Efflorescence – Schaumburg, IL 60194

Understanding Concrete Efflorescence How It Results In Unsightly Foundation Walls

At Permaseal, we all answer customer questions regarding concrete problems daily. Probably the most common, and most perplexing for home owners, is what they ought to do when they find layers of white-colored, flaky deposits on their cellar wall surfaces. This powder is very common on cement surfaces -- especially in basements and crawl spaces -- and it is referred to as efflorescence.

What Can Cause Efflorescence?

Concrete is a porous material -- and it has been since the day it dried up. For this reason, it will take moisture from the ground outside, gradually releasing some of this moisture into your home. This is most significant reasons that cellars are notoriously damp, humid areas.

As this moisture passes through your concrete, it brings a small percentage of minerals from the soil outside in conjunction with it, along with the lime in the concrete itself. When it evaporates in your cellar, it simply leaves these kinds of minerals behind. With time, they create the white, flaky dust that you see on your wall surfaces today.

Cleaning Efflorescence from Basement Walls

There are many products on the market today which are exclusively intended for getting rid of unsightly stains from concrete walls and flooring surfaces. One great way to remove efflorescence is to rent a pressure washer from a nearby hardware store and to combine it with these types of chemicals to effectively blast efflorescence off the concrete.

For a more economical solution, however, you could substitute these custom chemical substances using a solution of bleach. Combined with a power washer, pressure washer, or just by applying with a scrub brush and some work, you ought to be in the position to clean off the majority of efflorescence problems.

Phosphoric acid could also be used to not only eliminate efflorescence powder but also corrosion, grime, stains, and hard water deposits. Even so, phosphoric acid, as well as other acids, should be used cautiously and with great attention.

Safeguarding Your Basement from Efflorescence

At Permaseal, we suggest protecting your cement types of surface from efflorescence before an issue comes up. However, if you thoroughly clean already damaged concrete, protection can be applied after.

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

This barrier puts a stop to 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 moisture.

Concrete treatments can be applied as a spray, roller, paint brush, and also other ways, and it cures in 2-4 hrs. It's safe for inside use in addition to outdoor usage, and may protect your basement in a lot of ways.

Other Zip Codes in Schaumburg that we Serve

  • 60159,
  • 60168,
  • 60173,
  • 60179,
  • 60192,
  • 60193,
  • 60195,
  • 60196
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