How to Buy a Concrete Floor Sealer

Posted by aprilkerr

April 3, 2008

If you either already have concrete flooring installed or you are thinking of doing so, you should make sure that you seal it so that it will stay looking in top condition. If it isn’t sealed and gets walked over, furniture dragged on etc your beautiful concrete floors could end up damaged. This is perhaps not quite so important in your garage but if you have gone to the expense of having the concrete etched in your home then sealing is essential.

Using a concrete floor sealer will make sure that if liquid and chemicals get spilt on it, these substances won’t be absorbed. Everyday life can easily cause your floors to crack and chip but you can prevent this happening if you follow these steps:-

For the best results you should aim to have your concrete flooring sealed whilst they are new. If you don’t seal them straight away, they won’t be protected from spills and dirt. When you concrete floor becomes stained it’s very difficult to resolve the problem. Before you seal your concrete floor, make sure that it is level and there are no cracks. If there are cracks and chips, repair them with a repair compound. Doing this will also help prevent damp setting in which is a major problem in basements.

The concrete should also be level and any cracks, chips or hollows should be filled in with a repair compound. By repairing cracks, not only will your give your concrete floors a much better appearance, you will also prevent damp which is a particular problem in basements. If you have had to use a repair compound, make sure you allow it to dry properly before sealing.

When you go out and buy a concrete sealer you will notice they come in two types: penetrants and film formers. Penetrating sealers such as silicates, silanes and siloxanes are used to seal exterior concrete which is subject to frost and corrosion. For interior concrete you would use the film-forming sealers. As the name suggests, these sealers create a film over the concrete which gives it a shine. However, it’s not as simple as just going to your local DIY store and asking for a film-forming concrete sealer; there are three main types to choose from:-

Acrylic sealers can be either water or solvent based and are cheap and easy to use. Normally you would only use them outdoors because they offer a good protection against water and UV light. The major drawback of acrylic sealers is that they aren’t very hard wearing because they are thinner so need to be applied more frequently.

Epoxy sealers make the ideal choice for concrete floors as they are hard wearing and last for a good length of time. They come in either clear or tinted finish so think about what appearance you want before you buy.

Polyurethane sealers come in water or solvent based forms and are thicker than acrylic which makes them stand up well against chemicals and abrasion. The only problem is that when it comes into contact with water, foaming and bubbling can occur. However if you allow the polyurethane to cure for a couple of days you should be OK.

After you have repaired any cracks and chips in the concrete you can then apply the sealer. Epoxy sealer is said to be the best type for sealing your concrete floor. Make sure you buy enough sealer by calculating the size of your room first before you start to apply the sealer.

April Kerr often writes articles about home and garden related topics on website http://www.finerliving.net/

Home Improvement