How to seal garage floor from moisture?

[ripsnortMN]

Hey guys I think I have some moisture coming up through the garage floor. Not any water of anything but its always very humid in there. The garage is sealed up well with insulation in the wall and ceiling. It is also recently drywalled.

I don't really want to do a floor coating type of thing because i would just destroy it with the type of work I do out there. Whats the best way to stop the humidity from coming through the floor? Maybe a clear sealer of some sort? Or am I screwed because I don't want to do an epoxy type of thing?

 

[AlphaGarage]

"I don't really want to do a floor coating type of thing because i would just destroy it with the type of work I do out there."

What, are you operating a crematorium in your garage?

Are you sure it's coming up through the floor? How much moisture are you dealing with? What kind of evil are you subjecting the floor to?

For the record... Wolverine does actually have a crematorium as a client

 

[ripsnortMN]

"I don't really want to do a floor coating type of thing because i would just destroy it with the type of work I do out there."

What, are you operating a crematorium in your garage?

Are you sure it's coming up through the floor? How much moisture are you dealing with? What kind of evil are you subjecting the floor to?

For the record... Wolverine does actually have a crematorium as a client

Mostly welding. And draging the floor jack around. Also when i use jackstands a assume the weight of the vehicle would push the jackstands into the floor coating. And emptying the garage to lay down coating would be a pain in the a$$.

I guess you could say the floor "sweats". More in the spring than anything. The floor just seams to have a dark color to it I guess. And I assumed it was from the moisture seeping from the earth. The floor is in excellent condition. It maybe has one small crack in it. It was poured around 2000-2001.

 

[uparms]

Please give us the specs of your foundation/slab I base layer, pressure and or mix of concrete, any moisture insulation used under the salb.

Others may be able to add more, I don't know much but I want to learn from your case.

 

[southpier]

is the moisture coming from underneath? tape a 1' square piece of polyethelyne (all edges) to the slab and leave it for a couple of days. concrete is fairly porous. but condensation occurs when the slab stays cooler than the ambient temperature.

sounds like you want it fixed but don't want to go through the work. one foot on the platform and one foot on the train, eh?

beadblast & epoxy coating w/ antiskid is what will seal the floor. $$$



and, because the concrete will Still be cooler than the air, it will still condensate.

 

[ripsnortMN]

The garage was built here before we lived here. When I set things on the floor for a few days it will be damp underneath when I go to pick it up. Technically if the floor is doing what I think it is, wouldnt any kind of coating just lift and peal after awhile?

 

[Gunfighter]

I'm new to the forum but it sounds to me like there isn't any vapor barrier under the slab. It's very common down here in the south.

 

[Markgyver]

Usually concrete sealers are designed to let the moisture out of the concrete but not in. You might try a silane sealer to prevent any further moisture form getting in.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

I have the same problem, My floor sweats bad. I usually turn on some fans and move the air around. Thought about even using a dehumidifier but haven't yet.

 

[ripsnortMN]

The floor is actually pretty good right now but it can get pretty wet in the late spring.

 

[december45]

c'mon guys im hoping for the answer for this one.. i got the same situation i leave a cardboard box on the floor and it gets damp underneath... is there a fix for this.... or is there some fix for "no moisture barrier" when the place was built???? What are you guys down south doing to fix this? i think its more than just humidity condensating for me any way i think its coming through the floor.

 

[ripsnortMN]

c'mon guys im hoping for the answer for this one.. i got the same situation i leave a cardboard box on the floor and it gets damp underneath... is there a fix for this.... or is there some fix for "no moisture barrier" when the place was built???? What are you guys down south doing to fix this? i think its more than just humidity condensating for me any way i think its coming through the floor.

The cardboard box thing is exactly what happens in my garage. I knew I wasnt crazy

 

[december45]

yeah i think that my garage didnt get a vapor barrier when it was built, but now after the fact.... is there a fix for this???

 

[southpier]

lay down a sheet of 6 mil polyethelene and pour 4 inches of concrete over it.


don't forget to put expansion joint around the perimeter & score some divisions so if you get a stress crack it will (hopefully) follow them.

 

[nonhog]

My house garage does it also. Only one person on here said they fixed it by cleaning the slab and many coats of Thompsons water sealer.
I have my doubts and it was a thread years back.
*found it!* http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13398
I'm thinking about moving the garage fixing the problem as well as letting the sun shine on the house not the garage. Not that I care, women and sunlight.

 

[thegarageguy]

You need a water proofing epoxy primer, 2 coats of it. There are a few manufacturers that make them. It will still need to be diamond grinded, then applied. Usually 1 coat holds back 10 lbs and 2 coats 15. Call a few industrial floor contractors in your area and see if they would oblige.

 

[nonhog]

You need a water proofing epoxy primer, /QUOTE]

Just wondering does that add alot to the price ?

 

[SUPERCOAT]

Before you can 'fix' it, you need to know how much pressure is coming through. A test kit like this one will help you with that:

http://www.polymax-us.com/pc-1244-604-moisture-vapor-test-kit.aspx

 

[tjstrain]

The best place to start is outside your garage. Stop all water, as much as possible, from getting under your slab. Extend all down spouts as far away from the walls as you can. Dig a swale, install a french drain properly around the outside if you did not install one on the inside below the floor. Directing all water away from the perimeter of your garage will help keep the moisture under the slab down. Why wait until its under there to fight it. Unless you put a quality, expensive epoxy coating down, it will not last very long.
The same can be used for your house. it helps keep your basements drier.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Mostly welding. And draging the floor jack around. Also when i use jackstands a assume the weight of the vehicle would push the jackstands into the floor coating.

I do all that with mine, no issues.

T Unless you put a quality, expensive epoxy coating down, it will not last very long.

Arguable.

 

[zeecam]

I havent used this product before,but it sounds like its what your looking for http://www.vseal.com/garages/ V-SEAL Phase 2 and there is this http://www.epoxyproducts.com/vee4u.html

 

[ripsnortMN]

That thompsons water seal trick looks tempting. Im not really looking for a floor coating that would put a layer on top of the floor. Just something to stop the water from sweating through.

 

[tjstrain]

thompsons water seal is a budget temp fix. their product never lasted very long for me. Their sold at all the do-it-yourself stores. cheap cheap cheap! spend the extra cash and get a quality product. epoxy coating is truly the best way to finalize the fix.