Sweating in Stained Concrete Floors

Benefits of Concrete Floors

• Concrete floors are a shiny, durable and an affordable option for commercial buildings and residential homes. Once a concrete floor is in place, there is typically never a need to replace it unless the owner desires a change. Stains are available in a variety of colors to complement the style of your furnishings and home decor. A high or low gloss finish is available as well. Maintenance of this type of floor is quick and inexpensive, unless the floor sweats and results in a powdery residue.

Efflorescence

• Efflorescence in concrete occurs when the salts rise to the surface due to moisture leaching out of the floor. The water evaporates and the salt forms a powdery, dusty substance that makes maintenance and keeping the floor looking clean an arduous task. Over time, the efflorescence may cause cracks in the floor due to the expansion of the concrete material.

Identifying the Cause

• Identifying the underlying cause of the efflorescence determines the solution to take care of the problem. Get rid of any sealers or wax products by stripping them off the concrete floor with floor stripping solutions available at hardware and home supply stores.. Hire a concrete specialist to perform a moisture measurement after the floor is stripped. This measurement is called calcium chloride vapor pressure test, as stated by the Portland Cement Association. If a moisture problem is the cause, homeowners may need to grade the land around the foundation of their homes so it slopes properly from the building. This causes rainwater to flow away from the foundation of the house. Another solution is to hire a plumber to install French drains. This eventually lowers the moisture content underneath the slab, but it does take time.

Repairing the Problem

• The results of the moisture test determine the next step to solving the efflorescence. If the result is on the low side according to the concrete specialist, apply a penetrating concrete sealer to the floor by following the label directions. After the sealer dries, the homeowner can restain the concrete floor. If the results are on the high side of the moisture test, apply a topical waterproof coating formulated for concrete floors. Treat the floor with a polymer cement coating before restaining the floor.