Concrete is tough and enduring, making it a terrific foundation material for many types of installations. Given its reputation, it might shock you to know that concrete is in fact porous. Given sufficient time, water from under walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to its surface, where the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water carries salts dissolved from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water evaporates on the surface of the concrete. This unwanted product is called efflorescence.
If you see cracks or joints in your concrete that do not dry completely, this points to a significant cache of moisture beneath your concrete. Some people attempt to hide the issue with tiles or do-it-yourself epoxy. Without a proper sealant, however, the water finds its way through, resulting in loose tiles or coatings that bubble and peel away. Then the problem is worse and more expensive to fix.
What to Do About Ground Water
Depending on severity, you may need to fix the water problem ahead of proceeding (sealing the foundation may not prevent challenges in the walls or other areas). If the situation is localized to the concrete, a cleanup and epoxy sealing should keep water from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a water barrier to our epoxy sealer that stops bubbling from water vapor. After the treatment is complete, the concrete foundation is indeed waterproof on top. Thus, you can confidently overlay it with tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant ensures your floor surface won’t be vulnerable to moisture again.
The moisture remediation process benefits a concrete floor of any age, and is fast enough to prevent costly delays for planned renovations. If you have any worries about moisture remediation during your remodel or building project, please give West Coast Epoxy a call or schedule a free consultation online for help in Rocklin.
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