Generally concrete that is sealed will repel water from absorbing into the substrate. In some cases concrete sealers are hard to detect as there may be old sealer resin still in the pores of the concrete (which may cause a negative chemical reaction or adhesion issues). A quick test would be to roll Xylene or Xylol on the surface for 2-5 minutes in a small area and see if there is a reaction (bubbling, pealing or the surface becomes sticky). If nothing happens there is a good chance there is no sealer or the old sealer is completely degraded. (customer service support at Foundation Armor)
I've heard of concrete sealer but don't know exactly what it is. What is it used for?
Depending on what kind of sealer you use, the concrete should be completely dry and firm enough to walk on. However, I know of at least one concrete sealer (Concrete Treat) that can be applied immediately after the concrete has been placed -- with no wait at all for curing. Check out the products as you go and see what might work best for you. See the attached link.
Yes, so that the concrete doesn't break or split.
Certain acrylic sealers may be tintable but most water based stains require a topical sealer to be applied after you stain the concrete. We do make an all in one Trojan Color Sealer that incorporates a penetrating polyester sealer and UV resistant semi transparent stain in one product. The difference in our system is that it is not a topical that wears away over time. The polyester component fills the pores of the concrete and locks down the stain.
AnswerTypical concrete takes 28 days (4 weeks) to cure. Prior to the 28 days concrete still has moisture in it that weakens the strength of the concrete. If you seal it prior to 28 days there is a chance you will be sealing in some of that moisture and hence weakening the integrity of the concrete. Another more common problem that occurs when you seal in the moisture is you can see white cloudy bloches which is really the reaction of the moisture and sealer. This prevents a strong bond for the sealer and the sealer can peal up. Ok, all that said, the 28 days really is condition dependant. If you poured your concrete in the middle of dry summer then 14 days should be the minimum amount of time you should wait. After you seal the concrete (depends on conditions and sealer product) you will typically want to give the sealer 1 day prior to walking on it and 48 hours after application before driving on it. Again depends on type of sealer (ie. epoxy...). concretenetwork.com has a lot of good info as well. Good luck.
form_title= Concrete Sealer form_header= Seal all the projects in your home with concrete sealer. What is the sealer for?*= _ [50] How much sealer do you need?*= _ [50] Have you ever used sealer?*= () Yes () No
My driveway has a ton of cracks in it, and I bought some concrete sealer, but my driveway is asphalt! Will the concrete sealer still work with asphalt?
As of 2014 there are many top rated concrete sealers on the market. Some of the best include Eagle concrete sealer, Armor SX5000 concrete sealer, and Thoro T1956 concrete sealer.
What exactly is concrete sealer? What does it consist of and is it safe to use at home, indoors?
I've heard of concrete sealer but don't know exactly what it is. What is it used for?
To dustproof concrete blockwork, you will need to apply a sealer. Polyurethane is a popular sealer for this purpose.
You can apply Trojan Masonry & Concrete Sealer which is a water based polyester sealer that penetrates and hardens the concrete. As it is not a topical sealer like acrylics or silicones, you won't get hot tire pick up or a glossy, slippery finish that easily wears away.
Depending on what kind of sealer you use, the concrete should be completely dry and firm enough to walk on. However, I know of at least one concrete sealer (Concrete Treat) that can be applied immediately after the concrete has been placed -- with no wait at all for curing. Check out the products as you go and see what might work best for you. See the attached link.
Yes, so that the concrete doesn't break or split.
Bare concrete is porous and vulnerable to chemical attack and stains. Hence a sealer is used to seal the concrete counter top. The sealer should be applied to the concrete in multiple thin coats versus rather than a thick heavy coat. For additional protection food-safe finishing wax can also be used over the sealer.
The can's label should tell you plainly.
A concrete sealer can be purchased online from good hardware stores and also from a high street hardware store. They are easy to use so long as the instructions are followed.