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Floor preparation & moisture mitigation
Good floors start
below the surface.
A beautiful floor depends on what happens before installation. AFI evaluates existing conditions, plans the preparation and coordinates the right system for your commercial space.
Build the right foundation
Know the conditions.
Then plan the system.
From a classroom refresh to a complex occupied facility, preparation belongs in the scope from the start. We connect removal, testing, corrective work and installation so the selected floor has a suitable surface beneath it.
Expose the conditions.
Review the existing flooring, adhesive residues and substrate. Plan removal and identify areas needing further investigation before committing to the installation sequence.
Check moisture and bond.
Use moisture evaluation and project-specific testing to guide decisions. Bond-test mockups help assess how the proposed primer, preparation, adhesive and flooring work together.
Match the treatment.
Plan patching, flatness correction, surface preparation and moisture mitigation where required. Selected products must be compatible with the substrate, adhesive and finished flooring.
A surface moisture reading is one part of an evaluation. Required test methods, acceptance limits and treatment decisions follow the selected manufacturers’ instructions and project conditions.
Actual AFI project work
Preparation you can see.
These field photos show the work behind the finished surface. Each step responds to a condition on that project; the treatment plan is specific to the space and flooring system.
Sunnyvale medical technology facility
Complex conditions.
A coordinated response.
Across more than 100,000 square feet in two buildings, AFI managed removal, moisture evaluation, bond testing, treatment, preparation and installation—including work beneath lifted cubicles.
We consulted with a SCHÖNOX technical representative on preparation and moisture mitigation products, and coordinated static-dissipative vinyl tile and sheet vinyl areas with Source One, Barron Builders and the facility’s electrical contractor.
When the original two-month schedule was shortened by two weeks after work began, AFI still met the project deadline.
Explore the Sunnyvale story ↗
Plan around your operations
The floor is one part.
The work plan matters, too.
Schools need usable classrooms. Businesses need workable access. Bank renovations need careful after-hours sequencing. We discuss phasing, furniture, other trades and curing time alongside the preparation scope.
Based in Redding, AFI serves commercial clients from Fresno to the Oregon border, along the I-5 corridor and throughout the Bay Area.
Helpful information to start
- Your location, approximate floor area and type of space.
- Existing flooring, visible damage and any known moisture history.
- Selected flooring, specifications or previous test reports.
- Required completion date, access hours and occupied areas.
Common questions
Before the new floor goes down.
Does every concrete floor need moisture mitigation?
No. Testing requirements and results, the slab conditions and the selected flooring system determine whether mitigation is needed. We define any recommended treatment in the project scope.
Can new flooring go over old adhesive or an uneven slab?
That depends on the residue, surface condition and selected products. Removal, mechanical preparation, patching or flatness correction may be required before installation. A site evaluation helps establish the appropriate approach.
Why do a bond test?
A project mockup helps evaluate adhesion between the proposed materials and the actual substrate. It supports preparation decisions alongside the manufacturers’ instructions and any required moisture tests.
Can you plan work in an occupied facility?
Yes. AFI plans phased and after-hours work where appropriate. Access, furniture handling, treatment and adhesive cure times, and reopening requirements are agreed for the individual project.
The right floor.
From the ground up.
Start with the space, its existing conditions and your schedule. We’ll help define the next step.