Moisture Remediation

Concrete is hard and strong, making it a terrific foundation material for most kinds of buildings. Given its repute, it can surprise you to learn that concrete is in fact porous. Given enough time, water from underneath walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to the surface, and the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water picks up salts taken from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water evaporates on the surface of the concrete. This unseemly substance is named efflorescence.

Water comes up through the concrete for a number of reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The form of soil and amount of rainfall might influence the amount of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers can create water reservoirs underneath your location. And a nearby creek, river or lake might affect the moisture content in the ground, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high water mark.

What to Do About Ground Water

Depending on the severity, you may need to fix the water issue ahead of proceeding (sealing the slab may not prevent challenges in the walls or other spots). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should prevent moisture from accumulating. California Custom Coatings adds a water barrier to our epoxy sealer that prevents delamination from water vapor. After the procedure is complete, the concrete foundation is indeed waterproof on top. Thus, you can safely overlay it with tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant ensures your floor surface won’t be vulnerable to moisture again.

With epoxy sealants, the age of the concrete generally does not matter, if it is reliable. Epoxy coatings dry rapidly, minimizing delays, but it cannot be applied to brand new concrete until the material is fully set. To discover more about moisture remediation for concrete foundations, contact California Custom Coatings for help in Lincoln.
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