Moisture Mitigation
Florida slabs emit vapor. A lot of it. If you install flooring over a slab that exceeds manufacturer moisture limits, it fails. We test, we mitigate, we document — as a standalone service, or as the first step in a coatings install.
Why Florida slabs fail flooring
Concrete is a vapor transmitter by design. Water vapor moves up through the slab from the ground, through capillary channels in the concrete, and out the top surface. In dry climates and with long cure times, this happens slowly and flooring installs over it without issue.
In Florida, with high water tables and high ambient humidity, vapor emission rates commonly exceed what flooring manufacturers warranty against. When epoxy, vinyl, LVT, carpet, or wood sits on a high-MVER slab, the trapped moisture breaks the adhesive bond from underneath — resulting in bubbling, peeling, mold, and eventual full flooring failure.
Moisture mitigation is the barrier layer that solves this. Applied to the slab before the flooring goes down, it blocks vapor from reaching the finish floor.
ASTM testing before install
In-Situ Relative Humidity
Probes are drilled into the slab to 40% of its depth, sealed, and read after 72 hours. Measures the RH inside the slab — a better predictor of long-term moisture behavior than surface MVER alone.
We test before anyone commits to a system
ASTM F3010 mitigation membranes
ASTM F3010 is the industry standard for two-component resin-based moisture mitigation membranes. Qualified products must achieve vapor permeance of 0.1 perm or lower — effectively blocking moisture from reaching the finish floor.
F3010-qualified products typically control slabs up to 20 lb / 1,000 sf / 24 hr (F1869) or 95% RH (F2170) — dramatically higher than the thresholds that would disqualify a direct flooring install.
Membrane Systems We Install
Sherwin Resuprime MVB
100% solids epoxy moisture vapor barrier. F3010-qualified. Controls slabs reading up to 20 lb / 1,000 sf / 24 hr MVER or up to 99% RH. Single-coat application; typical 10-12 mil build.
Sherwin Resuprime MVP
Sherwin-Williams General Polymers companion product for higher-MVER and longer-cycle moisture conditions. Specified when slab conditions push beyond standard MVB spec.
Why we offer it as a standalone
Most coating companies only install mitigation as part of their own coating jobs. We offer it separately because some clients already have a flooring contractor they trust — they just need the slab handled properly first.
We come in, test the slab, install the F3010-qualified membrane, document the system, and hand it off ready for your flooring trade to take over.
On our own coating projects, moisture testing is included at no additional charge on commercial installs. Residential projects can add moisture testing for a flat fee before install.
Minimize downtime, not safety
Hospitals, surgical centers, and other critical-care facilities can't close wings for flooring work. Our moisture mitigation installs are sequenced and phased to keep adjacent areas operational while we work.
Sherwin Resuprime MVB cures fast enough to let us hand sections back to facilities staff within tight windows, so the next trade can begin and the floor returns to service without extended operational disruption.
- check_circlePhased wing-by-wing sequencing
- check_circleOff-hour and overnight scheduling available
- check_circleContainment + HEPA dust control on every install
- check_circleFast-cure systems for tight return-to-service windows
Situations where mitigation matters
New Construction
Slab is under 90 days old? Probably too wet. Test before flooring, mitigate before it fails.
Ground Floor / Slab-on-Grade
No crawl space, high water table. Vapor emission rates commonly exceed manufacturer limits.
Previous Flooring Failed
Bubbled vinyl, peeling carpet adhesive, mold at seams — moisture is usually the culprit.
Coastal / Flood-Prone
Chloride intrusion + high RH. Testing + mitigation is table stakes, not optional.
Pair with the right system
Think your slab might be the problem?
We test before we quote. No surprise mid-install failures. F3010 membranes, documented compliance, stand-alone or turn-key.
Technical sources & standardsexpand_more
- ASTM F3010 — Standard Practice for Two-Component Resin-Based Membrane-Forming Moisture Mitigation Systems. Vapor permeance ≤ 0.1 perm required.
- ASTM F2170 — Standard Test Method for Determining Relative Humidity in Concrete Floor Slabs Using in situ Probes.
- Product references: Sherwin-Williams General Polymers Resuprime MVB and Resuprime MVP. Manufacturer technical data sheets and installation specs available on request.