Sweaty concrete floor

[bens]

I have a 42' x 75' concrete slab in my pole barn that is sweating mighty heavily. The slab was poured in July 2006 and is in an uninsulated barn in Indiana. Our temps are in the 70's lately and lots of rain.

I realized a vapor barrier under the slab would have been the best option, but it's too late for that. Is there anything I can do now to keep the moisture from collecting on the concrete? I'm worried about rusting of tools and woodworking equipment.

The concrete was supposedly sealed. Unfortunately I had little knowledge about concrete slabs when I had this done so I didn't request a vapor barrier from my concrete guy. I blame myself , but wish the guy had of at least suggested it. Too late to change that now. Does anyone have suggestions to remedy this problem?

Would better drainage around the barn help or is there something I can do in the barn to keep the water from coming through?

Feel free to remind me what an idiot I am for not doing more research before the concrete was poured.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Vicious_Cycle]

I doubt a vapor barrier would have changed your results much because I doubt that the water is coming up through the concrete. You have a cold surface (the floor) with warm and relatively moist air passing over that cold surface... the perfect scenario for condensation.

It will stop when the concrete warms up. Heating the building and/or circulating fans will do much to minimize the condensation in the meantime.

 

[MXtras]

Not much you can do about condensation except what was mentioned above.

More than likely your heavier machines will be condensing when the concrete is. The condensation is from a temperature change and the concrete doesn't change as rapidly as the air temp. Heavier machinery will do the same thing.

Scott

 

[bens]

ahh, thanks VC and MX. That's good news. I will try to keep the doors open and add some fans for air circulation.

I have a heater that needs to be installed, hopefully that will help prevent this problem next spring.