Page 13 - CleanScience_Fall22

Photo 4. Hardwood flooring after 142 days.
Photo 5. Engineered flooring after 142 days.
Photo 7. Bamboo flooring with surface cracking after 142 days.
seven, cupping, surface staining, and surface cracking (bamboo only) would have indicated a change caused by moisture exposure (Photos 4 –7).
Experiment Two: Wood Flooring Immersed Above a Concrete Floor
The wood 􏰁ooring immersion study examined the conse􏰐uences of a 􏰑worst􏰒case􏰓 scenario where the moisture source sustained liquid water exposure. Photographs documented the visible changes while thickness measurements recorded the thickness swell changes.
Thickness Swelling Measurements
Thickness swell measurements were obtained from control and test samples (n 􏰕 􏰖) using a micrometer (Grainger). Measurements were obtained nine times (􏰗ays 􏰍, 7, 􏰖, 􏰘, 􏰙􏰚, 3􏰎, 4􏰖, 7􏰙 and 􏰍􏰍􏰛) during the study. Measurements taken on Day 7 and Day 110 are
Photo 6. Laminate flooring after 142 days.
to optimal moisture content (surface contact between t􏰀e 􏰁oorin􏰂 an􏰃 concrete􏰄 an􏰃 consumption of a􏰅ailable su􏰂ars in t􏰀e woo􏰃􏰆 􏰇ol􏰃 􏰂rowt􏰀 was most proli􏰈c beneat􏰀 t􏰀e en􏰂ineere􏰃 􏰁oorin􏰂 e􏰉emplars w􏰀ere t􏰀ic􏰊 fungal mycelium mats extended as much as six inches across the concrete slab (Photo 3). The least growth was observed among the laminate and hardwood 􏰁ooring exemplars. 􏰋 thin foam sheet elevated the laminate 􏰁ooring exemplars above the concrete surface and prevented direct moisture contact and absorption. Hardwood exemplars cupped in response to moisture absorption and lessened surface contact with the damp concrete. This physical change lessened the area that attained moisture 􏰈ber saturation and microbial growth.
Surface Appearance
􏰌ine of 􏰍􏰎 􏰁ooring exemplars did not exhibit a detectable surface change after three months of exposure to a damp concrete surface. 􏰏f the remaining
FALL 2022
THE JOURNAL OF CLEANING SCIENCE | 13