A concrete floor inside a garage, workshop or house has one problem a driveway does not: moisture from below has nowhere to go. The ground under Baton Rouge is damp nearly all year, and water vapor moves up through any slab that lacks a barrier beneath it. On a bare garage floor that only shows as a dark patch or a little white dust. Under paint, epoxy, vinyl or wood it shows as bubbles, peeling and mold. So with floors we start by asking what will go on top.
For a new floor, the vapor barrier goes directly under the slab, with the seams lapped and sealed, and the concrete is finished to suit its use. A workshop wants a hard, flat, steel-troweled surface. A garage wants a slight fall toward the door so water tracked in drains out. Joints are cut early. Humid air also condenses on a cool slab in spring, which people mistake for a leak. Air movement and a dehumidifier deal with that, not a coating.
For an existing floor, we check for moisture before any coating or covering is planned, and we repair cracks and low spots first. Homes that flooded in 2016 sometimes still have floors with old adhesive, stains or surface damage under newer coverings. Those can often be ground clean and sealed or polished as a finished floor, which is a sensible choice in a house that may get wet again.
Concrete floors in Baton Rouge: common questions
Why does my garage floor sweat?
Warm, humid air is meeting a cooler slab and leaving water on it, the same way a cold glass sweats. It is most common in spring. If the damp patches stay through dry weather too, moisture is coming up through the slab and a coating will not stick.
Can I put epoxy on my garage floor here?
Only after a moisture test. Epoxy fails on slabs that pass a lot of vapor, and many older Baton Rouge slabs have no barrier under them. If the test is poor, a breathable sealer or a polished finish is the safer choice.
Is a bare concrete floor a good idea in a house that flooded?
It is a practical one. A sealed or polished slab has nothing to tear out after water recedes. It can be cleaned and dried. Rugs give warmth and can be lifted out of the way.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We visit and measure.
- Written quote: Clear pricing with finish options.
- Prep & forms: We excavate, grade, compact the base and set forms and reinforcement.
- Pour, finish & cure: We pour, finish, cut control joints and tell you when you can use it.