2. 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.
Sealing your concrete floors prevents damage – no matter how regularly your floors are used. So, if you want to ensure your concrete floors look and stay great for longer, sealing them is definitely a wise choice.
Outdoor concrete sealers are not only worthwhile but necessary. Experts who recommend having a concrete surface sealed are doing their customers a big favor. Without this extra layer of protection, concrete will absorb moisture and may begin to crack, spall, flake, and discolor, among other things.
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 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.
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.
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.
Leaving concrete unsealed will leave it with a flat look. The color will remain flatter and dull, in addition to the concrete remaining porous and easier to damage. Sealing the concrete will enhance the colors and give it more of a marble or mottled look, smoother and with richer colors.
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.
It's Never Too Late …
Sealing your garage floor might not be possible if you have moisture in your garage. This is typically the only scenario where we don't recommend sealing right away, mainly because you should deal with the cause of the moisture first. It could be due to a plumbing leak or a drainage issue.
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.
Seal a Concrete Garage Floor
Remove everything from the garage floor. Clean oil and stains from the surface with a pressure washer or chemical cleanser (often called a degreaser) and allow it to dry. Sweep and vacuum away dirt and debris. Apply one or two coats of epoxy sealer and allow it to cure before use.
Once you clean the floor and let it dry for 12 to 24 hours, the sealing process is a breeze. All you need is a pump-up sprayer, a water-based sealer (I prefer to use a 30% solid content acrylic) and a microfiber pad. When you spray the sealer onto the floors, use the microfiber pad to glide along and rub in the sealer.
The acid washing of concrete is a requirement after the concrete has cured sufficiently, in order to remove surface efflorescence and to open the pores before sealing. This will help the sealer to penetrate and result in a superior bond between the sealer and the surface.
Sealers can be slippery. Sealing concrete can create a slippery surface, especially when wet.
Water can also breed mold and mildew. In order to prevent water from damaging concrete a waterproofing concrete sealer is extremely beneficial. There are many different types of waterproofing concrete sealers and every application may require a different solutions. We highlight the most popular choices below.
Colour sealing is preferred for driveways, carports, pathways and patios. Paint is a thick coating, gets slippery more easily, is prone to flaking and difficult to re-paint once worn.
As we noted earlier, concrete sealers produce a very smooth surface on top of the concrete once it has fully cured, which gives your driveway valuable resistance to water, oil, and stains.
Polyurethane sealers
Heftier than its acrylic counterpart, polyurethane sealer creates a thick layer of protection on top of the concrete surface. It also works well for both indoor and outdoor use and comes in both water-based and solvent-based forms. It's highly durable and provides great stain protection.
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.
A: Yes! Old concrete can be sealed for the first time or resealed if it has been previously sealed with a concrete sealer. Before sealing old concrete you want to make sure you determine if the concrete has been previously sealed.