Perhaps reading the first two articles in our series (Part 1 & 2) has already convinced you of the importance of sealing your property’s new concrete surfaces. But what if you already have existing concrete at your facility that has never been sealed? The good news is that it’s never too late to seal your concrete. In this article, we’ll start out by looking at the differences in products, techniques, and results involved when it comes to sealing new and old concrete surfaces.
How to Seal New Concrete Surfaces
If you’re sealing fresh concrete with standard sealer, you’ll want to wait for it to cure for no less than 28 days after the initial installation is completed. If you don’t want to wait that long to seal your concrete, you can buy a specially formulated cure and seal product that is designed to be applied as soon as the concrete is strong enough for you to walk on without causing any damage.
If you do choose to seal the concrete right away, it’s imperative to go with one of these cure and seal products. To ensure best results, wait until there is absolutely no bleed water left on the concrete’s surface before you add the sealer.
How to Seal Old Concrete Surfaces That Have Never Been Sealed Before
If you have existing concrete surfaces that haven’t been sealed, you can start the process whenever it’s convenient for you. Due to the more porous nature of older concrete, you’ll want to look for a product that is designed for use on older concrete surfaces. Be sure to carefully clean the concrete and seal any noticeable cracks before sealing older concrete surfaces.
How To Reseal Previously Sealed Concrete Surfaces
Resealing a previously sealed concrete surface may require a bit more time. Depending on the amount of sealer still present from the last time and its condition, the remnants of the old sealer may have to be removed before new sealer can be applied. If possible, find out from the manufacturer of the existing sealer whether or not it can be sealed over.
How Can Sealing Enhance the Appearance of Concrete?
One of the benefits of concrete sealer is its ability to upgrade the look of your concrete surfaces. If you use a type of film-forming sealer that is designed to add gloss or color to your concrete, it can help your entire facility seem fresh and new.
A glossy sealer can add class and sophistication to your concrete flooring. If you go with a high-gloss sealer, you’ll probably want to add a slip-resistant substance to the sealer. Make sure to use a product that is intended specifically for this purpose to make sure it will work well and won’t interfere with the effectiveness of the sealer. If you don’t prefer the wet, shiny look of a high-gloss sealer, you could choose an epoxy or acrylic film-forming sealer with a more natural finish. This is all a matter of personal taste and shouldn’t make a difference when it comes to the overall effectiveness of the sealer.
If, for whatever reason, you prefer for your sealer not to change the appearance of your concrete surfaces at all, simply choose a clear penetrating sealer rather than a colored or glossy epoxy or acrylic film-forming sealer.
In our next article, we’ll take a closer look at the differences between film-forming and penetrating sealers.
Combs Concrete
If you are based around the Charlotte, North Carolina region and need commercial/industrial concrete services, feel free to contact us at CombsConcrete.com or call us at 704.875.9022 to find out more about the benefits of enlisting our dedicated service for all your concrete needs.
It’s helpful to know that older concrete a more porous. I’m interested in looking for concrete services soon because I’d like to have my patio flooring sealed. It might be best to get that done this summer so that the drying process would be done a lot faster.