Concrete is tough and enduring, making it a wonderful foundation material for many kinds of buildings. Given its repute, it might shock you to learn that concrete is in truth porous. Given sufficient time, water from beneath walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to the surface and then evaporates. During its travels, the water transports salts taken from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water dries on the surface of the concrete. This unseemly product is called efflorescence.
Water comes up through the floor for multiple reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The form of soil and the amount of rainfall can influence the amount of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs beneath your property. And a nearby lake, river or creek might affect the water content in the ground, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high water mark.
What To Do About Efflorescence
Depending on the severity, you may need to resolve the water problem before proceeding (sealing the slab may not prevent problems in the walls or other locations). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should keep moisture from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a moisture barrier to our epoxy sealer that halts delamination from water vapor. After the process is complete, the concrete floor is waterproof on top. So, you can safely overlay it with tile, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant ensures your floor surface will not be vulnerable to moisture again.
For epoxy sealers, the age of the concrete typically does not matter, if it is reliable. Epoxy coatings dry rapidly, reducing delays, but it cannot be applied to brand new concrete until the material is fully set. To learn more about water remediation for concrete floors, contact West Coast Epoxy for assistance in Laguna.
Request a Free Quote