Cracks in Basement floor with Alkali coming up.

[Kdrunkin1]

I have a house the is about 23 years old now and the basement floor is cracked and there is Alkali coming up through the cracks. There has not been any water in the basement yet that I know of but there is moisture on the inside of the cracks and a white sort of crystaline fuzz coming up and pushing out the cement around the cracks. I was wondering what I can do about this? Is there an easy way to repair this or do I need to take out the floor and re-pour it? As far as I know there is no weeping tile under the floor and there is no sump. I am a little fortunate because the basement is not yet finished.

I have not been able to find a dealer in Saskatchewan yet but if you could please let me know if there is one or not I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Kent

[Mark]

This is a very common occurance, as moisture passes through a concrete floor or wall some of the minerals are dissolved in the moisture. As this moisture reaches the surface of the floor the water evaporates and leaves the deposit in the form of a white fluffy substance called efflorescense. With an older home and the floor most likely poured directly onto a dirt surface there is plenty of moisture to be absorbed by the concrete floor. The only sure way I know of to completly stop this is to remove the floor and install a vapor barrior between dirt and new floor.

We currently have no dealers in Saskatchewan.