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Prepare · Cape Town

Moisture Barriers

Damp coming up through the slab lifts vinyl, swells wood and breaks adhesive bonds. A two-coat epoxy or slurry barrier seals it in, so your new floor stays put. Common in Cape Town's coastal and ground-floor homes.

Best for
Ground floors, coastal homes, new slabs
Typical pace
80 to 150 m² a day
Recoat
Next day
Floor on top
After screed, usually day 3

How it works

3 simple steps from first visit to handover.

  1. 1

    Test

    We measure moisture in the slab. Anything above 3% needs a barrier before glue-down flooring.

    1 hour
  2. 2

    Apply the barrier

    Two coats of epoxy or slurry barrier, one each day. The second coat is sanded so the screed grips.

    2 days
  3. 3

    Screed

    Self-levelling screed goes over the barrier, walkable in 4 to 6 hours and ready for the new floor.

    1 day

How long it takes

Typical time on site for our team. Your quote confirms exact dates.

Project sizeTime on site
Up to 60 m²3 days including screed
60 to 200 m²3 to 4 days
200 m²+Phased with you

Allow extra time where screeding, moisture barriers or old floor removal are needed.

Before we start

A few things that keep the job on time and the result right.

  • Area cleared and ventilated
  • Any active leaks fixed first

Questions

Can't see yours? Ask us.

How do I know if I need one?

We test on site. High readings, a damp smell, efflorescence (white salts) or lifting old flooring are all signs.

Can I skip it on a new slab?

Only if you wait for the slab to dry, about 1 day per mm. A barrier lets you floor it much sooner.

Other services

Ready when you are

Free on-site measure and a written quote, usually within 1 business day.

Get a free quote ↗See our work

*12-month workmanship guarantee from the date of completion. Where the subfloor was prepared by others, faults caused by that subfloor are excluded. See our guarantee. Timelines are typical and confirmed in your quote.