Concrete is tough and long-lasting, making it a wonderful floor material for most types of buildings. Given its reputation, it may shock you to know that concrete is in fact porous. Given enough time, water from underneath slabs or walkways makes its way through the concrete to the surface, and the water then evaporates. During its travel, the water transports salts dissolved from the concrete. These salts become a white powder when the water evaporates on the surface of the concrete. This unseemly material is named efflorescence.
Water comes up through the floor for multiple reasons that do not involve leaking pipes. The manner of soil and amount of rainfall can influence the level of ground water. The presence of springs or near-surface aquifers may create water reservoirs underneath your location. And a nearby stream, river or lake might influence the water content in the ground, especially if your foundation is below the level of the high-water mark.
What to Do About Ground Water
Some water challenges are serious enough that in addition to sealing the concrete, you simultaneously need to take other measures outside the building. But if the issue is just in the concrete, our epoxy sealing application is sufficient to waterproof the slab. After the sealing, you can safely install ceramic tile, carpet, laminate, or wood floors.
The water remediation procedure benefits a concrete floor of any age and is fast enough to prevent unwanted delays for planned renovations. If you have any worries about moisture remediation during your building or remodel project in Gardnerville, please give Nevada Custom Coatings a call or schedule a free consultation online.