Treating Efflorescence – Sandwich, Illinois 60548

Being familiar with Concrete Efflorescence How It Leads To Ugly Foundation Walls

At Permaseal, we all respond to client queries about concrete issues daily. One of the most common, and most perplexing for property owners, is exactly what they ought to do when they find layers of white-colored, flaky residue on their cellar walls. This particular powder is very common on cement surfaces -- specifically in cellars and crawl spaces -- and it is often known as efflorescence.

What Causes Efflorescence?

Concrete is a porous material -- and it has been since the day it dried up. For this reason, it's going to accept moisture from the soil outside, slowly releasing some of this moisture into your house. This is one of the primary reasons that cellars are notoriously moist, humid spaces.

As this moisture moves through your concrete, it brings a small portion of minerals from the earth outside the house in conjunction with it, along with the lime in the concrete itself. When it evaporates in your basement, it leaves these kinds of minerals behind. With time, they create the white, flaky powder that you find on your walls right now.

Washing Efflorescence from Basement Walls

There are several products currently available which are specifically geared towards getting rid of stains from cement walls and flooring surfaces. One good way to remove efflorescence is to rent a power washer from a local hardware store and to combine it with these chemicals to effectively blast efflorescence away from the concrete.

For a more economical solution, however, you may substitute these custom made chemicals with a solution of bleach. Combined with a power washer, pressure washer, or simply by applying with a scrub brush and some work, you ought to be able to clean off the majority of efflorescence problems.

Phosphoric acid could also be used not only to remove efflorescence powder but also rust, grime, unsightly stains, and hard water deposits. However, phosphoric acid, along with other chemicals, should be used carefully and with great care.

Protecting Your Basement from Efflorescence

At Permaseal, we recommend protecting your concrete areas from efflorescence before an issue arises. However, if you thoroughly clean already damaged concrete, protection can be applied after.

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

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

Concrete treatments can be applied as a spray, roller, paint brush, or any other ways, and it dries in 2-4 hrs. It's safe for indoor use as well as outdoor usage, and can protect your basement in many different ways.