TIME IS MONEY IN CONSTRUCTION
The success or failure of a newly installed floor on a construction project is heavily dependent upon how dry the concrete slab and screed was prior to installation. Whether the specific flooring is wooden, carpet, ceramic or rubber based, moisture trapped in the concrete slab can cause unsightly and costly floor damage. In the end, these moisture issues can negatively impact the overall work schedule and final completion dates creating potential financial penalties.
The ability to dry the slab and screed quickly and efficiently is key to maintaining a schedule for all other trade activities on the project and also to avoid problems in later construction phases. Therefore it is also important that you accurately measure the level of moisture and put in place a plan of action to accelerate drying times of your concrete and screeds for example, based on project requirements.
ACCELERATED DRYING
Typically concrete slabs around 100mm thick can take up to 6 months to fully dry and screeds less than 50mm thick can take 4 - 6 weeks; and there is no doubt that accelerated drying will help maintain your tight schedules. Drying these slabs and screeds is more complicated than “let’s just throw a lot of heat at it” as is often the case. Care needs to be taken so the concrete and slab is not over dried, cracked or suffers increased moisture retention. Drying these materials precisely and efficiently requires the delicate balance of dry air, air speed, heat, relative humidity and temperature. These interchanging factors must be constantly monitored to ensure your floor is drying without compromising other elements of construction.
By using a specialist in this field to specify a carefully selected mix of dehumidifiers and heaters, you will ensure dehumidification lowers the vapour pressure above the concrete to draw the moisture out, delicately balanced with air movement and heat to correctly speed up the evaporation process. Specialist suppliers are also able to supply you with sensitive moisture measurement devices, which are used to monitor conditions and check progress.
BENEFITS
By using climate control equipment you can rest assured that you have controlled your relative humidity, dew point and temperature throughout the building whilst not compromising other work being carried out. The benefits of employing temporary control methods far outweigh any alternatives. Enhanced slab and screed drying methods offer a cost effective solution enabling you to maintain tight construction deadlines and reduces warranty issues due to failed floors (for example taking up flooring to remove wet insulation or cracked concrete is a lengthy and expensive process).
Each year we help a large number of contractors across Northern Ireland dry their concrete slabs and screeds, by designing innovative solutions using state-of-the-art climate control equipment to closely control and maintain the relative humidity, dew point and temperature throughout the project. Our advanced solutions eliminate the risk of problems caused by excess moisture while protecting the overall project.
For more information on how we can help or to engage us to carry out a free, no obligation site survey, please contact us today on our freephone number 0800 1 970 970 or email jeff.scott@balloohire.com
