How to Get Concrete Floor to Stop Sweating

A sweating concrete floor can be indicative of many problems created with the slab's installation. A lack of slab insulation, for example, or the lack of a vapor barrier can lead to moisture rising up through the slab into the structure above. After placement, it's difficult to go back and fix whatever caused the sweating in the first place, but you can reduce, if not stop the effect altogether. All that's needed is to dry out the slab, then seal it to prevent the seepage of moisture in the future.

Push broom
PH-neutral cleaner
2 dehumidifiers
Masonry sealant
Paint roller on extension pole

Instructions

- 1
  Clean the concrete floor by sweeping it with a broom and then mopping it with a pH-neutral cleanser. Rinse with water, then pat it dry with a piece of cloth.
- 2
  Reduce the flow of air in the room. This may be causing condensation, creating the wetness on your concrete.
- 3
  Place two dehumidifiers in the room to remove the moisture from the air. Allow the dehumidifiers to work long enough to dry the floor out.
- 4
  Apply three layers of masonry sealant over the concrete to seal the floor and prevent the seepage of moisture to the top of the concrete slab. Use a paint roller with an extension pole attached to spread the sealant in overlapping rows across the floor's surface. Keep each overlap to about 2 inches to ensure good coverage of the surface. Wait about an hour between each layer to allow one to begin to dry before applying the next. Allow the final layer 72 hours drying time before making use of the floor again.

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