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Seeing is Believing...
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Why is This Happening?
The truth is, wood or laminate floors on a
concrete slab at ground level, are not a wise
choice in central and coastal Florida.
On the surface, this probably looks like a self
serving statement, but we're not alone in coming
to this conclusion.
Mike Holmes, the home improvement guru of the
popular TV series, "Holmes on Homes" isn't crazy
about the idea either...more on this later.
Here's why: the photo at right shows one of many
moldy vapor barriers we have removed in the
process of flooring renovation.
concrete slab at ground level, are not a wise
choice in central and coastal Florida.
On the surface, this probably looks like a self
serving statement, but we're not alone in coming
to this conclusion.
Mike Holmes, the home improvement guru of the
popular TV series, "Holmes on Homes" isn't crazy
about the idea either...more on this later.
Here's why: the photo at right shows one of many
moldy vapor barriers we have removed in the
process of flooring renovation.
It clearly shows mold growth throughout the underside of the vapor barrier. The lower left triangular
area is the concrete slab, showing black mold and remnants of a prior tile installation that employed
roofing felt as an underlayment for ceramic tile; a series of all too common mistakes made by two
consecutive floor installers at this home.
The laminate flooring itself showed no visible signs of mold on it's surface. It wasn't detected until
the laminate flooring and vapor barrier were extracted in preparation for porcelain tile installation.
This laminate floor was installed in the early 2000's. We removed and replaced it with porcelain tile
in the summer of 2009. The home, built in the late 1990's, is in Suntree.
area is the concrete slab, showing black mold and remnants of a prior tile installation that employed
roofing felt as an underlayment for ceramic tile; a series of all too common mistakes made by two
consecutive floor installers at this home.
The laminate flooring itself showed no visible signs of mold on it's surface. It wasn't detected until
the laminate flooring and vapor barrier were extracted in preparation for porcelain tile installation.
This laminate floor was installed in the early 2000's. We removed and replaced it with porcelain tile
in the summer of 2009. The home, built in the late 1990's, is in Suntree.
Another laminate flooring extraction in Titusville shows clear evidence of mold on the surface of the
laminate and on the grey underlayment in the photo below left. Photo below right shows mold within
tongue & groove in the stack of extracted laminate in the background. Foreground shows mold on
ends of laminate that were under baseboard. We extracted this laminate floor in early 2010 and
replaced it with porcelain tile throughout.
laminate and on the grey underlayment in the photo below left. Photo below right shows mold within
tongue & groove in the stack of extracted laminate in the background. Foreground shows mold on
ends of laminate that were under baseboard. We extracted this laminate floor in early 2010 and
replaced it with porcelain tile throughout.
In yet another Suntree setting, the slab at the base board area and vapor barrier underlayment indicate
mold. This floor, along with carpet, was removed and replaced with porcelain tile during an entire home
flooring renovation in the summer of 2009. This damage was due to repetitive pet accidents.
mold. This floor, along with carpet, was removed and replaced with porcelain tile during an entire home
flooring renovation in the summer of 2009. This damage was due to repetitive pet accidents.
We've found three primary causes for mold under wood and laminate floors that are installed with a
vapor (moisture) barrier. Unfortunately, wood & laminate floors require a means to block moisture
because they are absorbent materials, prone to warping.
1. Florida has a very high water table and concrete slabs wick water in a capillary action. Concrete
is not a barrier to moisture. If you've dug any holes in your yard, you know it doesn't take long to
hit soggy ground. This is why there are no basements here. It's just too wet. Concrete slab
construction is an answer to this; however, using the right type of flooring is key.
vapor (moisture) barrier. Unfortunately, wood & laminate floors require a means to block moisture
because they are absorbent materials, prone to warping.
1. Florida has a very high water table and concrete slabs wick water in a capillary action. Concrete
is not a barrier to moisture. If you've dug any holes in your yard, you know it doesn't take long to
hit soggy ground. This is why there are no basements here. It's just too wet. Concrete slab
construction is an answer to this; however, using the right type of flooring is key.
2. Florida weather can dump more rain in a short period of time than can be quickly drained away.
Think hurricanes and Tropical Storm Fay in 2008. Inevitably, Florida homes are subjected to
potential water leakage and floods. Even short term minor flooding can destroy a wood or laminate
floor. These materials don't have any resistance to water. Many of the wood floors we've removed
and replaced with porcelain tile were damaged by very minor flooding.
Think hurricanes and Tropical Storm Fay in 2008. Inevitably, Florida homes are subjected to
potential water leakage and floods. Even short term minor flooding can destroy a wood or laminate
floor. These materials don't have any resistance to water. Many of the wood floors we've removed
and replaced with porcelain tile were damaged by very minor flooding.
The photo at right shows a room affected by the
high water table and lack of proper drainage in the
property's landscaping.
Originally, a laminate floor was in this room. We
removed it during a total renovation and
discovered the large mold patch seen in the central
and back part of the floor.
The dark grey areas indicate moisture in the slab.
A vapor barrier that was beneath the laminate floor
trapped the moisture and prevented it from
evaporating naturally through the home's air
conditioning system.
high water table and lack of proper drainage in the
property's landscaping.
Originally, a laminate floor was in this room. We
removed it during a total renovation and
discovered the large mold patch seen in the central
and back part of the floor.
The dark grey areas indicate moisture in the slab.
A vapor barrier that was beneath the laminate floor
trapped the moisture and prevented it from
evaporating naturally through the home's air
conditioning system.
3. Pets & normal wear can wreak havoc on wood and laminate floors; warping & mold from pet
accidents; peeling and scratches in surfaces that are not durable enough to take the claws of house
pets and normal wear & tear. Moving furniture across laminate floors often leaves indentations,
scratches and causes peeling at the edges. The balance of wood & laminate we've removed and
replaced with tile is due to pet accidents and daily use in active households.
accidents; peeling and scratches in surfaces that are not durable enough to take the claws of house
pets and normal wear & tear. Moving furniture across laminate floors often leaves indentations,
scratches and causes peeling at the edges. The balance of wood & laminate we've removed and
replaced with tile is due to pet accidents and daily use in active households.
Why is Porcelain Tile a Better Option?
Because wood and laminate flooring absorb moisture, measures to protect these flooring materials must
be taken when they're installed at ground level on a concrete slab. Vapor, or moisture, barriers can be as
simple as sheet plastic or a more complex multi-ply sheeting that acts as moisture, thermal and sound
barrier in one application.
At first thought, a plastic or vinyl sheet barrier installed on top of the slab under the flooring seems like a
good idea; however, the barriers do not eliminate the moisture in the concrete slab. And, there is a
perpetual source of moisture in the ground under our homes in Florida.
Vapor barriers act much like plastic wrap on top of a steaming bowl of soup. Water condenses on the
underside of the plastic wrap, with no means of escape or evaporation. It is within this environment that
mold has an ideal place to grow, unseen by homeowners.
During construction, many newer homes have another type of vapor barrier installed under the concrete
slab to prevent moisture from accessing the slab. While effective, the success of these vapor barriers
installed under the assembly of the home doesn't completely solve the problem.
be taken when they're installed at ground level on a concrete slab. Vapor, or moisture, barriers can be as
simple as sheet plastic or a more complex multi-ply sheeting that acts as moisture, thermal and sound
barrier in one application.
At first thought, a plastic or vinyl sheet barrier installed on top of the slab under the flooring seems like a
good idea; however, the barriers do not eliminate the moisture in the concrete slab. And, there is a
perpetual source of moisture in the ground under our homes in Florida.
Vapor barriers act much like plastic wrap on top of a steaming bowl of soup. Water condenses on the
underside of the plastic wrap, with no means of escape or evaporation. It is within this environment that
mold has an ideal place to grow, unseen by homeowners.
During construction, many newer homes have another type of vapor barrier installed under the concrete
slab to prevent moisture from accessing the slab. While effective, the success of these vapor barriers
installed under the assembly of the home doesn't completely solve the problem.
Vapor Barriers
Minor flooding and even regular exposure to rain or pool water at our homes entrances is a frequent
trouble spot. Water drains between the joints, soaks into the body of the laminate or wood and into the
vapor-moisture barrier. Laminates begin to peel, wood warps and the vapor-moisture barrier becomes a
home for mold. The same is true of pet accidents, usually found in corners and along a wall.
trouble spot. Water drains between the joints, soaks into the body of the laminate or wood and into the
vapor-moisture barrier. Laminates begin to peel, wood warps and the vapor-moisture barrier becomes a
home for mold. The same is true of pet accidents, usually found in corners and along a wall.
All of these floors are porcelain tile, installed by Studio
Tile & Stone in Brevard County. The dining room -
living room seen at left was originally clad in real
cherry wood. During one of the recent hurricanes, the
river side home flooded and the wood floor was
destroyed. While the homeowners love the look & feel
of wood, they decided to install a wood look porcelain
tile to avoid another costly repair.
Tile & Stone in Brevard County. The dining room -
living room seen at left was originally clad in real
cherry wood. During one of the recent hurricanes, the
river side home flooded and the wood floor was
destroyed. While the homeowners love the look & feel
of wood, they decided to install a wood look porcelain
tile to avoid another costly repair.
We've never seen signs of mold under a tile floor. The tile floors
we remove are extracted for a handful of a reasons;
1. Faulty and improper installation
2. Inferior quality tile that is failing
3. Clients desire to upgrade or change
we remove are extracted for a handful of a reasons;
1. Faulty and improper installation
2. Inferior quality tile that is failing
3. Clients desire to upgrade or change
The options available in "wood look" porcelain tile are
numerous. Various species of wood, textures, colors
and plank sizes offer plenty of choices. Homeowners
get the warmth and texture of a wood floor with
superior durability and hygiene.
numerous. Various species of wood, textures, colors
and plank sizes offer plenty of choices. Homeowners
get the warmth and texture of a wood floor with
superior durability and hygiene.
Wood & Laminate Floors; Not Ideal on Concrete
TM
To hear what Mike Holmes of the hit TV series
"Holmes on Homes" has to say about wood flooring
on concrete, check out Season 4, Episode EP4046
"Best Laid Plans".
A Canadian homeowner is puzzled by moisture in her
kitchens' wood floor. After consulting with roof experts,
structural engineers and thermal imaging technicians,
Mike decides to tear out the wood floor, along with the
kitchen cabs and granite tops so they can get to the
source of the problem. As his crew tears out the wood
floor and peels back the underlayment, the source of
moisture reveals itself.
"Holmes on Homes" has to say about wood flooring
on concrete, check out Season 4, Episode EP4046
"Best Laid Plans".
A Canadian homeowner is puzzled by moisture in her
kitchens' wood floor. After consulting with roof experts,
structural engineers and thermal imaging technicians,
Mike decides to tear out the wood floor, along with the
kitchen cabs and granite tops so they can get to the
source of the problem. As his crew tears out the wood
floor and peels back the underlayment, the source of
moisture reveals itself.
Again...
And Again...
And Yet Again...
Porcelain tile is impervious and non absorbent, so water does not
affect it. The moisture in the slab beneath the tile escapes and
evaporates through grout joints. This moisture is removed from
the air in your home by the air conditioning system. Because the
moisture isn't trapped beneath the tile, the possibility of mold is
diminished.
During renovations, typically we replace multiple types of flooring
in a home. In every laminate and wood extraction we've
performed, all have shown some level of mold growth in the
flooring and or the underlayment.
affect it. The moisture in the slab beneath the tile escapes and
evaporates through grout joints. This moisture is removed from
the air in your home by the air conditioning system. Because the
moisture isn't trapped beneath the tile, the possibility of mold is
diminished.
During renovations, typically we replace multiple types of flooring
in a home. In every laminate and wood extraction we've
performed, all have shown some level of mold growth in the
flooring and or the underlayment.
Don't Believe Us? Ask Holmes on Homes
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| Articles Tile and Flooring |
Due to temperature differences in the outdoor ground and on the inside of the home, the vapor barrier
permitted moisture to condense on the underside of the wood flooring.
During the filming, Mike says that wood should never be installed on concrete slabs at ground level.
We agree. If you want natural wood or laminate flooring, we suggest using it only on suspended floors. In
Florida, this means second floors and higher where it won't be affected by moisture in the ground.
http://makeitright.ca/Holmes_Media/Holmes_On_Homes/episodelisting.php?season_id=66
permitted moisture to condense on the underside of the wood flooring.
During the filming, Mike says that wood should never be installed on concrete slabs at ground level.
We agree. If you want natural wood or laminate flooring, we suggest using it only on suspended floors. In
Florida, this means second floors and higher where it won't be affected by moisture in the ground.
http://makeitright.ca/Holmes_Media/Holmes_On_Homes/episodelisting.php?season_id=66