Laying down some plastic under the carpet for a day or 2 to determine if any moisture is seeping up from the foundation.
Brnd new carpet mold concrete slab.
If you want a definitive moisture test drill a hole รข as deep as the slab is thick and insert a humidity probe.
Putting a foam pad and carpet on concrete is iffy at best anyway regardless of what s happening with your ejector pump.
Because you ll be using bleach indoors open a window and escape the fumes when possible.
Clean any mold and examine the state of the subfloor.
Concrete absorbs water like a sponge.
The foam and possible the carpet also will absorb any moisture in the slab and since concrete is moisture permeable meaning it s very good at transmitting moisture any moisture in the soil under the slab will penetrate the concrete and be absorbed into the foam.
It s also important to verify whether the basement is suffering from vapor emissions through the concrete slab.
Mold in new construction.
The first moisture that is a challenge to any new flooring installation is free water within the concrete itself.
Bad allergies one sign that you may have black mold on the carpet is when you suddenly experience bad allergies that you haven t got before.
Above 75 and you have a concrete moisture issue but i still would not cover it with a moisture barrier as carpet and padding are able to breath.
The mat test can be skewed because of high humidity.
Concrete can get wet in any one of several ways.
Dry out the floor with dehumidifier.
See our page on basement mold for more info.
Black mold on concrete in basement.
A residential headache one of the worst things to deal with in a brand new home is unsightly mold that can jeopardize your health.
Free water or water of convenience is that water above what is absolutely necessary to hydrate the cement particles and brings a concrete mixture to a workable consistency for placement.
If the basement is carpeted the moisture can become trapped and lead to mold growth.
For black mold on concrete in a basement start by ventilating the area well.
We discovered that ground moisture getting through the cracks in our concrete slab foundation was causing mold to appear in the carpet.
You don t think about mold hiding in the basement and spreading through the walls.
Sadly the case of black mold on the carpet will not be visible straight so it s better to send it to the nearby laundry to get it cleaned and has proper drying.
Everything in your new house is supposed to be fresh and clean.
That in itself is not a problem.
Rip out the carpet.
Create a cleaning solution that s one part bleach to four parts water and apply it to the concrete.
Before installing new carpeting we need to be sure that we are well protected from mold appearing again.
This occurs when water vapor moves up through the slab and into the room above.
These materials then become ideal food sources for mold.