Is Concrete Sealer necessary ?

[Powerband]

Is Concrete Sealer more than cosmetic?


I have a new pole barn with a smooth-almost polished concrete slab (32X36). Slab has heavy wire and poly moisture barrier.

I expect machines to drip fluids and scrape floor occasionally , also store vehicles for lengths of time.

Does sealer add any additional moisture barrier or effect concrete surface other than appearance?.

Thanks

 

[wayne55]

Sealer will reduce dusting and make cleanup of oil and grease a snap.

 

[Shea]

There are actually many different sealers available for concrete. There are topical sealers such as acrylic or epoxy for example and you have penetrating sealers that don't leave a noticeable finish. Here is a short article about sealers for your garage.

Yes, sealers do protect your concrete and are a good investment. The previous post was correct about sealers reducing dusting of the concrete and they can make wiping up spills a snap depending on what type of sealer you choose. For a working garage, if you are satisfied with the look of bare concrete and don't want to invest a lot of money, then you may want to look at penetrating sealers. If you want an actual coating that will change the finish of your floor, then a commercial epoxy would be able to stand up to a working environment but takes more work to apply.

Just do a search of some threads here and read up on the benefits.

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

At the very least I would apply a densifier treatment to my exterior and interior concrete surfaces (garage/basement). It does nothing for the appearance but does help slow down the gradual wearing process in addition to helping to eliminate dust, effloresence and water vapor transmission. It makes your good concrete better.

Generally, the topical products add a barrier of protection against spills and increase esthetics. They are the sacrificial layer.

 

[thomaskept]

Yes, concrete sealer is best to protect it from corrosion. Concrete sealer is give ruff and absorption of water. Concrete impermeable layer is reduce dusting and make cleanup of oil.

 

[Carbine]

At the very least I would apply a densifier treatment to my exterior and interior concrete surfaces (garage/basement). It does nothing for the appearance but does help slow down the gradual wearing process in addition to helping to eliminate dust, effloresence and water vapor transmission. It makes your good concrete better.

Generally, the topical products add a barrier of protection against spills and increase esthetics. They are the sacrificial layer.

If you apply a concrete sealer and later decide to coat the floor, does the sealer affect the coating? Will the sealer have to be removed somehow?

Thanks

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

If you grind it off it is no longer an issue.