Although hard, concrete is in reality porous. Water can be wicked up by concrete and travel through it. Along the way, the water surrounds salts in the concrete and transports them to the surface. After the water reaches the surface and dries, the salts are left behind. This creates the unsightly white product that often forms on concrete called efflorescence. To halt efflorescence, you need concrete moisture remediation.
If you see cracks or joints in your floor that never dry completely, this indicates a significant cache of moisture beneath your concrete. Many people try to cover up the issue with ceramic tile or inexpensive epoxy. Without a high-quality sealant, however, the water finds its way through, resulting in loose tiles or coatings that bubble and peel away. Then the problem becomes worse and more expensive to fix.
What To Do About Efflorescence
Depending on the severity, you might need to fix the water problem ahead of proceeding (sealing the concrete may not prevent challenges in the walls or other spots). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should halt moisture from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a moisture barrier to our epoxy sealer that halts bubbling from water vapor. After this procedure is complete, the concrete floor is fully waterproof on top. Therefore, you can safely overlay it with tile, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant makes sure your floor surface will not be vulnerable to moisture again.
The water remediation treatment benefits a concrete floor of any age and is fast enough to prevent significant delays for planned remodels. If you have any questions about moisture remediation during your building or remodel project, please give West Coast Epoxy a call or schedule a free consultation online for assistance in Brentwood.
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