Recommendations for concrete sealer

[TheGorf]

So, I'm having a little bit of moisture penetration up through my floor in the shop. The slab is only about a year old and is hand finished with large fresno trowels so it has a fairly smooth finish to it. So I've been looking at penetrating densifiers/sealers. There are a lot out there. I've found on the forum here a few posts regarding Concrete Sealers USA product PS104. Can anyone speak to the effectiveness of this product from their own experiences? Is there better product? I want to correctly seal the floor before I lay my racedeck.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

If you have moisture and you want to seal...
Choose a breathable product. Acrylics are breathable, they will allow the moisture to pass through. Densifiers will help to block the moisture and seal from within.

We have these products if you are interested.

Good luck.

 

[TheGorf]

I'm looking for a densifier I guess based on your comment. The moisture issue is from the bottom up. So i'd like to prevent the moisture from reaching the surface. I'm assuming your product:

HD39 Densifier/Waterproofer

Is what I need? Since it is a finished garage floor, is the HD40 better?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

HD40 for power-troweled floors only. Must already be nice and smooth.
It needs to be burnished as well.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Is there a vapor barrior under the concrete.

Chris

 

[TheGorf]

HD40 for power-troweled floors only. Must already be nice and smooth.
It needs to be burnished as well.

We hand troweled it with big fresno trowels. So the floor is quite smooth. So what is your definition of "nice and smooth"? And knowing how it is finished, which of your products do you recommend? Also - I don't know what you mean by "burnished".

Is there a vapor barrior under the concrete.

Chris

No. It wasn't required by code and I didn't realize it was something that should have been done regardless. Live and learn.

 

[TheGorf]

Bump. Can anyone answer the questions I posed in this thread? I'm still looking for someone to offer a specific product recommendation. Anyone?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

We recommend HD40 to folks who have a smooth troweled floor. Very smooth, has a sheen on it's own.

Burnished: A burnisher is a high speed buffer. It whips the pad so fast that it creates heat. This heat bonds HD40 to the surface for a nice protective guard.

 

[TheGorf]

We recommend HD40 to folks who have a smooth troweled floor. Very smooth, has a sheen on it's own.

Burnished: A burnisher is a high speed buffer. It whips the pad so fast that it creates heat. This heat bonds HD40 to the surface for a nice protective guard.

You said that HD40 was for power-trowelled floors only. So even though ours is hand finished, it IS still the correct product to use? Your answer is sorta confusing me here.

And so you apply the product while you are burnishing it? Does the burnisher squirt it onto the floor as it is working?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Post a pic of this floor.


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[Denwood]

In the penetrating stain-sealer category, I just finished sealing my floor with Increte Stain Sealer. it took 4.5 gallons (3 coats) with white stain. About $400. It would be considered a breathable sealer with an acrylic component. I used it because the floor is often below zero, slab is not insulated, nor is a vapor barrier present underneath...but I wanted a white floor. We'll see how it holds up...but the initial hardness is excellent. The solvent base is xylene...I used a respirator. Prep was Home Depot Diamabrush grinding, then vacuum.

 

[TheGorf]

In continuing this thread, I have included pictures of my floor. As you can see it's fairly smoothe having been hand finished with large fresno trowels. Now, can someone please help me understand exactly, specifically, the right hardner/densifier/waterproofer product to use?

 

[Garage Flooring]

In continuing this thread, I have included pictures of my floor. As you can see it's fairly smoothe having been hand finished with large fresno trowels. Now, can someone please help me understand exactly, specifically, the right hardner/densifier/waterproofer product to use?

First of all a densifier is a great idea. Keep in mind they are not 'negative side' waterproofing per say. That is to say they should not be sold to specifically 'cure' moisture coming up from below. That said by chemically hardening the surface and 'filling in' the pores they do reduce wicking. The water repellants that are added to these products are designed to work from the top down, not the bottom up.

The first thing you need to do is clean the surface. After you clean the surface I would do one of two things.

Option 1:

Apply a one step concrete densifier and waterproofing agent such as TL39. Again, keep in mind that technically speaking the waterproofing comes by preventing moisture above from soaking in.

Option 2:

If it was me, I would consider doing a densifier first, such as TL37 and applying a separate concrete conditioner and stain guard such as TL40. Although we do not sell the product, after some research, Ghostshield 8505 is also a good option after using a basic densifier. Generally speaking I would suggest a lithium based solution.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Use like with like. Our Legacy Industrial's densifier sealed with either HD6525mma or HD6600mma will be dandy in your case.

The densifier will help to slow the moisture and even if it does not, these 2 sealers will allow it to pass through, no harm to the sealers. They are breathable.

We have forum members that have had good success with this combo. They will look awesome too, much better than densifier on its own.




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[Shea]

I'm looking at waterproofing/sealing my concrete sidewalks around my house with a good quality product that actually seals by creating a coating that prevents water from being absorbed by the concrete. Majority of my concrete is in the shade and stays damp so this prevent its from evaporating quicker.

Bunnings do sell a few options to use but just want to find out some further information what people have used and what type of chemical they used that has worked for sealing/waterproofing concrete?

I was thinking of using a heavy duty sealer/waterproofer such as the use of bitumen paint or an epoxy but how does this held up with some of the UV rays ?

Would a sealer do the job of waterproofing exterior concrete, i'm not sure what chemical they made out of ?

Hopefully someone can kindly advise me the best option for me to use.

Epoxy is not U.V. stable and not designed for outdoor use. We would recommend a clear MMA acrylic coating with anti-slip media mixed into the final coat to prevent slip falls when wet. MMA acrylics are U.V. stable and wear well outdoors under foot traffic.