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Sub-floors need to be clean, smooth, and flat to receive
floor coverings. How clean, smooth and flat depends on the type of flooring
to be installed. For a floor that will be directly adhered, the sub-floor or
substrate must be clean of all contaminants or bond-breakers. Typical
bond-breakers often found on the surface of concrete slabs in Arizona are-
paint, dry-wall mud (joint compound), dirt, old adhesives and curing
compounds.
Curing
compounds are a translucent plastic or acrylic fluid sprayed over the
surface of the concrete after it is placed and finished. It acts like a
plastic membrane and holds the water in the concrete so it may properly cure
to it's designed hardness. If the slab wasn't protected in our dry desert
climate, water would evaporate from the concrete very quickly producing
porous, weak concrete.
After the curing compound does it's job it is no longer
needed. As a matter-of-fact it is detrimental to any surface finish and any
flooring manufacturer that I know of requires it's removal to maintain the
flooring warranty.
I use a dustless grinding system from Hilti tools
equipped with a diamond impregnated disk designed to take just a fractional
layer (approximately 1/64") off the top of the concrete slab. It
removes all contaminants, even curing compounds.
This adds about $1.00 per square foot to your project and
if you are making a large investment in your floor or simply want the
maximum life and performance from your floor- you should not forego this
step. |