Subfloor preparation · Canterbury, CT1
What a damp-proof membrane does, when it is needed, and how it is applied correctly on floors in Canterbury before carpet, LVT or vinyl.
A surface DPM is not a substitute for finding and fixing the source of damp. Where moisture is coming from a leak, rising damp, or a failed original membrane, that cause needs addressing first. The DPM then protects the new floor against the residual moisture that remains in the structure.
Getting bagged compound and primer through tight terraced access near the Sturry takes planning, so we check parking and doorway widths before the van is loaded.
Existing movement joints in a concrete slab need to be respected rather than simply coated over, since bridging a joint with a rigid DPM film can lead to cracking as the slab moves. Detailing around joints, thresholds and perimeters is planned before application so the membrane's protection is not compromised at these vulnerable points.
In older {town} housing stock, a solid floor may never have had an effective damp-proof course, or an original bitumen membrane may have degraded with age. Where this is suspected, a wider damp survey is usually the sensible starting point before deciding whether a surface DPM alone will be sufficient or whether other remedial work is also required.
Semi-detached pairs around Sturry were often built to the same plan, yet one side can have a completely different subfloor history depending on past owners' work.
Preparation quotes for units near Sturry usually separate levelling and damp-proofing as distinct stages, since combining them without proper drying time risks trapping moisture under the new floor.
We reach Canterbury via the A2, and cover the wider CT1 district as part of our normal round.
A hygrometer result is normally expressed as a percentage relative humidity figure taken from within the slab, not at its surface. Most resilient floorcovering and adhesive manufacturers set a maximum figure below which flooring can proceed without a DPM, and above which some form of moisture management is required before work continues.
Plan how existing joints and thresholds will be treated so the DPM film is not bridged incorrectly.
Note test readings, coat counts and application dates for future reference.
Confirm any existing bitumen membrane or coating is compatible with the proposed epoxy system.
We include subfloor moisture checks as part of every survey we carry out in Canterbury.
07702 737267Usually one or two coats, depending on how far the moisture reading is above the manufacturer's limit. A borderline reading may need less than a slab that is significantly over threshold.
No, it seals the surface against moisture reaching the flooring above; it does not dry out or reduce the moisture held within the slab.
Sometimes, but timber-based products are more sensitive to residual moisture than resilient floorcoverings, so the specific manufacturer's requirements are checked before laminate or engineered wood is fitted over a DPM.
Adhesive failure, mould growth, and lifting or discolouring floorcoverings are common outcomes, which is why testing before fitting is worthwhile rather than proceeding on a damp slab.
These are our own installations in the county. They illustrate the type of work covered on this page rather than a particular job.
Postcode district CT1, Canterbury City Council.
If a moisture test on your Canterbury floor comes back high, a DPM lets fitting proceed without waiting months for natural drying.
We include subfloor moisture checks as part of every survey we carry out in Canterbury.