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Waterproof Floor Coatings and Moisture Barriers in Vancouver
Stop Moisture Before It Lifts Your Floor
Moisture coming up through a concrete slab is the most common reason floor coatings fail. It pushes epoxy off from underneath, causing blisters, bubbles and peeling, often months after the floor goes in. Epoxy Experts installs moisture vapour barrier and waterproof coating systems that stop that vapour at the slab, so the floor on top stays bonded. Every waterproofing job starts with a moisture test, so the system we recommend matches what the concrete is actually doing. For balconies, decks and parkades exposed to rain, see our traffic coatings page instead.
At a glance
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Why Coatings Fail From Below
Concrete is porous, and slabs on grade or below grade can carry moisture up from the soil even when the surface looks dry. Older Vancouver buildings often have no vapour barrier under the slab at all. When an impermeable coating is installed over that slab, the vapour has nowhere to go and builds pressure under the coating until it lifts.
High humidity, hydrostatic pressure in basements, process water in kitchens and food plants, and seasonal rain all add to the problem. A standard coating only protects the top of the slab. A waterproof system adds a barrier layer designed to resist vapour coming up from below.
Moisture Barrier Options
Moisture tolerant primer
For slabs with moderate readings. The primer bonds to damp concrete and reduces vapour transmission under the coating.
Moisture vapour barrier
A dedicated barrier coat for high readings, installed under the finished floor. This is what went down under 10,000 sq ft of production flooring at Herbaland.
Barrier plus slip resistant finish
For wet commercial spaces, a vapour barrier with a textured, slip resistant top. We used this approach on the damaged kitchen floor at Jingle Bao.
Spaces That Need a Waterproof System
Basements
Below grade slabs that pull moisture from the ground. See basement epoxy flooring.
Commercial kitchens
Constant water, steam and cleaning. See commercial kitchen flooring.
Food and pharma plants
Washdown areas over slabs with high moisture. See food and beverage flooring.
Old slabs on grade
Older buildings built without a vapour barrier under the concrete.
Garages
Slabs that wick moisture and road salt from the driveway.
Recoats over failed floors
Floors that already blistered once, where the cause has to be fixed before recoating.
How a Waterproof Coating Job Works
Moisture test
We test the slab and look for signs of past failure such as blisters, efflorescence or damp patches.
Fix active water
Leaks, standing water and drainage problems have to be fixed first. No coating will hold back an active leak.
Prepare the slab
Diamond grinding removes old coatings and opens the surface. Cracks are filled.
Barrier layer
The moisture tolerant primer or vapour barrier goes down at the thickness the product requires.
Finished system
Epoxy, polyaspartic or urethane cement goes on top, with any slip resistance the space needs.
Waterproof Floor Coatings vs Traffic Membranes
Waterproof floor coating
- Stops vapour coming up through a slab
- Interior floors, basements, kitchens, plants
- Installed under the finished floor coating
- Protects the coating from failing
Traffic coating membrane
- Stops rain going down into a deck
- Balconies, decks, parkades, ramps
- Is the finished, trafficable surface
- Protects the structure below
If water is coming from above, you need a traffic coating. If it is coming up through the slab, you need a waterproof floor system. Some projects need both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a moisture barrier under my epoxy floor?
It depends on the slab. We moisture test every slab, and recommend a barrier when the readings show enough vapour to lift a standard coating.
Can a coating stop an active leak?
No. Leaks, standing water and drainage problems have to be fixed first. A barrier handles vapour moving through the slab, not running water.
Why did my epoxy floor blister?
Blistering usually comes from moisture vapour pushing up through the slab, or from poor surface prep. We check for both before recoating.
How long does a waterproof coating system last?
It depends on the system, the traffic and how well the slab was prepared. We give you the written warranty terms for your system with the quote.
What is the difference between a standard coating and a waterproof system?
A standard coating protects the surface. A waterproof system adds a barrier that resists moisture coming up from below.
Serving Metro Vancouver
Our crews work across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Book a Moisture Test and Quote
Tell us about the floor and any past blistering or damp patches. We will test the slab and recommend the right barrier and finish with a fixed price.