Rust Bullet / Epoxy Coating vs. Radon

[drx2]

I just bought a new (to me) home built in 1971. It is in CT and radon is a big concern in this area. It was tested and the level was 41 pCi/l. Not very high, my friend's house across town came in at 140. The basement and garage concrete floors are in good condition with 4-5 cracks in the basement floor about 1/8 - 1/4". No water in the basement, and it does not have a sump pump. I plan on sealing the cracks, as well as putting a mitigation system in the basement.

I also was planning on putting down Rust Bullet in the garage and possibly the basement floor.

1) Any suggestions on a crack filling material that would also help stop the migration of radon?

2) Does Rust Bullet or epoxy have any effect on stopping radon entering the garage or basement? Would a sealer (in the basement) be a better choice? A search had brought up a product called Radonseal.

I do not plan on using this as an alternative to the mitigation system, but I am a bit curious.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Products claiming this ability are jambing the pores of the concrete. The same way a densifier does. If you do a little more research you will see that is probably the main ingredient.


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[venturesomerite]

Where about in CT? I also am curious as to the answers for this?

 

[DC73]

Just recently, I was researching fillers to fill the concrete control joints in my new workshop before applying Rust Bullet. Several of the two part epoxy fillers I came across said they block radon gas.

Here's one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008VDHY48/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I suspect any of the 100% solids two part epoxy fillers would work the same for cracks.

I would think that Rust Bullet would block as much radon coming through the rest of the concrete as would any other sealer.

DC

 

[drx2]

Trumbull CT

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Radon can enter through perimeter joints, walls, etc...

Be careful using high solvent based coatings for basements for several reasons....
Combustion
Stink traveling through the house
Higher molecular lock will trap moisture if present and cause coating failure
We dont coat basements without using our Aqua-Dike moisture vapor barrier.


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[Garage Flooring]

I just bought a new (to me) home built in 1971. It is in CT and radon is a big concern in this area. It was tested and the level was 41 pCi/l. Not very high, my friend's house across town came in at 140. The basement and garage concrete floors are in good condition with 4-5 cracks in the basement floor about 1/8 - 1/4". No water in the basement, and it does not have a sump pump. I plan on sealing the cracks, as well as putting a mitigation system in the basement.

I also was planning on putting down Rust Bullet in the garage and possibly the basement floor.

1) Any suggestions on a crack filling material that would also help stop the migration of radon?

2) Does Rust Bullet or epoxy have any effect on stopping radon entering the garage or basement? Would a sealer (in the basement) be a better choice? A search had brought up a product called Radonseal.

I do not plan on using this as an alternative to the mitigation system, but I am a bit curious.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I have 0 testing on this. I would tend to make certain assumptions, but without test and real life data to back that up, I am not even going to go there because there is not a solid foundation to make a suggestion.

Rust Bullet does stink. So will most single component products and aliphatic urethane. One nice thing about the RB product is 100% of the solvents are gone in 72 hours. For me, I've got a wife and between us 6 kids, two dogs and a cat. Unless I was going on vacation right after installing it, Rust Bullet and a lot of coatings products would be tops on my list of MY WIFE WOULD KILL ME IF I PUT IT IN THE BASEMENT WHEN SHE WAS HOME

Radon issues aside, you likely do not need the abrasion resistance or the chemical resistance typically required from a garage.

Before you can make a decision on what products to use, you need to look at moisture as well. There may be a large benefit from using a breathable product.

If you want to go over some specific suggestions or ideas, drop me a PM or give me a call.

 

[benwah]

OP, You may want to take a look at this... http://www.radon.com/radon/radon_levels.html

If your levels of Radon is really 41 pCi/l and not 0.41 pCi/l you and your fam are probably in for a bad time. I'd move ASAP. And your friend at 120, well, he'd better do the same. Hopefully these readings have a decimal in front of them for the sake of everyone's lungs.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

They have mitigation systems that are very successful.
If you found it, you have to deal with it. The next buyer can opt out if it's not dealt with.
If it's known to be high, it would have to be disclosed on the contract.

 

[jasonz]

OP, You may want to take a look at this... http://www.radon.com/radon/radon_levels.html

If your levels of Radon is really 41 pCi/l and not 0.41 pCi/l you and your fam are probably in for a bad time. I'd move ASAP. And your friend at 120, well, he'd better do the same. Hopefully these readings have a decimal in front of them for the sake of everyone's lungs.

I'm sorry, but this type of information just cracks me up... You can't escape from Radon... it's everywhere. You get exposed to more radiation flying in an airplane... Also your house can't trap radon as it decays too quickly... and I'm sure that the National Academy of Sciences does not have concrete or enough evidence to support their lung cancer claims. It was probably a sample of 10 people who got lung cancer in 3 different cities.

http://www.forensic-applications.com/radon/radon.html

Not trying to be argumentative, just tired of hearing this and people trying to scare people. Just be careful what you read on the internet and use common sense.

 

[benwah]

Lol.. Ok.

 

[drx2]

thanks to all for your suggestions

 

[Jsf721]

Here is a link. I am using this product not so much for radon as for moisture. But in do Ing research I remembered this document.

Good luck.

http://sanitred.com/diy-radon-mitigation-coating/about-diy-radon-removal-coating/

 

[Muggzy]

Here is a link. I am using this product not so much for radon as for moisture. But in do Ing research I remembered this document.

Good luck.

http://sanitred.com/diy-radon-mitigation-coating/about-diy-radon-removal-coating/

I realize this thread is 5 years old, but I'm buying a house with elevated levels of radon and looking to hear from anyone who's used this Sanitread product. Would love to hear from anyone with experience with the product, but especially if you used it for radon mitigation. Is it as good as the mfr claims? Any experience with it on garage floors?

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[LegacyIndustrial]

Muggzy, I lived in the NE and had a home with high Radon.
Even with a resinous floor coating applied the Radon finds it's way into living spaces (basement). Like water, once stopped, it simply finds another way.

A ventilator is the only system, IMO, that draws it out of the home.

 

[Muggzy]

Muggzy, I lived in the NE and had a home with high Radon.
Even with a resinous floor coating applied the Radon finds it's way into living spaces (basement). Like water, once stopped, it simply finds another way.

A ventilator is the only system, IMO, that draws it out of the home.

Thanks for the reply LegacyIndustrial. Do you remember what your level was pre-ventilation? Also, did you have your basement walls done too?
The basement on this house isn't treated in any way on the walls or floors, just bare poured concrete. We also don't know how bad the problem is yet. I'm accepting the idea that the "fix" may (will likely?) be a combination of the coating and ventilation, but hoping to hear from someone who's used a coating method to keep the gas out. It's gotta have less pressure than water (btw, the basement is very dry).
I'm also having the well water tested as well.

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[jkeyser14]

Thanks for the reply LegacyIndustrial. Do you remember what your level was pre-ventilation? Also, did you have your basement walls done too?
The basement on this house isn't treated in any way on the walls or floors, just bare poured concrete. We also don't know how bad the problem is yet. I'm accepting the idea that the "fix" may (will likely?) be a combination of the coating and ventilation, but hoping to hear from someone who's used a coating method to keep the gas out. It's gotta have less pressure than water (btw, the basement is very dry).
I'm also having the well water tested as well.

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Don't treat this as a DIY thing. For $1000 (less than coating you basement) you can have a professional come install a ventillation system that will guarantee to drop you below the EPA required levels. This will involve looking at the construction of your home, determining the ventilation requitements, selecting the properly sized blower, sealing floor/foundation cracks, and checking for proper negative pressure under your slab once installed. After installation they should provide you with test results to prove the system meets EPA levels.

 

[Muggzy]

Don't treat this as a DIY thing. For $1000 (less than coating you basement) you can have a professional come install a ventillation system that will guarantee to drop you below the EPA required levels. This will involve looking at the construction of your home, determining the ventilation requitements, selecting the properly sized blower, sealing floor/foundation cracks, and checking for proper negative pressure under your slab once installed. After installation they should provide you with test results to prove the system meets EPA levels.

Thanks jkeyser14, not necessarily going the diy route. But I sure like the idea of sealing the radon gas out, rather than blowing it out after it gets in.

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