Whether they’re covered in carpet, hardwood or tile, sturdy floors start with a solid foundation: properly cured concrete.

Curing conventional concrete involves keeping it moist to allow the concrete to reach its maximum strength and durability. Builders can use water, moisture-retaining coverings or curing compounds to cure concrete. At Berglund, we stick to water or burlap coverings for curing. In our experience, curing compounds and flooring just don’t mix.

Here’s why: When you top a concrete slab with flooring, such as carpet, tile, sheet goods or laminate, the flooring needs to stick to the concrete or the leveling compound on top of the concrete. Curing compounds, which include acrylic, resin and sodium silicate solutions, often leave a thin film on the concrete that prevents proper bonding. In fact, many flooring manufacturers won’t provide a warranty for flooring installed on concrete coated in a curing compound. And don’t be fooled by “dissipating” compounds, which usually don’t fully dissipate.

If you run across new or existing concrete that’s covered in a curing compound, stop before you install your flooring — you’ll need to remove the compound mechanically. A good test to see if you’ve removed all of the curing compound is to trickle water onto the concrete. If it’s absorbed quickly, you’re good to go.

Can’t get enough quality conundrums? Check back regularly for more construction quality tips.