As the saying goes, looks can be deceiving. This is especially true when looking at concrete. Although concrete may look clean, dry, and solid a thorough inspection is a must before gluing down flooring.
Step One:
First you want to repair any holes and cracks in the concrete. Depending on how big or deep the repairs are you can use DRYLOK® Fast Plug® or DRYLOK® Pourable Crack Filler.
Step Two:
Next you want to check that the floor is level. The most precise way is to use a bubble leveler or a laser level. An uneven floor can be corrected with Self-Leveling Concrete Compound. A self-leveling compound will settle into the repairs. It can be poured directly onto an uneven concrete floor or pumped on to the surface.
Although the surface may look sound and dry in general, if the concrete slab was not allowed to cure properly issues like dusting and flaking could be an issue. In addition, because the floor is dry now, doesn’t mean that issues can’t arise in the future should the vapor retarder disintegrate.
DRYLOK® Floor and Wall is formulated especially for floors. It is an easy brush on waterproofer that can be applied to bare concrete before laying flooring to the concrete slab. DRYLOK® Floor and Wall is tested to 4 psi to help prevent surface heaving should a future water problem arise.
Step Three:
After you have checked for cracks, holes, and level, you can apply DRYLOK® Floor and Wall. But, before applying the DRYLOK® Floor and Wall to the entire floor, test the compatibility of the floor adhesive you’ve selected. We recommend a latex-based adhesive. Test compatibility in a small section by applying DRYLOK® Floor and Wall, let dry, follow with a small about of adhesive let set for a few minutes, after a few minutes make sure the adhesive is not dissolving the waterproofer. If compatibility fails, choose a different adhesive, or move to a floating floor.
Once you are sure of compatibility, continue to waterproof. Start at a corner furthest from the exit. Work in small sections. Because the product is clear with a slight sheen, it may be hard to keep track of your progress. It is important to cover every inch of the floor. Taping off in 4 ft x 4 ft sections could be a helpful plan to ensure your coverage is accurate.
After you have completed the application of DRYLOK® Floor and Wall following the label instructions it is a good idea to wait for a weather event to verify that no pores and pinholes are open that would allow the water to enter up through the floor. If there are areas that appear wet, apply an additional coat of DRYLOK® Floor and Wall in these areas.
DRYLOK® Floor and Wall will sure up dusting and flaking concrete as well as waterproof.
