Concrete is hard and long-lasting, making it a top-notch floor material for most types of installations. Given its repute, it can shock you to know that concrete is still porous. Given sufficient time, water from beneath walkways or slabs makes its way through the concrete to its surface, where the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water picks up salts taken from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water dries on the surface of the concrete. This unsightly substance is called efflorescence.
Water comes up through the floor for many reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The type of soil and amount of rainfall might influence the level of groundwater. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers can create water reservoirs beneath your property. And a nearby lake, river or creek might affect the water content in the soil, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high water mark.
What to Do About Ground Water
Depending on the amount of severity, you may need to repair the water problem ahead of proceeding (sealing the foundation may not prevent issues in the walls or other spots). If the situation is localized to the concrete, some cleanup and epoxy sealing should prevent water from accumulating. West Coast Epoxy adds a water barrier to our epoxy sealer that stops delamination from water vapor. After the process is complete, the concrete floor is indeed waterproof on top. Therefore, you can confidently overlay it with tiles, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant ensures your floor surface will not be vulnerable to moisture again.
For epoxy sealants, the age of the concrete usually does not matter if it is stable. Epoxy coatings dry rapidly, limiting delays, but it cannot be applied to new concrete until the material is fully set. To find out more about water remediation for concrete floors, call West Coast Epoxy for assistance in West Sacramento.
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