\u201cVinyl is impervious and traps any moisture that rises up, resulting in a bubbled floor,\u201d Schmidt explains. To prevent failure, flooring subcontractors can demand that topical applications be used when slabs don\u2019t reach the specified relative humidity (RH) on time, \u201cwhich tacks anywhere from $1.50 to $10 per square foot onto our costs, usually very late in the construction cycle. You can see why a reliable, fast-drying alternative sounded good to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The downpour after the pour<\/h2>\n
Schmidt needed proof positive that the 5-inch slab had reached 80% RH or less before flooring could be laid. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t a dry environment, which is typical of most slabs we place,\u201d he says. \u201cBut then a sudden rainstorm flooded the area, thanks to a roof conductor that hadn\u2019t been properly tied off. We had standing water on the surface for a full day.\u201d<\/p>\n
At first Schmidt doubted the slab would make its numbers. But tests by\u00a0Giles Engineering<\/strong>\u00a0of Waukesha showed great results at just 28 days. \u201cOnly one probe showed RH over 85%, and that was due to a damaged probe cover,\u201d Schmidt says. \u201cWe replaced it and it came in under 80%. By 45 days we had RH of 69% to 73% — and the flooring guys were ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n When\u00a0Mortenson Construction<\/strong>\u00a0faced a tough deadline for stadium renovations that called for rubber coatings over a concrete floor, they felt Aridus might solve their dilemma.<\/p>\n \u201cWe couldn\u2019t start construction until mid-November, with a turnover date in late February,\u201d says Mortenson Senior Superintendent\u00a0Doug Hills.\u00a0<\/strong>Crews would pour the 1,700-square-foot floor on an elevated metal deck to a depth of 6.5 inches. To meet deadlines, the slab would need to reach less than 85% RH within 30 days.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew Aridus would fit the bill,\u201d says\u00a0Mike Fiorita<\/strong>, sales manager for Prairie Wisconsin. \u201cBut this is a highly specialized mix, and batching, pouring and placement require strict quality control. We worked closely with Mortenson on this job, as we do with all our contractors to ensure their success with Aridus.\u201d<\/p>\n QC Manager\u00a0Sergio Martinez<\/strong>\u00a0organized a pre-pour meeting with Mortenson finishers to explain the properties of the proprietary mix. Then he carefully reviewed placement instructions with Prairie drivers the day before the pour to make sure everyone understood the requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mix pumped well and finished well with Confilm,\u201d says Hills. Because of the slab\u2019s location and size, the surface was hand-struck, but crews were off the floor in 8 hours.<\/p>\n Tests by Mortenson and Giles Engineering far exceeded the target RH, ranging from 62% to 67% at 28 days. \u201cWe were surprised to see the 7-day breaks come in at 8,400 psi,\u201d Hills adds. High early strength is a byproduct of Aridus\u2019 unique mix design, notes Martinez. \u201cThe 28-day results came in at 10,000 psi,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Both Schmidt and Mortenson plan to use Aridus on future projects. \u201cAnything with tight time constraints, like a lot of the remodeling we do, would benefit from this mix,\u201d Hills says. \u201cWe\u2019re considering it for hospital projects where flooring specs call for vinyl coverings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a great option to offer owners,\u201d Mark Schmidt says. \u201cAridus costs more, but it cuts drying time significantly and reduces the uncertainty built into the process. That\u2019s an advantage we feel pays for itself.\u201d<\/p>\nReady in 30? Mortenson\u2019s time test<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nGreat support, surprising results<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nTwo thumbs up<\/h2>\n
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