Concrete is hard and enduring, making it a wonderful floor material for the majority of kinds of structures. Given its reputation, it may stun you to learn that concrete is actually porous. Given enough time, water from under slabs or walkways makes its way through the concrete to the surface, and the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water carries salts dissolved from the concrete. These salts become an ugly white powder called efflorescence when the water dries on the surface of the concrete.
Water comes up through the floor for a number of reasons that do not involve leaky pipes. The manner of soil and amount of rainfall can influence the height of ground water. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs beneath your business or home. And a nearby stream, river or lake might affect the water 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 severity, you might need to fix the water issue ahead of proceeding as sealing the slab may not prevent problems in the walls or other parts. If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should prevent water from accumulating. California Custom Coatings adds a liquid barrier to our epoxy sealer that halts peeling from water vapor. After the process is complete, the concrete foundation is waterproof on top and you can confidently overlay it with tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant ensures your floor surface will not be vulnerable to moisture again.
With epoxy sealers, the age of the concrete usually does not matter as long as it is reliable. Epoxy coatings dry quickly, limiting delays, but it cannot be applied to green concrete until the material is fully set. To discover more about moisture remediation for concrete foundations in Rancho Cordova, call California Custom Coatings!
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