What kind of sealer for stained concrete

Concrete artisan Shellie Rigsby of Plano, Texas, works with sealers the way an artist works with paint, using different materials and pigments. For example, she might use two different sealers over the same colored floor to accent certain features. She will spike her sealers with pigments, dyes, and even universal tints for solvent-based paint. Besides adding color and interest, a pigmented sealer can correct problems, she says.

But if you add a little black to your sealer it will play down that color. Also, a pigment must be suspended in the sealer in order to get a translucent depth effect.

Hernandez advises contractors to be cautious in general when experimenting. This is because the pigments tend to float and rise to the top. Protecting the concrete investment In order for the sealer to provide the best appearance and long-lasting protection, it must be applied properly and maintained regularly.

Many problems arise with improper sealer application, says Hernandez. One can etch the concrete by using too small of a tip. Additionally, adding too much water pressure, or being too close to the concrete when cleaning it to prepare it for sealing can etch the concrete. Other problems include spraying on acrylic sealers too heavily. This creates wave patterns or stained areas in the concrete, putting two different types of sealer on the same driveway and creating two different looks, and putting a water-based sealer over a solvent-based product and having the sealer peel off.

Sometimes sealers remain tacky or discolor the floor below if you apply the wrong sealer for the moisture level of the concrete, he adds. These and other poor techniques, such as improper surface preparation or inadequate curing, result in delamination, turning white, air bubbles, cloudiness and cracking, notes Harris.

In conclusion Even with proper application, sealers maintenance must occur and surfaces resealed. Again, this final topcoat is the sacrificial coat. What kind of sealant should I use? We live in the desert in Palm Springs, Calif.

Answer from Concrete Decor The staining looks great. Nice job! We recommend using a water-based sealer WB as it goes on milky helps to ensure even coverage but dries clear. It also will have no problem dealing with those hot daytime temps. Note that a solvent-based sealer will bring out more of the color in the staining application, but some VOC laws in your state may limit your use of various types of materials.

Drop files here or Select files Accepted file types: jpeg, jpg, gif, png, pdf, Max. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Water base sealers such as Clear Shield, makes the concrete look as it does when damp with water, not saturated wet but not dry either. Rather, in between, damp. Which brings out the marbling, mottling and subtle color variances more, while maintaining a more natural look. A common question that we also get is "Will sealing stained concrete make it more slippery"? We consider this to be kind of a trick question.

Anytime you are applying any kind of concrete sealer, it will usually be more slippery than unsealed concrete, especially when wet. But there are a few factors at play here. Solvent based sealers are definitely more slippery than unsealed concrete, but water based sealer is less slippery if applied properly than a solvent based sealer. This is one of the reasons that we suggest water based sealer over solvent based. Our water based sealer is meant to be applied in two thin layers on well brushed concrete.

If applied properly, it should not make the sealed concrete much more slippery than the unsealed version. We also sell a traction additive that you can apply to the sealer to help with this issue if it arises. Also, when applying the wax over the sealer, it helps a lot because the wax is less slippery than the sealer. If you're concerned with how slippery it will be, then as always, we suggest that you apply the sealer to a small test area, to test out both the appearance of the sealed concrete and see how slippery it is, before doing the entire area.

So, there really isn't a benefit to not sealing your concrete unless for some reason you want it to have a duller color. Be sure to check with the sealer manufacturer to verify the compatibility of its product with the decorative surface it will be applied to. Some sealers may interact with certain types of coloring agents, resulting in discoloration or other unwanted effects. What conditions will the sealer be exposed to?

It's important to select a sealer that will protect your stained concrete from the traffic conditions and elements it will be exposed to. For example, for a stained concrete driveway, you'll need a sealer that repels oil and grease stains, prevents penetration of water and deicing chemicals, and resists abrasion.

Sealers for exterior applications should also allow moisture in the slab to escape. For a decorative stained concrete floor, a sealer with good resistance to scuffs and staining will provide the best protection and make the floor easier to maintain. Is the sealer safe to apply indoors? For interior stained concrete, it's usually safer to use a water-based rather than solvent-based sealer, especially if the area can't be ventilated.

Solvent-based sealers are extremely flammable and the fumes they emit can be hazardous to breathe.