Best Deicing Salt for Concrete
If you have just installed new concrete or if you have an existing concrete slab you are going to want to be diligent about choosing the best deicing salt for your concrete. Deicing salts can be extremely damaging to concrete causing it to spall, pit and crack even after one winter season. In order to combat these harmful effects you are first going to want to seal your concrete with a penetrating salt repellent concrete sealer.
After your concrete has been sealed you want to make sure to follow the tips below in order to protect your concrete.
- Make sure new concrete is 6 months old before exposing it to a deicing salt chemical; if concrete is newer than this it could cause damage.
- Never use ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate as they will erode concrete at a very fast rate.
- Avoid coming into contact with plants or grass as they can also be damaged by deiciers.
- Use sand as an alternative or use both sand and a deicing salt to maximize traction. When deicing salts are used in conjunction with sand they can provide extra traction in slippery environments.
The safest way to protect your concrete from deicing salt exposure is to not use any deicing salts; however, this is not always possible. If you are going to use deicing salts use them sparingly since heavy and repeated use can result in permanent damage. Also make sure to seal your concrete before exposing it to any indirect or direct deicing salt exposure. Indirect deicing salt exposure can occur when your vehicle tracks in chlorides from the roadways.
The four most popular snow and ice deicing salt melts are:
- Sodium chloride – the most popular and most readily available deicer also known as rock salt. It is also the most damaging as it will damage concrete and metal.
- Calcium chloride – these round white pellets when used in a high enough concentration may chemically attack concrete.
- Potassium chloride – will only work if the air temperature is about 15ºF.
- Magnesium chloride – the best, safest and newest deicing slat on the market. It will work in temperatures as cold as -13ºF.
What is a Solvent Based Concrete Sealer?
Concrete sealers are available in either water based, solvent based, or 100% actives/solids versions. What this means is that water or a solvent is used to carry to active ingredients into the concrete. Solvents used include xylene, toluene, mineral spirits and acetone to name a few. Since solvents are chemicals they are usually hazardous and more dangerous than water based sealers. Solvent based concrete sealers are usually shipped red label and because they can container higher levels of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) they cannot be used in all fifty states.
That being said solvent based concrete sealers tend to outperform and outlast water based concrete sealers. They are able to penetrate deeper and bond better to the slab. Water based concrete sealers are excellent choices if you are looking for eco-friendly options. Even though they do not last as long as solvent based products the industry is moving away from using solvents and manufacturers are improving their water based options. If you are looking for the highest performing carrier, that would be a 100% actives product without a carrier. 100% actives products are actually 100% active ingredients. They are significantly more expensive than water based and solvent based products but they will perform the best.
Best Sprayer for Concrete Sealer
When it comes time to apply a concrete sealer a popular application tool is a sprayer. Sprayers can range from garden variety pump up sprayers to industrial grade paint sprayers. The type of sprayer used can depend on a number of factor including square footage, type of sealer, and the carrier used. Sprayers are also classified as airless, HVLP and pump up and the type is usually specified by the manufacturer.
Today we are reviewing the best pump up sprayers to use with most DIY concrete sealers. Three of the most popular brands are Echo, Solo and Chapin.
Echo sprayers are sold through approved retailers including The Home Depot. Echo sprayers are easy to spray, fill and clean and are safe for both water based sealers and solvent based sealers. Echo’s most popular product is the Diaphragm Backpack Sprayer since it makes sealing easy on your back. It is a little pricey at about $100 but well worth it for the ease of use.
When it comes to Solo sprayers their 2 gallon sprayer tends to be a good offering since it is easy to fill, easy to use and can be used for other home projects after sealing job is complete. Solo’s 4 gallon backpack sprayer is more economical than Echo’s; however, the straps are cheaply constructed and constantly slip off your shoulders when trying to apply.
Chapin is a name that is tried and trusted by many professionals and their industrial 3.5 gallon sprayer is designed specially for concrete applications. It is a great option and we would recommend using it with solvent based products.
511 Impregnator Review
The 511 Impregnator is a product in the Miracle Sealants Company product line offering. It is probably their most popular product with a satisfaction guarantee of up to 20 years. Calling itself the original penetrating sealer, it boasts coverage on a wide variety of applications including: sanded grout, glazed, ceramic and porcelin tile, polished granite and marble, stucco, slate, terrazzo, quartz and travertine.
According to Miracle Sealants, the 511 Impregnator:
…is the original penetrating sealer designed for the protection of all medium to dense porous surfaces. 511 Impregnator forms an invisible barrier that is resistant to moisture and stains while allowing vapor to escape. 511 Impregnator is not a surface coating and will not alter the natural look. All surfaces treated are harder and less slippery. INDEPENDENT LABORATORY TESTS SHOW 511 IMPREGNATOR OUTPERFORMS COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS. (Test results are available upon request).
These claims were exactly what we were looking for out of a penetrating, impregnating sealer so we decided to try it out for ourselves.
What is an impregnating, penetrating sealer? An impregnating or penetrating sealer does just as its name implies, it penetrates the substrate and changes the surface tension to form a water repellent environment. The appearance of the substrate is not changed and retains it natural look while water and fluids bead up instead of being absorbed into the substrate.
So how does the 511 Impregnator work on stone, tile, concrete and masonry surfaces?
If you visit any tile store throughout the country chances are they are going to recommend the 511 Impregnator or if you have a contractor applying tile chances are they are also going to recommend using this product. When it comes time to locating this product it was extremely easy to find in local hardware stores including Home Depot and Lowes. It is also readily available online through Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com and Lowes.com, the 511 Impregnator currently boasts 4.3 stars on Amazon.com based on 261 customer reviews 4.3 starts on HomeDepot.com based on 310 customer reviews. Application of the 511 Impregnator could not have been any easier. It is ready to use right out of the container with a low odor. Available in 16 ounce and 32 ounce containers, the 511 Impregnator seemed to work well at sealing sanded kitchen grout. The small 32 ounce container seems to go extremely far and we had enough left over to seal a countertop.
Our experience:
When it came time to seal the concrete countertop, we first applied two coats. But because concrete is so porous this product soaked right in and we needed to apply an additional coat in order to see water bead. Once cured the sealer worked great! We made sure to apply the sealer every few months and we waxed the concrete countertops weekly since they see a lot of use.
Our review:
Keep in mind the square footage on the container states 500 -4000 square feet but this is taking into account polished surfaces and tile grout’s linear feet. We like that this product is food safe and keeps the concrete countertop looking like a concrete countertop without any gloss or shine. The 20 year guarantee does have a lot of exclusions and does not cover any sort of wear and tear, commercial use, outdoor use, and “improper use of household products”. Even if the guarantee is a marketing ploy The 511 does a good job at sealing concrete countertops. And as with any penetrating concrete countertop product we recommend using a countertop wax in order give the countertops an extra wear layer.
Kilz Low Lustre Sealer Review
Kilz is a tried and true company well known for their primers, paints and stain blocking technology. With their first foray into sealers for concrete, brick and tile, Kilz offers the Low-Lustre Sealer and a Wet-Look Sealer. In this review we are reviewing the Low-Lustre Sealer.
According to Kilz, the Low-Lustre sealer is:
A good masonry sealer that protects and beautifies concrete, brick, and other masonry surfaces while preserving and maintaining color and detail without fading, yellowing or changing color. Kilz sealer is high-solid, non-yellowing acrylic-based formula that enhances coated and uncoated stone, tile, cement, and stucco surfaces with a low-luster, low-gloss finish.
These claims were exactly what we were looking for out of a decorative sealer so we decided to try it out for ourselves.
What is an acrylic-based concrete sealer? Acrylic resins are used in concrete sealers to offer decorative properties to enhance concrete, brick and masonry with either a low sheen or gloss finish. They also provide protection from the elements such as rain, wind and sunlight. One of the most common issues that plague acrylics is that they tend to yellow and they do not properly bond with the concrete leaving them at high risk of peeling.
So is the Kilz Low-Lustre sealer a non-yellowing color enhancing sealer like it is claimed to be?
Currently sold online through Amazon.com and Walmart.com we read the reviews which highlight issues with hazing and discoloring. Is it not recommended for use with colored concrete and multiple coats are recommended in order to get any sort of shine or enhancement. That being said reviewers also state that this product was easy to apply, has a low odor and is extremely economical. The product currently earns a 3.9 start rating on Amazon.com however the reviews are mixed for both the Low-Lustre and Wet-Look versions.
Our experience:
When it came time for us to test out the Kilz Low-Lustre sealer, we followed the instructions on the label and made sure we were in the application temperature guidelines of 50º-90ºF. Since we apply acrylic sealers frequently we know that the concrete needs to be completely dry before application. Like most water based acrylics it was milky white in appearance yet dries clear. We applied three coats in order to get a nice low sheen as advertised. We also tested out the product on some damp pavers and this caused them to haze confirming our suspicions that customers who have this issue have moisture trapped in their substrate. On the dry section of pavers, because of their porosity, we needed to apply four coats in order to see any sort of enhancement which seems a little excessive.
Our review:
We think that this product is a good choice if you are looking to seal your concrete, brick or masonry on a budget; however, given the amount of coats that are required it can become a little pricey. Like most water based acrylics it has about a one year lifespan. After a few months when exposed to deicing salts all sheen and enhancement is gone. About six months after the initial application there were some high traffic areas that had some visible delamination. It did a great job short term at giving us the low sheen we were looking for. You can’t really ask for more than that from a water based acrylic sealer. If you are looking for a longer lasting product, use a penetrating concrete sealer. Even though they do not add any enhancement to the concrete they can last upwards of ten years before needing to be reapplied.
RockSolid Polycuramine Garage Floor Coating Kit Review
Rustoleum’s RockSolid line of concrete coatings feature a no peel guarantee and according to their website:
The Garage Floor Coating, like all RockSolid Polycuramine® coatings, offers unsurpassed durability. Polycuramine is 20 times stronger than epoxy. With its resistance to salt, oil, gas and other harsh chemicals, this is one of the toughest floor coatings on the planet. It’s easy to maintain and will last a lifetime while still looking fantastic.
This claim and guarantee sounded fantastic so we decided to try it out for ourselves.
What is a Polycuramine? We mostly review epoxy and urethane based products; however, RockSolid’s Polycuramine products claim to combine the best product attributes of polyurea, epoxy and urethane chemistries into one.
Other product features include a high gloss finish, low odor and VOCs, hot tire pickup resistance and chemical resistance. The Garage Floor Coating Kit is available in five color variations in either a 1 car garage kit or a 2.5 car garage kit. The finished surface can accept foot traffic in 8-10 hours and vehicle traffic 24 hours after application. Instead of shipping in a plastic pail or metal can, the Rocksolid Garage Floor Kit arrives in a burst pouch that you roll, shake and pour directly onto the concrete. Also included in the kit are a concrete etch, foam roller, decorative paint chips and the burst pouch.
So is the Rustoleum RockSolid Garage Floor Kit all it is claimed to be?
Lackluster reviews on Amazon and Home Depot highlight issues with delamination especially in the areas where tires pull in and out of the garage, a short pot life and less square footage coverage than advertised. Home Depot averages a 2.9 star rating based on 476 reviews with 131 of those 1 star reviews.
Our experience:
When it came time for us to test out the RockSolid Garage Floor Kit, we followed the instructions and did not grind the floor as we read this could cause the paint to absorb into the concrete leaving us short of material. We cleaned the concrete and used a concrete degreaser to remove stains. We used the concrete etcher supplied in the kit, and used the denim chips. After applying one coat we found the coverage to be about 25% less than advertised. We can see how inexperienced applicators may have difficulty applying the full kit before the pot life is up. (Application Tip: remember that as soon as the material starts to roll back up on the roller, stop! Do not continue rolling as the pot life has been reached. You will need to open a new kit to continue with the application.) Because of our experience we were able to apply the product successfully; however, we did need to use 2 of the kits for a 1 car garage.
Our review first week after application:
Even though Rustoleum is marketing their Rocksolid product as a DIY friendly kit, it will take a skilled applicator to be able to apply this product successfully without any issues. There was a noticeable color variation between the two kits we used. We used one kit up to a control joint and then used the second kit from that control joint to the end of the garage so the color difference appeared to be more of a design choice that a product failure. The overall appearance looked okay after application minus some areas of bubbling. We reached out to Rustoleum directly who stated this was a known issue and if we sent in our receipts and photos they would issue us a refund.
Our review one year after application:
Definitely does not last a lifetime as claimed and after a year there is noticeable wear especially where the car is parked and directly along the tire routes. We have much better luck when using an industrial grade epoxy base coat and urethane top coat. Despite a longer cure time, and higher price point industrial grade concrete coating products are well worth the investment.
