Before you spend your time and energy building or repairing a concrete surface you'll need to have the right sealer. Without a proper concrete sealer, mold and mildew can pop up shortly after you finish the project. Mold can be unsightly and may also be dangerous for people and animals around.
Mold requires water and moisture to fester and grow. So if you manage to rid the area of water, the mold won't be able to grow. Patio maintenance involves keeping the area dry and clean thoroughly. Sweeping with a broom rids any dirt and organic matter from seeping through the cracks and allowing the mold to feast.
Pros: Why You Should Totally Seal a Concrete Patio
Improves Ability to Repel Moisture – A sealer closes the absorbent pores of concrete, keeping any moisture at the surface. This helps prevent spalling that is often caused by freeze-thaw cycles. It also helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the patio.
By using a penetrating concrete sealer like the Siloxa-Tek 8500 mold, mildew and organic growth will be reduced and made easier to clean. The Siloxa-Tek 8500 is our favorite product to treat nearly any application.
Concrete is, by nature, porous. Therefore, if there is high humidity or water intrusion, the concrete will hold that water content and provide mold with the water source needed to colonize. It would be best if you always kept your basements dry by using a dehumidifier and keeping temperatures elevated.
Though many people assume that a new coat of paint will solve mildew and mold problems, it won't. That's because paint cannot kill mold spores or prevent them from spreading.
While the advantages outweigh the negatives, there are some disadvantages that you should keep in mind before sealing your concrete driveway. Sealant can make the surface slippery. Sealants tend to dry down with a glossy or semi-glossy sheen that can be quite slick, especially when wet.
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.
Concrete should be sealed to protect from mold and mildew.
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. You'll know you have mold growing on your concrete by the greenish color that appears.
Clean the area or surface regularly and use a specialist green stain remover, such as our Green Growth Remover, which helps prevents regrowth and delays it coming back. Good drainage and air circulation. Don't place your favourite pine wood planter in a dark, shady corner. Move your patio furniture around regularly.
If your concrete has ugly charcoal-gray or black streaks or splotches, black algae is probably the culprit. Black algae can grow on many outdoor surfaces such as concrete or roof shingles and will thrive as long as there is moisture and sunlight.
The answer is yes—mold can grow not only on concrete but also in concrete as the surface begins to degrade from the mold. But while it's possible, it does require the right conditions to occur.
If your concrete is new, you'll need to let it cure; wait at least one month before applying sealer. Before you apply it, check the weather. Sealer needs to be applied in dry conditions because it won't adhere to damp concrete.
Sealing your concrete driveway is not only great for protecting your investment, but it is also good for the environment. By sealing your driveway, you prevent harmful chemicals and pollutants from seeping into the ground and contaminating our water supply.
“Do I need to seal my pavers?” The short answer is Yes. Paver sealant is an important maintenance tool to keep paver patios, walkways, driveways and pool decks looking as beautiful as they day they were installed.
If you live in a mild climate, painting may not be an issue. However, if you use your patio a lot or deal with harsh winters, staining may be the better option. No matter what you choose, you'll end up with an updated, unique patio that you'll enjoy using for years to come.
After 18-24 months, your paving will be ready for a fresh top-up of sealer. It's important to use the same product to get the same results, but the process is much the same. If you have opted for Black Limestone, the time limit is a little different - make sure you have a read up on the material here.
Acrylic Concrete Sealers: Acrylic sealers last 1-3 years before they need to be re-coated. Epoxy Coatings: Epoxy coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated. Urethane Coatings: Urethane coatings last 5-10 years before they need to be re-coated.
Sealing concrete is not a requirement, but most experts will recommend it depending on the placement and environment. Flat surfaces benefit the most from concrete sealant since it dries evenly and seeps into the small crevices.
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!
While mold only feeds on organic materials, it can grow on any surface, especially concrete. While concrete may not supply an abundance of organic material, it provides just enough mold to spread to other areas of a building.
Moisture Can Cause Mold and Bacteria to Grow on Concrete Substrates. Mold growing in and around homes is a serious problem for many people. It can slowly overtake walls and floors as well as trigger allergy symptoms in people who spend too much time around it.