Although hard, concrete is in reality porous. Water can be wicked up by concrete and flow through it. Along the way, the water picks up salts in the concrete and moves them to the surface. When this water reaches the surface and evaporates, the salts are left behind. This creates the unseemly white material that often forms on concrete called efflorescence. To stop efflorescence, you require concrete moisture remediation.
Water comes up through the floor for multiple reasons that do not involve leaky pipes. The manner of soil and amount of rainfall might influence the amount of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers can create water reservoirs under your property. A nearby lake, river or creek also might influence the water content in the soil, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high water mark.
What To Do About Efflorescence
Some water problems are severe enough that in addition to sealing the foundation, you also need to take other measures outside the building. But if the problem is just in the concrete, our epoxy sealing method is sufficient to waterproof the concrete. Then you can confidently install tiles, carpet, laminates, or wood floors.
For epoxy sealers, the age of the concrete typically does not matter if it is stable. Epoxy coatings dry quickly, minimizing delays, but it cannot be applied to brand new concrete until the material is fully set. To learn more about moisture remediation for concrete foundations in Napa, talk with West Coast Epoxy.