Absent Moisture Resistance Causes Sub Floor Rot From Carpet Steam-Cleaning

Moisture-resistant layers, sometimes called moisture barriers, have three typical locations of installation. One location is immediately under a concrete slab where the barrier restricts the movement of water vapor from the earth under a house upwards into the concrete slab, where the water vapor\’s constant dampness can cause mold and decay in the furnishings and throughout the house.

A second location is as a lining on top of the ground under a crawlspace, where its purpose is the same, to stop moisture from saturating the household structure above.

Third, and most overlooked, and misunderstood, is on top of subflooring but beneath the finished floor surface inside the house. In this location the barrier restricts the movement of moisture from two directions: 1. As in the other two installations, the flow of vapor from beneath is restricted; 2. Seepage from spills, or applications of cleaning chemicals can be isolated, and prevented from soaking into the subfloor beneath, thus preventing the potential for rot from above. Very often a type of subfloor decking called waferboard will be installed without a moisture protective covering on top. Should a simple process like steam cleaning carpet leave excessive water, then that water will soak into the waferboard and cause the wood and glue composite to dissolve, separate, then decay. Needless to say, would rotting during a long period of time, hidden beneath a clean floor, may go unnoticed for years, allowing severe damage which is expensive to repair; and may even be irreparable.

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