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| Concrete Decor Archives |
Concrete Moisture Problems
Moisture intrusion is one of concrete's biggest enemies. When moisture creeps in, so can cracks, discoloration, delamination or even bigger problems. Concrete Decor presented three common moisture problems to experts in the decorative concrete industry and asked them to offer solutions. Here's what they had to say:
by Christina Camara
and complains about white stuff on the concrete (… and it's not snowing).
Terry Tomlinson, technical director for White Mountain Products, had a few questions about the above scenario: Has a sealer been used? If so, was it water-based or solvent-based? And most important, why did the "white stuff" appear?
That "white stuff," or efflorescence, shows up when moisture has moved through the slab, carrying minerals with it. A white residue is left behind when the water evaporates.
One way to gather more information about the problem is to make a $10 investment and purchase a calcium chloride test kit that will determine excess moisture or moisture vapor problems. The dry calcium chloride collects water if moisture is present. The amount of weight the calcium chloride gains indicates how much moisture is coming through, Tomlinson said.
If the job has not been sealed, Tomlinson suggested a simple cleaning with a broom, following up with an efflorescence remover if needed. Applying a solvent-based acrylic sealer will also make the efflorescence disappear.
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