Pouring Concrete Without Mold
WHY IS MOLD A PROBLEM?
Wet conditions can cause mold and mildew growth on freshly poured concrete. This growth usually occurs in damp or shaded areas that don’t receive a lot of sun or heat. Concrete, with all its nooks, crannies and pores, is actually a great incubator for mold. Wet, humid weather with warm temperatures only improves the growing conditions.
Scientific principles state that if the relative humidity in the poured concrete slab is different than the relative humidity of the air above the slab, then moisture is going to try to move in or out of the slab. Without a vapor barrier, the relative humidity in the slab just below the surface can often be 100%. Since the air is seldom that humid, moisture is going to move from the slab into the air and as the surface dries a bit it will draw moisture up from the bottom.
So why is that a problem? When you start with wet concrete and when the ground beneath the slab is very wet, the concrete slab can actually be damp and slick and wet floors can promote mold growth, as well as efflorescence from evaporating moisture from inside the slab.
You should seal all freshly poured concrete with SingleSeal Freeze Protect™, designed for exterior or interior use. SingleSeal Freeze Protect™allows for better breath-ability, especially considering the warm, humid exposure conditions.
WHAT IS EFFLORESCENCE
As water vapor moves through the newly poured concrete slab, it can condense into liquid water and leach calcium hydroxide which then ends up as efflorescence on the slab surface. This can also result in high pH levels at the slab surface.
In the past, before SingleClean™, the only choice was to scrub and clean the affected areas with a mold-killing detergent or a solution of household bleach and water. Scrubbing aggressively to get down into the pores of the concrete. You had to let the detergent or bleach solution soak in for a quite a while to ensure that all the mold was killed. After extensive scrubbing, it would need to be power washed to get all the solid organic matter out of the concrete. Well, thanks to Professional products Direct, those days are over for good!
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART ANSWER TO MOLD & EFFLORESCENCE
SingleSeal Freeze Protect™ and SingleClean™ are easy-to-use products that can be used to seal, protect & clean any concrete surface. They apply easily, are safe to use both indoors and outdoors, and are invisible to concrete surfaces -- with no peeling, yellowing, or discoloration of the surface. With SingleSeal Freeze Protect™, your concrete is protected by a moisture-proof vapor barrier that will help prevent spalling damage, mold growth and that ugly white powder, efflorescence. It will also help your concrete to resist stains, and stop mold from growing on the damp material blowing onto concrete surfaces. SingleClean™ is great to remove those ugly mineral deposits called efflorescence that stain freshly poured concrete.
Our complete product line is available to homeowners, contractors, and distributors worldwide! Protect & clean concrete, brick, stucco, pavers and more, with our revolutionary products. In below freezing temperatures this Winter & in hot Summer days, you will continue to be productive, and protected from mold & efflorescence with Professional Products Direct.
MOLD GROWTH PROTECTION
Mold is always connected with moisture problems. Moisture problems can occur in areas where rainfall is heavy and drainage is insufficient. Mold can grow on many kinds of surfaces including drywall, tile, fabrics and even concrete. On concrete basement floors, a problem with moisture rising up from the wet ground can cause a fuzzy, white mold to grow on the surface. Molds can cause health problems including allergies, asthma, infections and other respiratory reactions. Mold should be removed as soon as you see it, and preventive measures should be put into place to avoid it.