Treating Efflorescence – 60402

Being familiar with Concrete Efflorescence How It Results In Ugly Foundation Walls

At Permaseal, we respond to customer questions regarding concrete issues every day. One of the most common, and most puzzling for home owners, is what they should do after they find layers of white-colored, flaky deposits on their cellar walls. This particular powder is very popular on concrete types of surface -- specifically in cellars and crawl spaces -- and it is often called efflorescence.

What May Cause Efflorescence?

Concrete is a permeable material -- and it has been since the day it dried. For this reason, it will take moisture from the dirt outside, gradually releasing some of this moisture into your dwelling. This is one of the primary reasons that basements are notoriously moist, humid spaces.

As this moisture passes through your cement, it brings a small portion of minerals from the soil outdoors in conjunction with it, combined with the lime in the cement itself. When it evaporates into your basement, it simply leaves these kinds of minerals behind. Over time, they create the white, flaky powder that you observe on your wall surfaces right now.

Washing Efflorescence from Basement Walls

There are several products on the market today which are especially designed for removing unsightly stains from cement walls and flooring. One good way to remove efflorescence is to rent a pressure washer from a nearby home improvement store and to blend it with these types of chemicals to effectively blast efflorescence away from the cement.

For a less expensive solution, however, you could substitute these customized chemicals using a solution of chlorine bleach. Combined with a power washer, pressure washer, or simply by applying with a scrub broom and some hard work, you will be competent to thoroughly clean off most efflorescence issues.

Phosphoric acid could also be used not only to remove efflorescence powder but also rust, grime, stains, and hard water build up. Even so, phosphoric acid, as well as other chemicals, must be used carefully and with great attention.

Safeguarding Your Basement from Efflorescence

At Permaseal, we recommend protecting your cement surfaces from efflorescence before an issue arises. Having said that, if you thoroughly clean already affected concrete, protection can be applied afterward.

Our suggested way to stop efflorescence is by sealing your concrete walls with a concrete sealer. This product works deep in the pores of your concrete walls and flooring to create a glass-like silicate bond in the cement.

This barrier halts the movement of moisture through the basement walls and flooring surfaces, protecting your cellar from both efflorescence and the water vapor transmission associated with basement humidity.

Concrete treatments can be applied as a spray, roller, paint brush, and also other ways, and it dries out in 2-4 hours. It is harmless for inside use in addition to outdoor usage, and may protect your basement in a lot of ways.