Water and Other Moisture Damage to Concrete

In the Northeast, freezing can be a major problem for decorative concrete. In the South, rain and humidity are the twin devils. In the Southwest, it’s dry air. On the West Coast, there is a moisture problem near the ocean and an entirely different kind of moisture problem in the desert 50 miles inland. Both exterior and interior projects are affected by climate.

For decorative concrete contractors, moisture is a challenge that varies by region. “The big factor in decorative concrete is curing, and the environment is big,” says Chris Sullivan, national sales manager at QC Construction Products. “Concrete cures a lot faster in Arizona, but it doesn’t necessarily cure better. In Atlanta, Ga., there is a lot more moisture in the air and more potential for problems.”

Even within one region, there can be a variety of climate challenges. “The Northeast has four dramatic seasonal changes, which is more of a challenge than California, which is pretty much the same year-round,” says Sullivan.

Climate considerations go beyond the obvious weather challenges such as rain or freezing temperatures. The moisture in the ground itself becomes a regional challenge, whether it’s the porous sand of the Southwest or the hard clay in the South. “You have challenges like water tables that will affect the amount of moisture on the ground,” says Clifford Platt, vice president of Vexcon Chemicals Inc. “You have to deal with moisture above the surface and below the surface.”

Platt also works with customers to select products according to regional humidity differences.