CONCRETE CONDENSATION

QUESTION: I have a funny situation with my garage floor, which is a concrete slab built in 1968 when the house was built. Inside, there is so much water on the floor from condensation that it seems that is it raining. But here is the funny part: Half the floor is 13 inches thick, and there is no condensation there. In the other half, the floor is 4 to 6 inches thick, and that is where the condensation occurs. Why is that? And is there anything I can seal the floor with to reduce the water?

ANSWER: For starters, there is nothing you can seal the floor with to stop the condensation, because the condensation comes from water vapor that is coming up through the floor, than condensing on the cool floor. The only cure, which is iffy in a hot, wet climate, is to ventilate that garage whenever possible and whenever it is relatively dry-out doors. And now for the funny part. I think the water vapor is simply not traveling up the thick part of the floor far enough to enter the space,. That may be a cockamamie idea but I don't know of any other. There also might be a vapor barrier under the thick part but who knows?

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