Fungus or mold?

Fungus, mold or something else?

I have a problem with this stuff, I opened the storage garage for the vet the other day and find all this fuzzy white stuff all over the floor.


So I cleaned it all up and used pure swimming pool chlorine to keep it from coming back, this morning I went in and crap!!!! it's back. (see photo below)
Attachment 26733

And not in just one spot but all over, this was not there this summer, but we did have a ver wet winter.

Now short of grinding this stuff off and re-coating the floor can I acid etch the floor and paint it with some garage floor epoxy?

Will this fix it from coming back?

More photos.

Attachment 26734

And another one.

Attachment 26735

Cobra...
Terry it looks alot like Efflorescence
here`s a tip chart...ps there are many specialists in the phone book that will come and inspect for free.


What is Efflorescence?

It often looks like mold, but really it’s caused by salt deposits. When water seeps through concrete, brick, or stone, it can leave behind salt deposits. When the water evaporates, what remains is a white crystalline substance that resembles mold. It’s not a fungus, though, won’t grow or spread, and doesn’t cause any of the health problems that mold sometimes causes.

http://www.mold-advisor.com/images/e...ce-vs-mold.jpgEfflorescence on cement wall

How Can You Tell if You Have White Mold or Efflorescence?

First, look at the type of material on which you see the white substance. If you see it on anything other than concrete or masonry, it’s mold. Second, spray the substance with a little water in a spray bottle and simply wipe it with a rag. It that removes it, it’s not mold.
If you aren’t sure if what you’ve found is mold or something else, you can always have a professional come in and test your home for mold. Here is a link to find certified mold tester near you.
What if You Have White Mold in Your Home?

If you have mold of any color in your home, you need to remove it as soon as possible. Most types of mold spread easily, so the longer you delay, the worse your mold problem is likely to become. Left unchecked, household mold can damage both your home and your health.

Mold removal is a complex process involving a number of steps.
Step One – Locate all of the mold in your home. This can be tricky since mold often grows in places where it cannot easily be seen, like inside walls. If you need help finding all of the mold, you can call in a professional mold tester.
Step Two – Seal off the work area. Cover doorways and ventilation ducts with heavy plastic and consider setting up negative pressure in the area using a shop vac.
Step Three – Wear protective gear, including gloves, hair and shoe covers, and a mask.
Step Four – Remove mold from non-porous surfaces (metal, glass, tile, etc.) with an antimicrobial cleanser (available at most home improvement stores) and a rag or scrub brush.
Step Five – Remove any porous materials that cannot be adequately cleaned (insulation, carpet, drywall, etc.) and replace them with new, mold-free materials.
Step Six – If you have mold on surfaces that cannot be adequately cleaned as described in step four but that cannot be removed and replaced, either, contact a mold remediation professional for advice. Most offer free in-home consultations, so you can get some expert advice at no charge. You can then decide whether you are equipped to do the work yourself or if you need to hire someone for the job.

EFFLORESCENCE

Many of us have come across this strange phenomenon;a white powdery substance comes out of the concrete foundation. It can be on the walls or on the floor. On the floor it can look like it is growing up out of the floor, appearing as a small fluffy stalagmite one might expect to find in a cave rather than in their basement.

This whitish, powdery deposit is formed as mineral-rich water rises to the surface of the concrete through capillary action and then evaporates. Efflorescence usually consists of gypsum, salt, or calcite.

Efflorescence is defined as: “the changing of certain crystalline compounds to a whitish powder or powdery crust through loss of their water of crystallization”. Two conditions must be present to
create efflorescence:

A source of water soluble salts.
Water moving through the concrete to carry the minerals to the surface. The water evaporates and leaves the white powder behind.
This white powder is a residue left from water. It indicates that water has evaporated from the concrete. Efflorescence is proof that water was in the basement.

When a house is being sold the home inspector for the buyer will indicate efflorescence is present and that the basement has had water. The resale value of your home could be adversely affected. Buyers expect a dry basement with a strong foundation and no cracks. The market can sometimes penalize you, the seller, up to 10% of the resale price of your home.
Actually, any signs that there was once water in your basement such as
efflorescence, musty odors and mildew will cause great concern to a potential
buyer of your home. When real estate markets are tight, this damage will turn
buyers off and cause them to either look elsewhere or seek a significant drop
in your price.

People sometimes become worried that efflorescence is a mold growth. It is not organic in nature like a mold or fungus, but is rather a mineral instead. However, since efflorescence is indicative of the past presence of moisture, the potential for
mold growth is increased. You can’t have mold without moisture and we now know that moisture was present. By removing the moisture the likelihood of mold
growth decreases. You can use dehumidifiers in the immediate area of the moisture and a fan blowing directly on the wall or floor to help dry it out. A whole
house ventilation system such as the E-Z Breathe Ventilation System will help
keep the humidity in the basement under control year round.

Is a wet basement a sign of
a poorly built home? Not necessarily. Homes with both
hollow block foundations and poured concrete foundations that are over 25 years
old are prone to moisture issues.

The occasional dampness in a home is sometimes a minor problem that you, the homeowner, can solve yourself. However, foundation leakage can be very serious. Of course, the key is to know the difference.

Knowledge is power. If there is efflorescence in your basement you should seek out the advice of a basement waterproofing contractor.

TLG...........great minds think alike LMFAO

Well no one will drive 60 miles for free around here, so after a few tests it looks to be that efflor stuff, now what is causing it is anyone's guess, and why did it come back so quickly, it was only 48 hours since I cleaned it up the first time.

Looks like a acid wash the a coat of garage fool epoxy, I see the Rust-Oleum stuff is good to use but at $120 it may not be, and reviews on this product?

I may go with this floor plan then the vet may feel at home.

Attachment 26736

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Terryl

Well no one will drive 60 miles for free around here, so after a few tests it looks to be that efflor stuff, now what is causing it is anyone's guess, and why did it come back so quickly, it was only 48 hours since I cleaned it up the first time.

Looks like a acid wash the a coat of garage fool epoxy, I see the Rust-Oleum stuff is good to use but at $120 it may not be, and reviews on this product?

I may go with this floor plan then the vet may feel at home.

Attachment 26736

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And it`ll stay that way...right????????????????

I get dizzy just looking at the tiles.

There are some good cement sealers on the market and I`ll look for the big rubber roll on mat my buddy used a few years ago because his looks great. I`ll ask him and get back ASAP

There could be water under the cement ,, especially at this time of year during the thaw

or worse, and I hope it's not this, sometimes cement companies, to save money, mix ash in with the batch
they use it as a filler, at some point about 20 years ago a contractor in our area used this cement and build
about 50 units

needless to say ALL 50 units got mold and mushrooms growing from their foundations because of the humidity,,
ash retains water ,,, what a mess !! millions of dollars in law suits

the contractor and the cement company went bankrupt ,,

I would suspect that even a sealer will not keep it away for long--hydrostatic pressure would crack the material and seep up again. You might need to go around the foundation and build in drainage or break through the concrete and install sump pump.

To be honest I looked at this thread just to say: "Ew".

The slab has a poly sheeting under it, and a french drain around it.

But the first step is done, a second cleaning and wash out then an acid wash, what a job that was, and found some good stuff from Rust_Oleum, it's a two part epoxy designed for this problem, the acid wash was to open up the concrete surface to allow this stuff to sink in, it's guaranteed to stop this problem, now a day off while the floor dries, then is painting time.

https://images.homedepot.ca/is/image...g?$plpProduct$

Terry....you can take a look at this and see if it suits what you want.......it comes in a roll @ 7.5 ft X 14 ft covers about 130 sq ft for about $200...can be bought at home depot...along with other variations. This is like my buddy`s and his still looks great 7 yrs after.

If you are painting after you`ve solved your cement issue.......take a look in home depot for Behr Deckover with the grit in it because painted garage floors if wet can become like an ice sheet.....I know from falling on my ass.
Deckover has a grit already in it and you can purchase a bag of sand there to be mixed in to make it even more stable....I`ve used this on cement porches for about 5 yrs with no issues. 2 coats are preferred.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...c59cf6ed65.jpg

This is the one I use but there are variations including a garage paint.......you may want to check it out.

OK...I am PO'ed.....I go in and that stuff is back, less then 12 hours after the acid wash, my garage floor is possessed, now I have to find something that I can use right over the top of that stuff, to seal the floor and I'm going with the Rust-Oleum stuff as I'm parking several cars on top of it.

So it's got to handle a epoxy based top coat.

Terry, before you get all P`od too much consider this........efflorescence isn`t a one time clean and it`s gone job and it may take multiple applications of cleaners and rinse to finally rid yourself of it. I found this...might be a good idea to take a peek before you seal or paint and have it bubble on you.....

How to Remove Concrete Efflorescence

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https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/cimg/www.doi...nce-176927.jpg
What You'll Need

Garden hose
Water
Spray bottle
Safety goggles
Protective gloves
Paper breathing mask
Hard-bristled scrub brush or wire brush
White wine vinegar
Dry cloth
Wet/dry vac




If you've recently noticed a strange white substance on a concrete surface in your home, you may be looking for an effective way to clean concrete efflorescence. If so, you'll be pleased to learn that this substance can be successfully removed with the aid of a few basic cleaning tools.
Step 1 - Give Your Concrete Surface a Thorough Rinse

The first step in removing efflorescence is to vigorously rinse the concrete with water. If you are working with an outdoor surface, you can carry out this step with a garden hose. However, if the surface you are cleaning is located indoors, this process can be carried out with a spray bottle filled with water.
Once you've thoroughly soaked the spot, put on your goggles, gloves, and a paper breathing mask; then, proceed to scrub the infected areas with a wire brush or scrub brush. For efflorescence that is relatively fresh, this step may ultimately constitute the entire cleaning process. If a fair amount of efflorescence remains after you've carried this out, you'll need to proceed with the next step.
Step 2 - Produce and Apply Your Cleaning Solution

Having thoroughly rinsed your concrete and removed any fresh efflorescence deposits, you may now proceed to purge any caked-on deposits. Start by combining white wine vinegar and warm water in an empty spray bottle. Seal the bottle and shake it until your cleaner has taken shape. This highly effective, homemade solution will prove invaluable in ridding your surface of efflorescence.

Once you've successfully produced a cleanser, spray it onto any deposits and allow it to set in for several minutes. Use your wire brush or scrub brush after to vigorously clean the troubled areas. Efflorescence that has had a good deal of time to adhere to the concrete may require you to put forth a considerable amount of elbow grease. Furthermore, you may need to apply your cleaner multiple times before you can fully purge all the efflorescence.
Step 3 - Rinse Again

Having cleaned all the deposits, it's time to apply your finishing touches. First, use a water-filled spray bottle or, if you're working with an outdoor concrete surface, a garden hose, to rinse off any remaining traces of your cleaning solution. Then, dry the freshly cleaned surface with a dry cloth or a wet/dry vac if you don't feel like waiting for it to air dry.
Concrete efflorescence has a habit of reappearing, which means that you may need to repeat the cleaning process several days to several weeks after initially carrying it out. With any luck, the efflorescence will stay away long term after enough cleanings have been performed.

Terry................take note of very last couple sentences.