Concrete Advice Needed

[theamcguy]

I am getting ready to have a new piece of concrete poured. It will be used to park cars on. I like concrete, I hate the pressure washing to keep it clean. I have some pieces that have already been epoxy top coated & cleared, and they are holding up well, no peeling or fading. But this time I'd like to see if there is something I could put in the mix to maybe color it or seal it better and make it easier to clean. What about densifying, any benefit to that for an outside pad of concrete?

 

[Chaznsc]

You can color the concrete with a color dust, or have it colored at the plant, but it's not going to seal it. I can't think of an additive that could possibly do that without affecting the integrity of the concrete mix.

 

[joes169]

Integral color is fairly easy, and not typically too expensive. A penetrating sealer, like a solvent based siloxane or silane, will work very well at repelling stains for a few years at least........

 

[Zeke]

Machine trowel it. Get good 6 sack mix, all cement, no other additives. Should come out like a big box store floor. Seal it when cured, about a month later.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

The concrete company can color it for you.
Once laid you can put down a cure/sealer or an acrylic sealer.

Or...

Like Zeke mentioned, have them power-trowel to oblivion and apply a densifier/sealer.
Our version is HD40: http://legacyindustrial.net/cart/hd40-stainguard-5-gal-p-141.html

Several applications are appropriate with a high speed buffing following each application.

Lastly, the color will fade out if you don't treat with some type of sealer.

 

[theamcguy]

Thank you, great advice

 

[larry4406]

If this is an exterior slab, a machine troweled surface will be slippery as heck if wet. My exterior parking slabs are broom finished.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

Larry, you are correct. Acrylic sealer would be best for that application.
Really important as uv light coupled with mother natures wrath will fade it out fast!!