is sealer bad for concrete?

[91 zeee]

Ive searched and cant find an answer.......
I'm putting racedeck down on my garage floor. Seems I have some moisture migrating through the concrete (not much but some). If I put the racedeck down (free flow) it will breathe. I could seal it first, but wouldn't trapping the moisture be worse for the concrete than letting it out?

 

[LegacyIndustrial]

If you have a known moisture issue you should try to stem the cause if possible(redirect downspouts,etc...)

Beyond that a breathable sealer will allow moisture to pass, densifiers will help to slow it down and moisture vapor coatings will stop it depending on the level of pressure.

the answer really depends on the level of moisture you have. However yes, in some cases trying to cap a moisture problem with a sealer is fruitless.


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[CombatNinja]

Just go breathable sealer, that's what I did. I live in the warm, wet southeast and unless your slab has a vapor barrier, you will never stop the moisture coming through it.

As for putting sealer down before RaceDeck, I really only think that is needed if a) the slab is fresh and perfect and you want to keep it that way or b) you plan on doing a lot of wrenching and spilling a lot of nasty fluids so you want cleanup to be easy. I've seen a fair number of guys undertake a lot of expense and labor to seal older slabs with a fair amount of patina under RaceDeck and then just use it to park modern cars (that don't leak oil). Sort of a lot of trouble for nothing. But if you are a gearhead, seal it because it makes cleanup so easy.

 

[Garage Flooring]

For application prior to garage floor tile, TrueLock B4 is marketed exactly for that purpose. Strengthens concrete and helps to keep moisture from destroying the floor but does not cause tile to slide.