Concrete is hard and durable, making it a good foundation material for many types of installations. Given its reputation, it may surprise you to know that concrete is in fact 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 picks up salts dissolved from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water dries on the surface of the concrete. This unsightly product is named efflorescence.
Water comes up through the floor for various reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The kind of soil and amount of rainfall may influence the level of ground water. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers can create water reservoirs underneath your home or business. A nearby stream, river, or lake might also influence the water content in the soil, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high water mark.
What to Do About Ground Water
Some water problems are serious enough that in addition to sealing the concrete, you simultaneously need to take other measures outside the structure. But when the problem is just in the concrete, our epoxy sealing treatment is enough to waterproof the concrete allowing you to confidently install ceramic tile, carpet, laminates or wood floors.
For epoxy sealers, the age of the concrete typically does not matter as long as it is reliable. Epoxy coatings dry rapidly, limiting delays, but it cannot be applied to brand new concrete until the material is fully set. To discover more about water remediation for concrete floors in Grass Valley, reach out to West Coast Epoxy.