Concrete is hard and durable, making it a great floor material for many types of buildings. Given its reputation, it can surprise you to learn that concrete is in truth porous. Given enough time, water from underneath 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 dries on the surface of the concrete. This ugly product is named efflorescence.
If you see joints or cracks in your floor that do not dry completely, this points to a significant cache of moisture underneath your slab. Some people attempt to mask the problem with tiles or DIY epoxy. Without a good sealant, however, the water finds a way through, resulting in loose tiles or coatings that bubble and peel away. Then the problem becomes worse and more expensive to repair.
What to Do About Ground Water
Depending on the level of severity, you might need to resolve the water issue before proceeding (sealing the floor may not prevent challenges in the walls or other locations). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should prevent water from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a moisture barrier to our epoxy sealer that halts bubbling from water vapor. After the process is complete, the concrete foundation is indeed waterproof on top. Therefore, you can safely overlay it with ceramic tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant makes sure your floor surface won’t be vulnerable to moisture again.
The water remediation procedure benefits a concrete floor of any age and is fast enough to prevent costly 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 Clayton.
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