Slab was poured about 8 years ago with no vapor barrier on compacted earth no crushed rock plain old ground. Only good thing is it is on a hill high above water table with good drainage away from foundation. Problem is when it does get humid and temp swings lots of water accumulates on floor to the point of puddling in some sections., Contractors said I did not need a vapor barrier what a bunch of bs
. Since then I myself did 2 slabs a year ago with a moisture barrier installed both bone dry. The slab that is giving me issues of water migration is 26x32 garage with living space above. Currently unheated. The slab is thick 8"+. Especially thick on half the garage that is giving me problems about 12"+ inches I know way overkill but I was going to put a lift in that side. Concrete was 5000psi mix with fibers added. Power trowelled smooth finish which I currently ground down with Edco twin head grinder. I removed the top layer of cream and now only show aggregate. Then I etched it with pure muriatic acid neutralized with baking soda and thoroughly power washed slab. No white residue left after power washing. let dry 10 days and applied Armor Foundations S2000 which is an enhanced densifier which they guaranteed would stop water migration.I did not find this site until after buying the s2000
I applied 4 coats using hot water as they recommended and also waited 24 hours between coats. Waited 10 days and did a plastic sheet test 2'x2' duct taped down for 72 hours. Result was no condensation on plastic but the concrete was darker in the area taped down. I put a small digital hygrometer under plastic which read 80% rh. I did 2 other spots in garage and both spots did not turn darker like this one. Called Armor foundation and they told me to apply another coat wait 10 days and retest. Question is am I wasting my time? I am also going to do calcium chloride test to get a more accurate reading of how much moisture is coming up thru slab. I cannot rip up the slab do to how thick it is otherwise I would. Is there any other product that I could put on slab to reduce the moisture coming thru? When should I stop putting coats of densifier down is there a point when the concrete will not absorb anymore? With a 72 hour plastic test should the concrete change and get darker at all ? As long as there is no condensation on plastic is this ok? Any help would be much appreciated. I cannot believe how $20 worth of plastic could of saved this garage! All I want to do is paint the floor with epoxy, but I don't want it to fail do to water vapor seeping thru slab.
. Since then I myself did 2 slabs a year ago with a moisture barrier installed both bone dry. The slab that is giving me issues of water migration is 26x32 garage with living space above. Currently unheated. The slab is thick 8"+. Especially thick on half the garage that is giving me problems about 12"+ inches I know way overkill but I was going to put a lift in that side. Concrete was 5000psi mix with fibers added. Power trowelled smooth finish which I currently ground down with Edco twin head grinder. I removed the top layer of cream and now only show aggregate. Then I etched it with pure muriatic acid neutralized with baking soda and thoroughly power washed slab. No white residue left after power washing. let dry 10 days and applied Armor Foundations S2000 which is an enhanced densifier which they guaranteed would stop water migration.I did not find this site until after buying the s2000 I applied 4 coats using hot water as they recommended and also waited 24 hours between coats. Waited 10 days and did a plastic sheet test 2'x2' duct taped down for 72 hours. Result was no condensation on plastic but the concrete was darker in the area taped down. I put a small digital hygrometer under plastic which read 80% rh. I did 2 other spots in garage and both spots did not turn darker like this one. Called Armor foundation and they told me to apply another coat wait 10 days and retest. Question is am I wasting my time? I am also going to do calcium chloride test to get a more accurate reading of how much moisture is coming up thru slab. I cannot rip up the slab do to how thick it is otherwise I would. Is there any other product that I could put on slab to reduce the moisture coming thru? When should I stop putting coats of densifier down is there a point when the concrete will not absorb anymore? With a 72 hour plastic test should the concrete change and get darker at all ? As long as there is no condensation on plastic is this ok? Any help would be much appreciated. I cannot believe how $20 worth of plastic could of saved this garage! All I want to do is paint the floor with epoxy, but I don't want it to fail do to water vapor seeping thru slab.