Although hard, concrete is in fact porous. Water can be wicked up by concrete and travel through it. Along the way, the water dissolves salts in the concrete and transports them to the surface. After this water reaches the surface and dries, the salts are left behind. This produces the unseemly white product that often forms on concrete called efflorescence. To prevent efflorescence, you require concrete moisture remediation.
If you see seams or joints in your concrete that don’t dry completely, this indicates a significant cache of moisture underneath your slab. Many people try to cover the challenge with tile or cheap epoxy. Without a proper sealant, however, the water finds a way through, resulting in loose tiles or coatings that bubble and peel away. Then the problem becomes worse and more costly to repair.
What to Do About Ground Water
Depending on severity, you may need to repair the water issue ahead of proceeding (sealing the concrete may not prevent problems in the walls or other spaces). If the situation is localized to the concrete, cleanup and epoxy sealing should halt moisture from accumulating. Nevada Custom Coatings adds a water barrier to our epoxy sealer that stops delamination from water vapor. After this treatment is complete, the concrete foundation is indeed waterproof on top. So, you can confidently overlay it with ceramic tile, wood, carpet, or laminates. The epoxy sealant makes certain 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 unwanted delays for planned renovations. If you have any questions about moisture remediation during your building or remodel project in Lemmon Valley, please give Nevada Custom Coatings a call or schedule a free consultation online.
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