How To Treat Concrete Walls

During the winter months when the temperature drops the cool surface of a concrete wall can cause condensation.

How to treat concrete walls.

If you notice a white powdery film on your basement walls efflorescence is likely the culprit. Concrete walls are not especially prone to mold and mildew which are words for the same thing. Efflorescence typically shows up better on darker concrete and occurs when the salts and other materials in the concrete make their way to the surface. This can diminish the appearance of your basement walls.

To kill mold on concrete basement walls or for an ideal diy mildew remover pour 3 hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle saturate the walls with the peroxide then let it sit for up to 30 minutes. You can even apply hydraulic cement as the concrete wall leaks which allows you to treat the problem while it happens. Causes of the efflorescence in concrete. For exterior foundations and walls use exterior grade block filler such as behr s concrete and masonry bonding primer which also is good for interior concrete 17 98 per gallon.

The recommended way to clean mold off concrete is to scrub it with detergent and water. How to paint concrete. Concrete can be made to look interesting and beautiful by applying a few coats of paint. In time this elevated surface moisture creates an environment conducive to mold growth.

Some surfaces and mostly stained concrete will be more susceptible to the reaction than others. Interior and exterior concrete surfaces do not have to remain a flat boring shade of gray. Efflorescence can be found anywhere there is concrete or brick but the most common places to find this white substance is in basements hence the title of the page basement wall efflorescence it usually appears on the block walls but can also enter through mortar joints flashing cracks or absorption through porous areas in the masonry. Clean mold off walls by scrubbing the area thoroughly with a bristle brush after about ten minutes to help to lift any residual mold out of the pores in the concrete.

The efflorescence can be happening when moisture starts to react with concrete causing some white stains in the concrete. Enlarge the opening slightly by removing any loose concrete material. Concrete primer called block primer fills pores and evens out the surface. Concrete is a poor insulator.

But even an inorganic material like concrete can become mildewed when spores begin to grow on dust dirt or old paint on its surface. Mold growth on concrete due to humidity is typically diffuse and spread across a large area.