Dealing with Moisture in Concrete

Concrete is solid and durable, making it a terrific floor material for many types of structures. Given its reputation, it might stun you to read that concrete is still porous. Given enough time, water from beneath walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to its surface, where the water then evaporates. During its travels, the water transports salts dissolved from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water evaporates on the surface of the concrete. This unseemly substance is called efflorescence.

Water comes up through the floor for multiple reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The manner of soil and amount of rainfall might influence the level of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs under your business or home. And a nearby lake, river or stream could influence 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 might need to repair the water issue ahead of proceeding (sealing the foundation may not prevent challenges in the walls or other parts). If the situation is localized to the concrete, a cleanup and epoxy sealing should keep water from accumulating. California Custom Coatings adds a liquid barrier to our epoxy sealer that halts peeling from water vapor. After this process is complete, the concrete floor is indeed waterproof on top. Thus, you can safely overlay it with ceramic tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant makes certain your floor surface will not be vulnerable to moisture again.

For epoxy sealants, the age of the concrete typically does not matter, if it is reliable. Epoxy coatings dry rapidly, minimizing delays, but it cannot be applied to new concrete until the material is fully set. To learn more about water remediation for concrete foundations, contact California Custom Coatings for help in Napa.
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