Why Does My Garage Floor Sweat

Treat your garage floor properly to avoid sweating slab syndrome.

A garage floor that sweats produces moisture that can be dangerous for people who are walking or working in the garage. If you have checked to make sure that the floor doesn't leak and that no water is coming in under the doors, your garage floor might be sweating. This condition, also known as sweating slab syndrome, also affects warehouses and sheds and is important to fix right away.

Causes

As warm and humid air enters the garage through the doors, the vents or the windows, it diffuses through the air and condenses on the garage floor. This process is most common when the air contains a great deal of humidity and when there has been a recent rise in the temperature. Salt from within the concrete itself can also attract water and cause sweating to appear on the garage floor's surface. You might also notice sweating if the garage floor is dirty. Dirt, grime and grease can cause water to bead up on the garage's surface.

Cleaning

Keep your garage floor clean in order to prevent sweating. Remove any dirt or grime using commercially available cleaning products that are rated for garage floors, and sweep the floor regularly to ensure that loose dust does not become caked onto the garage floor's surface.

Ventilation

To prevent humidity from creating the conditions favorable to sweating slab syndrome, keep the air flowing in the garage. Use a large ceiling fan or box fan to keep the air circulating in your garage on days in which you know that the humidity is going to be high. The fans dry off any water that has formed while preventing more from appearing on the garage's surface.

Sealing

Garage floors that have not been sealed are also prone to sweating. Before sealing your garage floor, scrub it down thoroughly and allow it to dry. This increases the sealant's ability to grip to the floor and it also ensures that you get a sleek, professional look. Seal your garage floor using a two-part epoxy and allow it to cure completely before using the garage.

Tags: your garage, your garage floor, garage floor, garage floor, slab syndrome, sweating slab