Bubbling Floors

Tips from Real-Estate-Agents.com

Q: Three years ago I had the old asbestos linoleum in my kitchen replaced with a new asbestos-free vinyl. A few months later part of it turned pink -- it turned out to be from moisture coming up from a crack in the concrete slab. I found a local flooring company that removed the vinyl, applied a moisture barrier and installed the same flooring again. Now some small bumps have developed in the vinyl. Can you tell me who to turn to for some help?

A: You should begin by contacting the flooring company that installed the floor because they should warranty their work for a year. If it is just small bumps, the flooring company can generally remedy the situation, upon inspection. There might also be a warranty from the flooring manufacturer, if that is applicable. However, if it is a case of moisture coming up from the concrete slab, it is not the flooring company's fault. There are three possible solutions to consider:

The simplest solution might be to seal the concrete, which provides a thicker protection than a moisture barrier.
Many of the homes in your area were built with the pipes set in the concrete slab. Check to see if that is the case in your home. If the source of the water is a broken pipe, repairing that could take care of the problem. You should contact your insurance company if so.
Depending on the depth of the water table in your community, water can collect under the house and seep up through the concrete slab. This is referred to as capillary action. If this is the source of moisture, you need to work on the drainage around your home to prevent the water in your yard from running under the house.

Kathy Maynard

-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic