On 27 Feb 2007 09:01:44 -0800, "Eric" wrote:

My house is 10 years old. The basement floor is in good condition. The
occasional hairline crack. To my knowledge, no water has come up
through the floor (the perimeter is well drained and there is a sump
pump in place). However, I do get some moisture that comes up through
the floor ... I can't see it BUT as I lift rumber pads that are on the
floor in the kids playroom, I do smell that basement/musty aroma!!!

There is grey cement floor paint in place. I am wondering if there is
a product (paint, epoxy, ...??) that could be applied to minimize that
natural moisture you get coming through cement?

Any insight would be great!


Cement doesn't stop moisture, so while the cracks
are part of the problem, sealing the cracks won't
stop moisture infiltration. Once the slab has stopped
shifting around and changing size (which is what's
probably caused the cracks) you can grind out and
patch the cracks, and then coat the entire floor
with epoxy. That will PROBABLY prevent incidental
groundwater from soaking through the concrete.
It won't stop a rising water-table though. If water
under pressure can't find a way through or around the
slab, it will make one. Possibly violently.
It will also not stop water from migrating down
through whatever you're using as a floor-covering,
and condensing on the cooler cement.

If you have the headroom to get away with it,
and the money to spend, a wooden or partical-board
subfloor with air circulating under it,
(Outside air, dehumidified, heated, run under the
floor, through a heat exchanger, and back outside)
is your best solution. This will also solve
any radon or other gas problems you might have.
If you have ENOUGH headroom, you could go with
rigid foam insulation, (sealed) covered with
plastic vapor barrier (glued/welded) with a
regular subfloor over that.

If you're lacking either the headroom or
the money, then an epoxy coating, and a
removable floor-treatment that you can
take out and clean twice a year is probably
your best bet.