Concrete floor damaging lino/vinyl on it

moneyistooshorttomention

As above. There is dirty marking on some points and what looks like ingrained dirt on other points on the vinyl.

I've scrubbed hard - but it's not dirt. I am guessing it's mould coming through on the underside of the lino courtesy of the floor not having been done properly.

I estimate it's down to the way the concrete floor is underneath it. It appears to me that it hasn't been done properly and the quickest/easiest way to sort this out is to do some "tanking" of that floor before laying new vinyl on it.

I'm looking at a product called "Ultra Epoxy Seal Coating" for instance. The manufacturer says "perfect for sealing damp concrete floors....acts as a complete vapour barrier".

My thoughts are that what is necessary to do is:
- paint on one coat of something like this to seal the floor in (so it can't damage the new vinyl)
- wait appropriate length of time for it to dry
- put new vinyl down

Should be = job done.

Does that sound about right as the way I need to deal with this problem?

Is this something that even a person as duff/uninterested as I am in DIY could do?

How long does this stuff take to dry before one can proceed as per normal and think "Problem over" and lay that new vinyl?

Davesnave

I don't think anything should 'come through' vinyl flooring.

I've been using mine for years in a chicken house. It comes out every two days, is hosed-down, left on the grass and later goes back again. It is still unmarked after years of that treatment, but the surface isn't as shiny, due to abrasion by chicken claws and our scrubbing hose brush.

Others know more about this than me, but that's my take on the material itself. Should be impervious.

moneyistooshorttomention

Hard wear indeed on yours Dave.

The concrete on the floor was newly-laid since I bought this house. I was told it was dry enough to put vinyl down on (some days later). Stupidly - I believed them.

My Internet was playing up for quite some time after I moved here and I was unable to google as freely as I can now. Since the Internet has been "behaving itself" I've been googling how long it takes for concrete floors to dry - and it actually needed 2-3 months to dry I can see:mad::(:mad:.

So it's clear the floor underneath my vinyl has been a bit moist initially unbeknown to me.

moneyistooshorttomention

Any further thoughts anyone?

forestwn6

To get a smooth finish on your concrete floor I would skim it with Self Leveling Compound and leave it to dry for several days. Then seal with a dilute coat of sealing compound. This will stop any dust from the concrete floor.