If you did not treat your concrete with a concrete sealer after it was installed and cured, it is a really good idea to do so as soon as you can. This website documents the benefits of concrete sealers, which are far from reputable. Concrete sealers enhance the protection, strength, and longevity of your concrete, helping them reach their full potential without problems and costly repairs. However, if you have not yet treated your concrete with a concrete sealer, it is important to properly prepare the concrete slabs before applying a sealer. Without proper preparation, the concrete sealer will not work as well as it could and should.
Concrete sealers come in two varieties: penetrating and surface. The penetrating sealers are made up of solutions that contain small particles of sealant that will penetrate past the surface of concrete to react chemically within the material. However, if the concrete is older and has not been treated with a sealer, the surface pores are likely clogged up with debris and various pieces of dirt that will block the sealer’s particles from penetrating into the concrete. Instead of protection, you will have a complete mess on your hands.
The same goes for surface sealers. These products are made up of solutions with large particles of sealant. Instead of penetrating past the surface, these sealers bond to the surface of the concrete substrate. However, if the concrete is dirty and has not been cleaned, then the concrete sealer will not bond to the surface of the concrete. It will instead bond to that dirt, if it bonds at all, leaving the concrete vulnerable to all kinds of potential problems.
In order to properly seal your concrete, then, you must clean the surface of the substrate before applying a concrete sealer of any variety. The easiest and most effective way to clean the concrete will vary depending on the condition of your concrete and whether it has been treated with chemical stains. However, if you want a general cleaning regimen, you should first sweep the floor to remove any surface detritus. Next, you should scrub the floor vigorously with a chemical cleaner, such as a trisodium phosphate (TSP). A product like that will help remove all dirt from the surface pores of your concrete, nicely preparing it for the application of a concrete sealer.
With all of the concrete in the world (trust me, it’s an incredible amount), there are a number of different projects and uses people find for the material’s presence. However, all concrete, regardless of the project, is susceptible to environmental damage and gradual erosion due to the elements. Everyone has seen decrepit sidewalks cracked and spalled over time, allowing weeds to grow through, as well as slowly decaying bridge supports that are a major cause for concern in some areas of the country. There are an enormous number of other examples of decaying concrete, all of which emphasize the importance of taking the proper steps to seal and protect your concrete projects as soon as they are completed.
The best, easiest, and most cost effective way to protect concrete is by sealing it with a high quality concrete sealer. However, how do you know which product to use on your particular project? There is an incredible variety of sealers on the market, and it can often be confusing and daunting to wade through the many offerings.
To begin, if you have any sort of decorative concrete, such as a patio pool deck or a driveway made of pavers, you want to use an acrylic concrete sealer. An acrylic sealer will not harm your more delicate, decorative concrete. Instead of penetrating into the material, an acrylic sealer will remain on the surface, with its large particles of sealant unable to penetrate past the tiny surface pores. Pooling on the surface for you to spread out during the application process, the acrylic sealer will eventually provide a comprehensive layer of protection, much like a raincoat, over the surface of your concrete.
If you have more durable concrete, however, such as in a garage or a basement, you will likely want to use a penetrating concrete sealer. Penetrating sealers have smaller particles of sealant that can penetrate past the miniscule surface pores, delving deep into the concrete. Once in the concrete, the sealers will react with the various minerals already in the concrete, chemically strengthening and densifying the material. A by-product to this strengthening is the blocking up of pores and hairline cracks within the concrete, helping improve the concrete’s resistance to water damage. The better products on the market will even waterproof your concrete – most penetrating sealers are even permanent as well, providing life-long protection.
Another option in concrete sealer is if you want to put in a decorative floor system. If you have a gray, plain concrete slab as a floor, such as in retail stores, warehouses, or industrial-type buildings, then you may want to increase the visual appeal of your space. The easiest way to do this while also protecting the concrete is to use an epoxy floor system. Epoxies are a type of concrete sealer that remain on the surface level. They are durable and high-resistance, making them perfect for places with high traffic and the potential for damage from abrasions and scratches. Simply apply the epoxy basecoats, add any sort of decorative aggregate you desire (such as quartz, sand, or paint chips), and finish it off with a urethane or polyaspartic topcoat. A urethane topcoat will be clear and will feature strong resistance to spills and abrasions. A polyaspartic is actually just another type of urethane coat, though it dries incredibly fast, making it a premier choice for those wishing to finish projects overnight (re: many retail stores).
All of these options are great for protecting, and even enhancing, your various concrete slabs. Whatever your project, there will always be a best choice in concrete sealer, making it imperative that you do your research thoroughly before purchasing the sealer and getting to work.
Once you have decided that you want to protect your concrete with a concrete sealer, ensuring the material lasts a long time through many different environmental scourges, the next question is which type of concrete sealer to use. Once you have decided on a concrete sealer, then you begin to think about application.
Concrete sealers come in a few different varieties, each requiring a different method of application. For all varieties you will first want to begin by cleaning the slab of concrete you’re going to be applying the sealer to. If the concrete is newly poured, you will want to wait at least thirty days or more, depending on the project, in order to ensure it has properly cured to its full strength. However, if the concrete is older, you will want to make sure that the surface is free from debris and other such hindrances. Occasionally, if your concrete is in really bad condition, you need to acid etch the surface to remove the damaged concrete.
If you choose a penetrating sealer, you want to use either a nap roller or a sprayer. Airless sprayers tend to be the best method of application, though they can be expensive. After the surface has been cleaned, you want to apply a thin coat covering the entire concrete area. Next, you want to wait a certain amount of time – depending on the sealer used, the environmental conditions, and the amount of coats you need – before applying a second coat. While certain products require a certain number of coats, if you need more coats you have to apply the first, waiting for it to dry before applying the second. For penetrating sealers you continue this until the concrete has been saturated and does not need any further sealer to penetrate into the concrete.
If you choose a surface sealer, such as an epoxy or an acrylic, the process is similar. Following any instructions provided by the manufacturer, you will generally want to spread out the sealer evenly over the concrete using either a roller or an airless sprayer. While rollers function well enough, they are not a good choice if you have a high-solids mixture of sealer. Instead, you should use an airless sprayer. Low-pressure sprayers only are a good choice with one-component solvent-based products, though airless sprayers are universally the best choice for any type of application. For the surface sealers, keep adding layers of sealer onto the slab according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
For all sealer and sealing projects, make sure to wait the recommended time for the sealer to dry before touching it, walking on it, and placing heavy objects on the concrete surface. If you apply the concrete sealer to the concrete properly, then you will not have to worry about preventable damage for a number of years, depending on your choice in sealer.
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