Wet concrete floor

[puddleglumWI]

Hi all. I started building a coop inside the old dairy barn. Just hardware cloth walls inside the barn which will be the windbreak.

The concrete floor has always had a few spots that were slightly darker like there may have been a little moisture content gradation, but it has always been dry in The barn.

Today I went out to do some more work and there are spots where the floor is wet. No standing water, not sopping wet, but definitely wet to the touch. It isn’t from above, it isn’t from a wall, must just be some moisture coming up through the old concrete. It has been a wet spring.

My original plan was to throw straw on the floor, but now I am thinking that if the floor gets wet from below that could be problematic. I definitely don’t want to have to shovel out wet straw if it is sucking up water from below.

Anyone have an old concrete floor that gets a bit wet sometimes from beneath?

Does it lead to the bedding becoming soaked?

Thanks,
-pg

 

[Intuit]

Hi all. I started building a coop inside the old dairy barn. Just hardware cloth walls inside the barn which will be the windbreak.

The concrete floor has always had a few spots that were slightly darker like there may have been a little moisture content gradation, but it has always been dry in The barn.

Today I went out to do some more work and there are spots where the floor is wet. No standing water, not sopping wet, but definitely wet to the touch. It isn’t from above, it isn’t from a wall, must just be some moisture coming up through the old concrete. It has been a wet spring.

My original plan was to throw straw on the floor, but now I am thinking that if the floor gets wet from below that could be problematic. I definitely don’t want to have to shovel out wet straw if it is sucking up water from below.

Anyone have an old concrete floor that gets a bit wet sometimes from beneath?

Does it lead to the bedding becoming soaked?
View attachment 4153498
Thanks,
-pg

From the looks of the floor you've got cracks and heaving going on so it's probably a thin layer of concrete. If your weather stays wet so will the floor, thus you will get mold in the straw. You can stave off the action of wicking to the surface by using a concrete sealer. One brand comes to mind that I've used is Drylock. You may need a couple of coats on that floor and extra layers in the cracks. The surface will stay nice and dry for a couple of years and then reapply. If the floor continues to crack and heave the only option will be to replace it.

 

[puddleglumWI]

From the looks of the floor you've got cracks and heaving going on so it's probably a thin layer of concrete. If your weather stays wet so will the floor, thus you will get mold in the straw. You can stave off the action of wicking to the surface by using a concrete sealer. One brand comes to mind that I've used is Drylock. You may need a couple of coats on that floor and extra layers in the cracks. The surface will stay nice and dry for a couple of years and then reapply. If the floor continues to crack and heave the only option will be to replace it.

Thank you. Not sure where I would put the chickens when I do a re-application of Drylock.

I am also thinking maybe a floor on top of the concrete, maybe plywood with 1x2s beneath? I never have seen standing water in the barn, so I don’t think it will be extremely wet. Probably would need to be replaced eventually but probably would last a while.

 

[Ted Brown]

Wood and water do not mix, you will get years but not many.

I have read of folks using stall mats plus organics on top. They are not cheap but are close to indestructible AND waterproof.