Repairing Salt Damage on Concrete Floor
Upon removal of my salt-type water softener for repair, I noticed behind it and between the wall, about a 6″ x 2′ area where brine leaks over the years had removed ~ 1/2″ of the top smooth surface, exposing the aggregate below. The softener hadn’t been moved since installation 25 yrs ago.
(In addition, the recycle drain line can loose, dumping brine & water onto the floor one night last year! I swept out the water, wet the area down with fresh water and swept it out then did it again and let it dry.)
While figuring how to proceed repairing the concrete after removal of the softener, I vac’d up dirt & dried salt, wire brushed the area, vac’d that up, wet it down and let it dry several times. When I stuck my wet finger on the concrete though, it still tasted really salty.
So I washed the area with baking soda & water several times, wire brushed it again and vac’d it up. Less salty…
After a lot of Quickrete label reading, talking with them on the phone, etc. I decided to go with their vinyl concrete repair, sold in a 10# tub.
I’ll report back on the results after it cures a couple of days.
Anyone else had this happen to them? How’d you fix it?
I cleaned out the salt tank, put 40ga of water in it and let it sit for a few days on the back concrete porch. Very, very small amount of water weeping out of a seam down near the bottom. Just enough to wet your finger. I thought I’d find more actually. I also purchased a polyethylene tub with a 5″ curb that I’ll be putting the whole softener unit into as a preventative measure.
Thanks for reading.
Replies
Greetings sled,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
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Thanks for the bump rez. I troweled on the vinyl patch and it worked well. One thing I did note is that the mixing directions on the tub used WAY to little water. Even weighed out the mix on an old scale to be sure. I let it cure for 4 days while out of town, though given the 100+ temps here, it probably wasn't necessary. I'm impressed with how well the patch adhered to the garage floor. Dries to a very dark grey color.Now all I have to do is replumb the water lines to the softener, recharge the unit and I'm done with this project..
Good to know.
Bit of data to keep in the back pocket.