embedded steel
How Fast is – Fast Track Construction?
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Fast Track Construction
Rehab a Floor Over the Weekend
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Preparing the Floor
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Application of Primer
Existing Concrete and Epoxy Coating
1-Comp.
Primer
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Attention to Details
Weigh out the Pigments by Batch
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Delivery Method
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Gauge Rake – Proper Depth
Smoother – Get the “Glass” Finish
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Protect the surrounding area
Final Clean-up
Integral Color & Sealed – Before and After
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Finished Floor
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Structural Deficiency – Floors Out of Spec
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What Went Wrong?
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•
•
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Structure was “Value Engineered”
Construction was awarded to “Low Bidder”
Bonus to GC to complete the project early
Project Schedule was compressed
• Does “Pisa” come to mind?
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What Is The Solution?
• Analysis indicates dead loads are a major
consideration.
• Design Criteria:
– Level the floors. Some areas 3+ inches
– Maximum 60#/Cubic Foot for repair material
– Material must be at least 3,500 psi for finish
flooring manufacturer’s to warrant their product
– Quick return to service, next day trades are on it
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Repair Material Staged on Job
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All floors marked to finish elevation
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All floors marked to finish elevation
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Surface Preparation - Shotblasting
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Application of Primer
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Verifying the Finish Elevation
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Water Source and Pump
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Getting Ready to Pump
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Pump Operator
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Mixed Material Going into Pump
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Material being placed and finished
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Floor is now level!!!
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Finished Cured Floor
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What is the Size of the Project?
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Bldg#2 - So what went wrong?
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Finished Installations
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Finished Installations Gone Wrong
• Wavy floors (i.e., sheet goods,
epoxy coatings)
• Hollow spots under wood floors
• Transitions to different finished
flooring materials (i.e., carpet,
wood, sheet goods and tile)
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Cement Masons
A Wear Topping Stained and Polished
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LA Restaurant
Stained and Polished
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Finished Installations Done Correctly
Toppings
• Screeds
• Self levelers
• What is the primary function?
– Utility (warehouse floors)
– Decorative (commercial floors)
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Finished Floors
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Finished Installations Done Correctly
Screeds (dry pack and wet mix)
• Large body tile or stone
placed tight together
• Slope to drain
• ADA compliance
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Examples of Finished Installations
• Installation consisting of
− Screed floor (mud bed)
− Polymer modified thin set
− Porcelain body tile
− Polymer modified grout
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Examples of Finished Installations
• Installation consisting of
− Skim coat
− Carpet adhesive
− Carpet tiles
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Examples of Finished Installations
• Installation consisting of
− Self-leveling underlayment
− Urethane wood adhesive
− Pre-finished engineered
wood
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Examples of Finished Installations
• Installation consisting of
− Self-leveling
underlayment
− Mastic
− VCT
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THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME!
QUESTIONS?
www.prospec.com
800.334.0784
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