Concrete is tough and long-lasting, making it a wonderful floor material for many types of installations. Given its reputation, it may surprise you to hear that concrete is in truth porous. Given enough time, water from beneath walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to the surface, and the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water carries salts taken from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water evaporates on the surface of the concrete. This ugly stuff is named efflorescence.
Water comes up through the concrete for various reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The form of soil and the amount of rainfall can influence the level of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs underneath your business or home. And a nearby lake, river or stream could influence 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 the severity, you might need to resolve the water issue ahead of proceeding (sealing the concrete may not prevent challenges in the walls or other areas). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should keep water from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a water barrier to our epoxy sealer that prevents delamination from water vapor. After the process is complete, the concrete floor is indeed waterproof on top. Thus, you can confidently overlay it with ceramic tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant makes sure your floor surface will not be vulnerable to moisture again.
The water remediation procedure benefits a concrete floor of any age and is fast enough to prevent unwanted delays for planned renovations. If you have any worries about moisture remediation during your renovation or building project, please give West Coast Epoxy a call or schedule a free consultation online for help in Carmichael.
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