When you leave your concrete warehouse floors unsealed, the concrete will produce flecks of concrete dust that can coat machinery, create a dirty work environment, wreck havoc on manufacturing, and even cause health issues. It's simply unavoidable and a very real issue unless you seal the floors.
An unsealed concrete floor is going to be more reactive and sensitive to changes in temperature. It will freeze in cold climates and expand in warm ones. This can cause crumbling, chipping, and cracking.
If the concrete floor surface is left unsealed, its porous layers will emit tiny objects that endanger one's health. Not only will it put one's health in peril, but it's also the floor itself that will face various damages.
Concrete can be described as a hard sponge that soaks up oil and water-based spills. Easily marked by tires and outdoor elements, it is important to seal the surface, so it looks beautiful year-round. The other benefit to sealing concrete is improved cleaning and maintenance.
Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
Because concrete is a porous material, it has a tendency to absorb moisture. When this moisture doesn't dry and the surface is left wet for an extended period of time, mildew begins to form and mold begins to grow.
If the concrete is still fresh (around 2-4 hours after pouring), it's important to cover the surface to protect it.
A sealed concrete driveway can last much longer than an unsealed carport. Although a driveway that hasn't been sealed takes time to breakdown, its deterioration is inevitable. The primary reason concrete doesn't last as long without sealer is that it's a porous material.
Weather, traffic, and chemical abrasion destroy concrete, especially over time. Repairing or re-pouring concrete walkways, driveways, docks, decks, patios, and other surfaces can be expensive. Proper curing and sealing increase the lifespan of freshly-poured concrete, reducing maintenance costs, long-term.
After discussing the factors you need to look for and the regional location of the project, in broad terms, Spring is in fact the best time of year to seal concrete. With its moderate temperatures and humidity levels, it tends to provide ideal conditions for the application and curing of sealers.
Yes, you can build a slab on grade foundation in the fall and leave it till spring if it has been properly protected against frost heave, though it will most likely require additional insulation. I would suggest you consult with the engineer who designed it.
If you are pouring concrete floors in any type of warehouse or heavy commercial setting, leaving them bare is asking for trouble. Vehicle traffic, chemicals, temperature changes, and other common industrial impacts can quickly damage bare concrete floors. If appearances are a concern, bare concrete is the wrong choice.
The more water intrusion, the more damage there is to your unprotected concrete. In order to prevent water intrusion and further damages, sealing your concrete before the temperature drops is highly recommended.
Sealing your concrete isn't really a labor-intensive, nor costly, job. By sealing your concrete every 2-5 years, as recommended by experts, you should keep your floor in good shape, preventing cracks, pitting, and additional damage.
If you are trying to seal your new concrete with a silicate sealer, a silane-siloxane sealer, or an acrylic sealer that doesn't double as a cure and seal, then you want to wait for the concrete to be fully cured, which is around 28 days.
Sealer that is applied too heavily or too often will create an impermeable barrier and trap that water vapor beneath it. If enough pressure is created by trapped water vapor, the sealer can delaminate from the concrete surface, and might even take some of the concrete paste with it!
Not sealing your driveway leads to bitumen loss which leads to water penetrating down to the base causing it to fail which in turn causes potholes and cracks. Once the cracking and pothole cycle begins it's very difficult or impossible to stop.
Applying fresh sealing can also renew and revitalize the look at a driveway that is a few years old but still in good condition. That's why it's a good idea to seal your concrete driveway when you first get it and then to seal it again every couple years.
Can Sealing Prevent Cracks on Concrete Surfaces? Concrete sealing can stop most types of concrete fractures. This fact is especially true if the crack is a result of poor-quality work in the concrete mix or site preparation. However, sealing can prevent future damage that may start from the top layer of the concrete.
DO spray new concrete with water. One of the most common methods for curing concrete is to hose it down frequently with water—five to 10 times per day, or as often as you can—for the first seven days. Known as “moist curing,” this allows the moisture in the concrete to evaporate slowly.
Properly curing your concrete improves strength, durability, water tightness, and resistance for many years. The first 7 days after installation you should spray the slab with water 5-10 times per day, or as often as possible. Once the concrete is poured the curing process begins immediately.
Left unsealed, the colors will fade, water marks may be an issue, and stains can penetrate leaving ugly oil spots where the service guy left his old jalopy parked on the driveway. It's pure and simple, the job just won't last without a good sealer.
Before sealing a concrete surface, it is important to properly prepare the surface by pressure washing. Pressure washing removes dirt, debris, and other buildup that can interfere with the seal's effectiveness. It also helps create a smoother finish for the seal to adhere to.
A strong enough power washer will blast most types of sealer off of concrete with ease. The trick is to make sure to pressure wash the entire surface area. For more sturdy sealers, it may take a few passes with the pressure washer to get it completely removed.
It All Begins With Pressure Washing the Driveway
However, getting out all of the dirt and grime along with stains is a must before permanently securing them onto the driveway's surface with a sealer. Beyond prepping for sealing treatments, there are numerous reasons for pressure washing driveways on a routine basis.