Hey all! 🙂
Moved to Norway a bit ago and just bought my first house here right before winter. I was out today trying to clean up the garage, and noticed a whole lot of salt/efflorescence coming up from the garage floor. (I’d say if I sweeped it all up it’d be about a half liter of salt from a two car garage) It feels like a lot. I am from Colorado so maybe am not as used to this stuff being caused by moisture, and am not sure how much would be considered a concerning amount, but I would like to learn and confirm. 😅
What would be the correct type of specialist to call to get it checked on? Are there specific specialists for foundations/structural water damage and such? we are also getting a lot of moisture and salt coming in to the walls in the basement. I am also certain it isn’t just from winter road salts.
None of this was reported by the previous owners or in the takstmann report when we bought the house so it has been a surprise.
(pic is one of the smaller corners with a bunch piled up)
https://i.redd.it/9ox6v7rhtsrg1.jpeg
Posted by FederalMarionberry90
5 Comments
For your basement you probably can consider to have your drainage redone. Its moisture seeping in, evaporating and leaving the salts behind. I wouldn’t worry about the garage (they probably didn’t use any vapor barrier before doing the slab) but you could consider doing the house. It can be costly but can be a good investment.
It entails digging down to under your slab along your house, putting up a special kind of barrier over the walls, drainage piping and filling up with “gravel”. You can also put extra insulation outside your walls when you do this, to make the basement more liveable.
Reminds me of my own garage concrete floor after my daf put “betongtett” on it some ten years ago. Could the previous owner have done the same?
Nothing to worry too much about. The salt is caused by water being transported through the concrete and are washing out salts that are naturally in it. Quite common for concrete structures that are exposed to moisture. You can possibly repair the drainage, but I probably wouldn’t bother.
It’s most likely efflorescense (saltutslag in norwegian), and there are companies that can help you. I found these guys (https://eps-fuktsikring.no/) through a quick google search, but there’s probably others that can help you as well.
Fukt