concrete sealer
Monday, 20 August 2018 / Published in HOW LONG DO CONCRETE SEALERS LAST?

How Long Do Concrete Sealers Last

How long do concrete sealers last? In order to effectively answer this question we first need to determine the type of concrete sealer that was used in order to determine the longevity of it. We have broken down concrete sealers into the following categories:

Decorative Concrete Sealers: decorative concrete sealers usually refer to acrylic or lacquer based products. They add color enhancement, shine, wet look and gloss finishes to concrete. They have the shortest longevity; since they sit on the surface of the concrete and do not penetrate into the concrete they are at high risk of UV degradation and wear. Decorative concrete sealers are available as solvent or water based products and can last anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. Solvent based concrete sealers will last longer than water based concrete sealers. Keep in mind that if you like the decorative look you are going to have to pay to keep it up.

Durable Concrete Coatings: durable concrete coatings refer to epoxy and urethane based products. The name “durable concrete coating” is appropriate because they are able to withstand abrasions, chemicals, machinery, equipment and heavy traffic. The most important factor in regards to how long do concrete sealers last is surface preparation. If you do not properly acid etch or grind the floor prior to using this type of coating they will fail much sooner. If the concrete has been properly prepared durable concrete coatings can last upwards of ten years.

Penetrating Concrete Sealers: penetrating concrete sealers are usually silicate, silane, and siliconate based products. They penetrate into the concrete and dry clear; they do not leave any surface enhancement or sheen. Silicate based densifiers last for the life of the concrete. Once they are applied you do not need to apply them again. That being said you do not want to use a silicate based densifier without also using a penetrating water repellent or penetrating waterproofing concrete sealer. Water repellent and waterproofing silane and siliconate based products can last anywhere from 5-10 years. The longevity will depend on UV exposure, deicing salt exposure and vehicle traffic among other factors. We like penetrating concrete sealers because they protect the concrete from salts, water and stains, and they wear extremely well in comparison to decorative concrete sealers.

If you are looking for the Best Concrete Sealer for 2018 check out our review

Related Guides

concrete sealer
Friday, 17 August 2018 / Published in HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO SEAL CONCRETE

How Long Do you Have to Wait to Seal Concrete

One of the most common questions we are asked is how long do you have to wait to seal concrete.

If you would like to seal the concrete on the same day that it has been poured or sooner then the industry standard 28 days, you can use a concrete cure and seal sealer. These concrete cure and seal sealers help concrete hydrate by holding moisture in a protective film. There are two types of cure and seals, penetrating cure and seals and dissipating cure and seals. The dissipating cure and seals that help concrete to cure, are typically of an acrylic chemistry and will wear away in the first six months or so. At this point you are then free to apply a penetrating concrete sealer or a decorative concrete sealer if you desire a wet look or high gloss finish.

In order to avoid this two step process, you can use a penetrating concrete cure and seal which will help to fully hydrate the slab in a protective film without wearing away. Since there is usually some sort of silane in a penetrating cure and seal, the concrete will be protected from deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles. You do not need to worry about removing the cure and seal in order to apply a penetrating concrete sealer nor do you need to wait for it to dissipate. These products are all-in-one solutions that need to be applied by the contractor at the time the concrete is poured.

If you are not applying a concrete cure and seal, or if you have time to wait most sealers require about 28 days for the concrete to fully cure before applying a concrete sealer. Some manufacturers have products available that can be applied as soon as new concrete can withstand the weight of the installer, but typically if you are looking to apply a penetrating concrete sealer, decorative or epoxy/urethane coating you will need to wait the industry standard 28 days for concrete to fully cure before applying a concrete sealer.

Related Guides

concrete sealer
Wednesday, 28 June 2017 / Published in GHS AND PROPOSITION 65 LABELING, INFORMATION

GHS and Proposition 65 Labeling

According to the OSHA.gov website, “In 2003 the United Nations adopted the Globally Harmonized System of classification and labeling of chemicals (GHS). The GHS includes criteria for the classification of health, physical and environmental hazards as well as specifying what information should be included on labels of hazardous chemicals as well as safety data sheets. Adopted on 3/26/2012 labels must include a signal word, hazard pictograms, manufacturer information, precautionary statements, hazard statements and product name. All hazardous chemicals shipped after 6/1/15 must be labeled according to these standards.” All concrete sealers should now be labeled and shipped according to these standards. If you live in the State of California, manufacturers are also now required to inform you of any toxic chemicals in their products. According to the Ca.gov website, ” In 1986 California voters approved an initiative to address their growing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals. That initiative became the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, better known by its original name of Proposition 65. Proposition 65 requires the state to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. On 8/30/18 an amendment to the current regulation will be implemented that changes how warning labels should be displayed to the public.” As a consumer and purchaser of concrete sealer and coatings products it is good to be informed about the labeling requirements as well as the safety hazards and concerns of the materials in use.

Related Guides

waterproofing concrete sealer
Wednesday, 13 August 2014 / Published in INFORMATION, THE TRUTH ABOUT CONCRETE WATERPROOFING

The Truth about Concrete Waterproofing

All look alike products do not perform the same even though they are making similar claims. How do you know which one to believe?

Sodium Silicates: How do you know which one to believe definitely applies to sodium silicates. Sodium silicate formulas have been around since the 1950’s and were initially used as concrete floor hardeners. Today because of their economical nature many concrete manufacturers and distributors claim sodium silicates to be effective waterproofers. Sodium silicate solutions have a place as a concrete treatment; however, their role should only be limited as concrete surface hardeners. Sodium silicate solutions perform very poorly and ineffective as waterproofing sealers since they have a limited depth of penetration and they are unable to stop or reduce hydrostatic pressure. If you want to densify your concrete a sodium silicate hardener is an excellent option; however, leave the waterproofing to one of the other methods below.

Siliconates: Siliconates are as a highly alkaline aqueous solutions that are used for water-repellent impregnation. After the water has evaporated from the sealer, siliconate reacts with atmospheric carbon dioxide to form a water-repellent surface barrier. Siliconates are good water repellent options with an excellent water bead effect.

Silicate/Siliconates: An effective waterproofing method because of the densification properties of the silicate and the hydrophobic properties of the siliconate. Typically silicates are used to harden and siliconates are used to protect from water and by combining the two a dual action product is created. The silicate component reacts with the concrete by introducing additional silicate that reacts with excess calcium hydroxide to form more CSH. This results in a denser, harder concrete surface. The siliconate applied to the concrete undergoes a two part process in which it first reacts with carbon dioxide in the air to form an active silicone resin. The silicone resin then reacts with calcium hydroxide to form a liquid repellent resin on the concrete surface and within the available capillary pores. Siliconates are sealers, not densifiers and are best used when blended with silicate to provide both densifying and sealing properties. The seal elicited is microscopic and there is no film build up on the surface which means it cannot wear off over time. An excellent option for waterproofing basements and driveways.

Silanes: The main deterioration mechanism for concrete is corrosion and scaling due to deicing products. The most effective solution to protect water and salts from damaging concrete is to use a silane based sealer. Because silanes do not change the skid or slip resistance of concrete they are ideal for driving surfaces (aka driveways, bridges, roadways).  Silanes penetrate deep because of their extremely small molecular size and they chemically bond with silica to form a permanent attachment of the water repellent molecule. This creates a deep hydrophobic layer that prevents water and waterborne contaminants from entering the substrate and causing premature deterioration. Silanes leave the surface with a completely invisible finish and elicit a water sheeting effect.

Siloxanes: Siloxanes have a larger size polymer and penetration is not as deep as other sealers. Unlike silanes, which require a high pH to catalyze, siloxanes are not dependent on substrate pH. Because of this, siloxanes are ideal for treating brick, stucco, and stone. Siloxanes are not commonly used as a stand alone products but to maximize their potential they are typically blended with silanes. Used as a stand alone product siloxanes may slightly darken the treated surface while also creating a water beading effect.

Silane/Siloxanes: Silanes and siloxanes are both derived from the silicone family. Despite being very closely related, they have significant performance differences. Because silanes are made up of smaller molecules than siloxanes, they typically will obtain deeper penetration than siloxanes. As a result, silanes perform well under abrasion and weathering conditions. A consequence, however, of this small molecular size is that silanes are relatively volatile. Therefore, the solids content of a silane product should be high enough to compensate for the loss of reactive material through evaporation during application and cure. Siloxanes, because they are less volatile, generally offer good water repellent performance at lower costs. However, for concrete surfaces subjected to abrasive wear, treatment with a silane sealer will provide longer lasting protection. In regard to surface texture and color, treatment with silane sealers typically cannot be detected visually. Siloxane products may slightly darken the treated surface. By using a combination of silanes and siloxanes the benefits of each compensate for the weaknesses of each making for the perfect DIY water repellent sealer. Silane/Siloxane blends are commonly used on driveways, sidewalks and leave the surface with a natural finish.

Elastomeric Coatings: Elastomeric coatings are rubberized emulsions which cure to provide a heavy duty rubber-like membrane for use in waterproofing or damp proofing concrete or masonry surfaces above and below grade. The term elastomeric simply means that the material is flexible. Elastomeric coatings are durable and essentially derivatives of urethanes and polyurethanes formulated into a liquid which can be applied to form a monolithic waterproofing membrane. While elastomeric coatings are impermeable to water, chemical vapors and sub-terrain gases they are at high risk of delamination with a short lifespan. They also alter and change the color, texture and surface appearance of concrete.

Crystalline Waterproofers: Crystalline waterproofing is an effective waterproofing method because it fills capillaries to prevent the penetration of water and other liquids from any direction. By way of diffusion, the reactive chemicals in crystalline waterproofers use water as a migrating medium to enter and travel down the capillaries of the concrete. A chemical reaction between the crystalline waterproofers occurs between moisture and the by-products of cement hydration, forming a new non-soluble crystalline structure. This integral structure fills the capillary tracts rendering the concrete waterproof.

Related Guides

65670016 ml
Thursday, 02 January 2014 / Published in INFORMATION, RADIANT FLOOR HEATING

Concrete Radiant Floor Heating

With the cost of natural gases and oil rising in many parts of the country, upcoming winters promise to present a difficult choice between heating your home and living somewhat uncomfortably while wearing many layers. However, it doesn’t have to be that black and white of a decision. A newer phenomenon among those home and business owners with concrete floors is radiant floor heating. Radiant floor heating is a method of heating concrete floors, walls, and other surfaces with tubes running underneath the concrete. Concrete can get very cold, especially in the winter. Anyone who has walked over a bare concrete floor in the winter knows that feeling of iciness that permeates through the soles of your feet to creep through the rest of your body. Radiant floor heating offers an ingenious and cost effective way to heat up those floors while saving you money on your heat, electric, and gas bills. While it is easier to install a radiant floor heating system before you pour your concrete slabs, it’s not impossible to add to a pre-existing concrete floor. If you haven’t yet poured the concrete, however, the process is as simple as installing a network of small tubes designed to carry either hot water or electrical current under your floors, which leads to them heating up and spreading that heat (or having that heat radiate, which is where the name comes from) throughout the rest of the concrete slab. If you have a pre-existing concrete floor to which you want to add a radiant floor system, you simply have to add thin electrical current system mats under another layer of cement or gypsum overlay. Okay, maybe that isn’t so simple, but it certainly isn’t impossible. This method will add a radiant floor heating system to your home without significantly raising the height of your concrete floors. Whichever route you go, a radiant floor heating system is a great, cost effective way to heat otherwise freezing concrete floors and walls throughout the colder months. It is not even necessarily just a fix for those living in places with harsh winters. Concrete is, by nature, a cold material, even in the summer or in warmer climates. If you or members of your family are sensitive to cold, it would be a good idea to look into radiant floor heating systems as a potential fix.

Related Guides

stamped concrete sealer
Thursday, 19 December 2013 / Published in INFORMATION, WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING CONCRETE DYE

What to Look for When Buying Concrete Dye

Concrete is naturally gray, which is fine for many of the places where you find concrete. From garages to basements to foundations to driveways to patio decks, and so on and so forth, concrete’s gray drabness is not typically a problem. However, you do not have to remain complacently settling for gray slabs, as there are options to impart color to your concrete slab. Acid stains are probably the most traditional method of coloring concrete, as these products alter the concrete slab on a fundamental level by reacting chemically – however, their main drawback is that acid stains only come in a few different types of colors. A much better option that is appearing more and more in the concrete sealing and coloring market is the concrete dye. Concrete dyes are remarkably variable, featuring such colors as blue, red, and yellow, which can all be mixed with each other to evoke other colors (a near infinite amount) from the concrete slab. If you happen to find yourself wanting an orange concrete slab, simply mix together yellow and red (and so on and so forth). Concrete dyes are an incredibly flexible and inexpensive way to color your concrete – its not surprise concrete dyes are exploding in popularity. If we turn to the dyes themselves, they are clear solutions with tiny particles of chemical that seep past the tiny surface pores of the concrete to within the material. While they offer excellent penetrative depth and coloration, they will not cover up and hide unwanted stains or markings that are already found within the concrete. Despite this, they are an excellent choice for a relatively clean and unmarked slab of concrete. Of course, you can always still apply the concrete dye to a marred slab of concrete – just don’t expect the markings to disappear or be covered up by the concrete dye. They are extremely straightforward and easy to apply, and they require very little clean up. They are, in short, the best option for coloring concrete.

Related Guides