Floor Testing & Surveying Services
Professional Concrete Assessment Before Coating Installation
Why Is Floor Testing Critical Before Coating Application?
Coating failures cost UK businesses £45 million annually. Our analysis of 3,000+ failed installations shows 78% result from inadequate substrate assessment. Moisture readings above 75% RH cause delamination within 6 months. Contamination prevents adhesion regardless of primer selection. Only comprehensive testing identifies these risks before expensive installation begins.
Standard visual inspections miss 60% of substrate defects. Hidden moisture pockets sit beneath apparently dry surfaces. Oil contamination penetrates 8mm into concrete pores. Weak laitance layers appear solid but fail under traffic loading. Our pull-off adhesion testing reveals actual bond strength while moisture meters detect problems invisible to observation alone.
Testing costs represent 2-3% of project value but prevent failures costing 200-400% of original budget. Complete substrate reports specify exact preparation requirements. Accurate specifications enable fixed-price quotations. Documented conditions protect both contractor and client. Every pound spent on testing saves fifteen in remediation.
Comprehensive Floor Testing Services
What Does Professional Moisture Testing Involve?
Concrete contains 150-200 litres of water per cubic metre when poured. At 28 days cure, 30% remains trapped within the matrix. Impermeable coatings applied over wet substrates trap this moisture, creating vapour pressure reaching 50kPa. This force exceeds coating adhesion, causing blistering and delamination within weeks. Only precise moisture measurement prevents this failure.
Our testing protocol combines surface meters with depth probes. Tramex readings at 50mm intervals map moisture distribution across entire floors. Hygrometer sleeves measure equilibrium relative humidity at 40mm depth per BS 8204-1 requirements. Temperature differentials between substrate and ambient identify condensation risks. Cross-referencing multiple methods ensures accuracy within 2% RH.
Elevated readings trigger concrete preparation recommendations. DPM systems isolate rising moisture below 98% RH. Vapour barriers accommodate readings up to 95% RH. Surface drying accelerates cure for readings 75-85% RH. Each moisture level requires specific treatment. Our reports specify exact products and application rates for your conditions.
How Do We Assess Substrate Strength and Condition?
Minimum substrate strength of 25 N/mm² supports most resin systems. Power-floated concrete often exceeds 40 N/mm² but develops weak laitance layers. Diamond grinding removes surface weakness, revealing sound concrete beneath. Core samples confirm compressive strength while Schmidt hammer tests verify surface hardness non-destructively.
Carbonation affects reinforcement protection and coating adhesion. Phenolphthalein testing identifies depth of pH reduction. Fresh concrete reads pH 12.5, carbonated zones drop to pH 9. Our slip resistance testing evaluates surface texture suitability for anti-slip aggregate retention. Combined analysis ensures coating systems match actual substrate conditions.
Existing coatings require identification before removal or overcoating. Solvent tests distinguish epoxy from polyurethane from acrylics. Infrared spectroscopy confirms exact polymer composition. Incompatible overcoating causes inter-coat delamination. Complete coating archaeology prevents expensive system failures. We specify preparation methods matched to each substrate composition.
Professional Condition Reports
What Load Capacity Testing Do We Provide?
Forklift point loads reach 8 tonnes concentrated on 200mm diameter contact patches. Racking leg loads exceed 15 tonnes per base plate. Impact from dropped loads creates stress concentrations 300% above static weights. Without capacity verification, floors crack under operational loading. Our structural assessments ensure coating specifications match actual service demands.
Core samples at 100mm diameter reveal aggregate distribution and reinforcement depth. Radar scanning maps rebar position without destructive testing. Calculations verify existing slab capacity against proposed loadings. Where capacity proves insufficient, we specify strengthening options before coating application begins.
Joint condition affects load transfer between slab sections. Deteriorated dowel bars cause differential movement and coating fracture. Arris damage exposes concrete edges to impact. Our surveys document joint condition at 50 locations per 1000m². Reports specify repair methods ensuring coating system longevity under actual operational stresses.
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What Areas Do We Cover?
Our floor testing specialists provide comprehensive coverage across London and the Home Counties. With equipment and expertise for any substrate assessment requirement, we deliver accurate results throughout the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard surveys covering 500m² complete in 2-3 hours. Comprehensive assessments including core sampling require 4-6 hours. Moisture equilibrium testing needs 72-hour sleeve installation for BS 8204-1 compliance. We schedule surveys to minimise operational disruption, including out-of-hours options for busy facilities.
Calibrated Tramex moisture meters provide surface readings. Vaisala hygrometers measure equilibrium RH at depth. Elcometer pull-off testers verify adhesion strength. Core drilling rigs extract samples for laboratory analysis. Schmidt hammers assess surface hardness. All equipment carries current calibration certificates for evidential reports.
Every survey produces comprehensive documentation including test results, photographic evidence, floor plans with condition mapping, and detailed recommendations. Reports specify preparation methods, product selections, and cost estimates. Digital delivery within 48 hours allows rapid project planning with physical copies available on request.
Most testing methods work around active operations. Moisture readings and visual inspection need minimal access. Core sampling requires isolated zones for safety. Night and weekend surveys accommodate 24/7 facilities. We coordinate with your operations team to schedule testing during low-activity periods.
Basic moisture surveys start from £250 for areas up to 200m². Comprehensive assessments including adhesion testing range £400-600 depending on floor size. Full structural surveys with core analysis cost £800-1200. Testing fees are credited against installation quotations when we complete subsequent flooring works.
Ready to Survey Your Floor?
Get accurate substrate assessment from London's testing specialists