Concrete is solid and durable, making it a terrific foundation material for many kinds of installations. Given its reputation, it might shock you to read that concrete is still porous. Given enough time, water from under slabs or walkways makes its way through the concrete to its surface, where the water 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 unsightly product is named efflorescence.
Water comes up through the floor for many reasons that do not involve leaky pipes. The type of soil and amount of rainfall might influence the amount of ground water. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs underneath your property. A nearby creek, river or lake might also affect the moisture 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 repair the water problem ahead of proceeding (sealing the slab may not prevent issues in the walls or other locations). If the situation is localized to the concrete, a cleanup and epoxy sealing should prevent moisture from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a moisture barrier to our epoxy sealer that prevents peeling from water vapor. After the treatment is complete, the concrete foundation is indeed waterproof on top and can be confidently overlaid with tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates.
With epoxy sealers, the age of the concrete typically does not matter as long as it is stable. Epoxy coatings dry rapidly, minimizing delays, but it cannot be applied to green concrete until the material is fully set. To learn more about water remediation for concrete floors, talk with West Coast Epoxy for help in Martinez.
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