Concrete is solid and durable, making it a wonderful floor material for many kinds of buildings. Given its repute, it may surprise you to read that concrete is in truth porous. Given sufficient time, water from under walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to the surface, where the water then evaporates. During its travels, the water picks up salts taken from the concrete. When the water dries on the surface of the concrete, these salts become an ugly white powder called efflorescence.
Water comes up through the concrete for many reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The kind of soil and amount of rainfall can influence the height of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs beneath your property. A nearby lake, river, or creek could also influence the moisture content in the soil, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high water mark.
What to Do About Groundwater
Depending on severity, you might need to resolve the water problem before proceeding (sealing the concrete may not prevent challenges in the walls or other locations). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should halt water from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a liquid barrier to our epoxy sealer that halts bubbling from water vapor. After this process is complete, the concrete floor is waterproof on top so 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 procedure benefits a concrete floor of any age and is fast enough to prevent significant delays for planned remodels. If you have any worries about moisture remediation during your building or remodel project in Tracy, please give West Coast Epoxy a call or schedule a free consultation online.