Coating the surface is the best way to go when it comes to protecting your garage floor against moisture damage. But before applying a new sealant or epoxy coating, you should ensure that your concrete slab is ready. By testing the area for moisture content, you can check if levels are low enough for the coating to adhere correctly.
The Need For Testing
To ensure that your garage floor is safe for a coating, you’ll need to test the area for moisture levels. The simplest way to do this test is using a moisture meter or concrete moisture testing device. This tool measures the amount of water in the concrete and will report back with a percentage. If the resulting value exceeds 4 percent, you should consider delaying your coating project and addressing the moisture issue first.
Moisture tends to show in areas where extreme weather conditions happen. In some US states, like Los Angeles, it can go down to 9 degrees Celcius during its coldest months. The problem may still be due to the poor installation of your garage floors. Getting a garage floor coating Los Angeles is a great idea.
Many homeowners can go to concrete flooring Los Angeles to address their garage problems. A Los Angeles garage floor coating contractor is an expert in the field.
The Process
There are a few crucial steps to test the moisture content of your garage floor. Read carefully and make sure that you do this with no fail.
If the complexity of the process troubles you, be sure to contact professionals specializing in garage floor coating in Los Angeles.
But for now, here is what you need to know.
The Plastic Sheet Test
Step 1: Prepare Materials
To perform the test, you need to bring the necessary materials. You will need a 12 x 12 plastic or aluminum sheet and tape.
These materials can determine the dampness level of your garage floor. It can also help you decide on the necessity for epoxy flooring Los Angeles.
Step 2: Conduct The Plastic Sheet Test
Start by placing a plastic sheet over the area you intend to test. Make sure that it’s airtight so no water can seep in. You can leave the covered area overnight or for at least 24 hours to see if it will form a condensation.
The test will help you decide if you will upgrade to Los Angeles epoxy flooring.
Step 3: Inspection
Remove the sheet after 24 hours. If the area remains dry without signs of moisture, then you should be fine. However, it becomes a problem if the floor is damp with spots created by water condensation. In this case, you will need to re-test to see the moisture level in your garage.
Step 4: Re-testing With Calcium Chloride Test
The calcium chloride test determines the exact level of moisture that your concrete garage floor emits. If the test resulted in a value of 3 lbs or less of moisture flow per 1000 square feet per 24 hours, you are still safe. Otherwise, you will need to do other options like garage floor epoxy Los Angeles.
Step 5: Moisture Blocking
You can stop the problem of moisture by blocking it. You can perform a re-coating or apply an epoxy primer to block the dampness from the concrete.
Moreso, there are better garage flooring options to prevent your concrete garage from emitting moisture. You can have an epoxy floor Los Angeles as a top-grade solution for moisture problems in your garage.
In Conclusion
Garage moisture can be problematic for many homeowners.
The moisture can cause leaky pipes or drains under the slab of your garage floors. It also makes your garage perform the least convenient for you.
Taking tests to eliminate the source is a way to deal with the problem. Conducting moisture resistance testing in your garage floor coatings is necessary. This way, you will know the best flooring options and solutions you can do.
