Floor coatings can help with all sorts of issues, from regular wear and tear to stain prevention to impact resistance, and more. Efflorescence is a known problem that can occur with concrete, and as such, you may wonder whether or not floor coatings can help with efflorescence.
Here is what you need to know about efflorescence, as well as whether or not floor coatings help with it.
What Is Efflorescence?
If you notice white powder on your concrete, this could be efflorescence. Efflorescence is white powder that appears on concrete as a result of water coming in contact with the surface of the concrete and evaporating.
There are two types of efflorescence: soluble and insoluble. You can typically remove soluble efflorescence with bleach and water. Insoluble efflorescence may naturally disappear over time.
How Does Efflorescence Happen?
We touched on this above, but we’ll go into more detail here. Efflorescence happens as a result of moisture that then reacts with cement particles. This is because as moisture rises, it carries calcium salts with it. These react with CO2 at the surface of the concrete, forming white powder. Efflorescence is worsened by moisture. Without moisture, you don’t have efflorescence.
Can You Prevent Efflorescence?
It’s difficult to prevent efflorescence due to the fact that concrete may be efflorescence-free for months and then it forms later on. By staying on top of potential water problems and addressing current water issues promptly, you can help with efflorescence.
It’s crucial to note here that if your efflorescence is the result of an existing moisture problem, it will continue to occur even after you clean the initial efflorescence away due to the fact that the problem that leads to the efflorescence still exists.
Is Efflorescence Bad?
This depends on what caused it. Efflorescence varies in severity. It could just be a cosmetic issue or it could be an indicator of a problem. One could argue that efflorescence is always bad due to the fact that it doesn’t look good and decreases the aesthetic appeal of your property.
Efflorescence could be the result of water leaks, which is when it is most definitely bad. This can occur due to issues like improper installation, insufficient ventilation, seasonal humidity levels, and more. Such problems usually happen in the winter when there is rain or snow or sleet, but can happen during other seasons too.
For instance, if you have sprinkler issues, this could lead to efflorescence. This can happen when you have a leaking sprinkler under a driveway or patio, because of sprinklers saturating your walls, and the like.
Do Floor Coatings Help With Efflorescence?
So, bear in mind with this the fact that efflorescence is commonly caused by moisture problems. Floor coatings can protect your floors from moisture on the top, but not below. Some floor coatings have polyethylene and calcium carbonate, which can help prevent efflorescence.
They form a protective layer on top of your floors, which means that if the moisture comes from, say, a spilled drink or rain dripping off of your car, then yes, floor coatings help with efflorescence by keeping the moisture from reaching your floors.
However, if the moisture problem is under the floor coating, then this has the potential to cause problems, not just with efflorescence, but with the floor coating itself. If you currently struggle with efflorescence, you must find the source of the moisture and address it prior to installing a floor coating, otherwise it will come back and cause problems.
Another thing to consider if you’re trying to prevent efflorescence is that you may choose to have a vapor barrier membrane installed under the coating. Floor coatings do help with efflorescence by protecting your floor from water on the surface.
TLDR;
Floor coatings may be able to help prevent efflorescence due to forming a protective barrier between your floor and water that can spill on it from the surface. However, there are no guarantees that installing a floor coating means that you’ll never struggle with efflorescence again.
Do You Want To Install A Floor Coating?
Solid Garage Floor Coatings is here to help! We provide professional floor coating services throughout the Denver, CO area. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about what our floor coatings can and cannot do for you. We’re also happy to give you a free estimate for your potential floor coating project. Simply contact us, and let our expert team help you out, however you need.