Dealing with Moisture in Concrete

Concrete is solid and strong, making it a wonderful foundation material for the majority flooring installations. Given its repute, it can shock you to learn that concrete is still porous. Given enough time, water from beneath slabs or walkways makes its way through the concrete to the surface, where the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water transports salts taken from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water evaporates on the surface of the concrete. This unseemly byproduct is called efflorescence.

Water comes up through the floor for many reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The type of soil and amount of rainfall might influence the height of ground water. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs underneath your property. And a nearby lake, river or creek might 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 severity, you might need to resolve the water issue before proceeding (sealing the slab 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 water barrier to our epoxy sealer that stops delamination from water vapor. After this procedure is complete, the concrete foundation is indeed waterproof on top. So, you can safely overlay it with tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant ensures 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 avoid unwanted delays for planned renovations. If you have any concerns 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 Folsom.
Request a Free Quote