How to Finish Concrete: 1. Steps (with Pictures). How Long Should Concrete Cure? Once the concrete is poured, allow it to dry for a day or two. How Does Concrete Sealant Work? Take Action; Cement & Concrete Basics. How Cement Is Made; Concrete Materials. Cement Types; Supplementary Cementing Materials. Why does concrete crack? Will concrete harden under water? Concrete Basics Learn about. Xypex FAQ Get answers to. Does Xypex protect concrete against freeze/thaw damage? As a Dry Shake material. Welcome to Concrete Sealers USAWhere can I purchase Concrete Sealers USA products? Why are Concrete Sealers USA products superior to hardware and retail store products? Why should I seal my concrete, brick, and stone surfaces? What are the different types of concrete sealers that are available? How do I know what type of concrete sealer to use? Are concrete sealers dangerous or harmful? How long is it necessary to wait before applying concrete sealers once concrete has been placed? What is the life expectancy of concrete sealers once applied? What is required for cleaning and preparation prior to applying concrete sealers to a surface? Why should I test a surface prior to applying a concrete sealer? Can concrete sealers damage or harm non- concrete surfaces? Can concrete sealers be used to repair cracks? What are the ideal environmental conditions for applying concrete sealers? What is the typical coverage rate for concrete sealers? What tools are needed to apply concrete sealers? How long does it take for concrete sealers to dry once they are applied? What is involved in the cleanup after applying concrete sealers? Can topical sealers (ex. Can concrete sealers make surfaces slippery? Where can I purchase Concrete Sealers USA products? Concrete Sealers USA products are not available in stores and can only be purchased directly through our online catalog at www. Amazon, e. Bay, Global Industrial, and Houzz. The products we sell are true professional grade products. Our products are shipped direct to contractors, architects, engineers, applicators, and do- it- yourselfers. Bypassing traditional distribution channels allows us to offer our professional grade products at more competitive prices which provides our customers with greater value. Why are Concrete Sealers USA products superior to hardware and retail store products? Unlike hardware and retail store products which are entry level products largely formulated to reach lower price points, our products are true professional grade products that have historically only been used by contractors, architects, and engineers for military, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects.
Examples of such projects include use on military bases, roads, bridges, sports stadiums, hospitals, schools, universities, shopping malls, hotels/ motels, casinos, theme parks, factories, warehouses, parking garages, airports, etc. As a result, our products are superior to those found in retail stores in terms of quality, performance, durability, and long term results. Why should I seal my concrete, brick, and stone surfaces? While concrete, brick, and stone surfaces are known for their strength and durability, they are inherently imperfect substances and won’t last forever. These surfaces are subject to structural deterioration and degradation of appearance through traffic, UV rays, moisture, freeze/ thaw cycles, wind driven rain, chemicals, and other impurities such as oil, gas, grease, and salt. This often results in common problems such as cracking, pitting, popouts, scaling, spalling, crazing, delamination, dusting, discoloration, efflorescence, salt damage, etc. While concrete sealers do not provide a . Surfaces may still erode with wear and tear and be subject to discoloring and staining even with the utmost care. However, the protection benefits from concrete sealers can greatly reduce deterioration, extend overall life expectancy, preserve or enhance the beauty of your surfaces, and make surfaces easier to clean and maintain. Historically, most homeowners did not understand the value of sealing their concrete, brick, or stone surfaces. This was largely the result of a lack of consumer awareness as well as limited technology in the building industry. With recent technological advances and increased knowledge and awareness though, more and more homeowners are now choosing to use concrete sealers on both new and existing concrete and masonry surfaces. The downside of not sealing and appropriately caring for your concrete, brick, and stone surfaces is a significantly reduced lifespan, deterioration that can result in your surfaces becoming an . However, there are generally only two broad classifications... Within these two main classifications, there are several subclassifications which are based on the primary chemistry being used in the sealer. Below is a summary of the main sealer types followed by a short description of each: Penetrating Concrete Sealers. Silane Sealers- -Silanes penetrate into the surface and create a chemical reaction with minerals in the capillaries of the substrate to form a covalent bond with minerals within the surface. The molecules in this type of sealer are very small which allows for very deep penetration.. However, because molecules are so small, this results in low coverage rates and as such surface must be heavily saturated or sealer must be applied multiple times with a high solid Silane in order to achieve topical protection benefits. If achieved though, Silanes offer excellent hydrophobic and oilophobic repellent benefits. Silanes can darken a surface with heavy application though and are susceptible to permanent staining when subject to exposure to oil, gasoline, transmission fluid, or other hydrocarbons. Silanes are typically used in sealing very dense surfaces such as high performance concrete, brick, and stone. Our PS1. 05 and PS1. Silane based sealers. Silicate Sealers- -Silicates penetrate into the surface and create a chemical reaction with the alkalis and calcium hydroxide in the capillaries to form a new permanent nonsoluble chemistry. The molecules in this type of sealer are larger than that of Silanes but still fairly small which allows for deep penetration and for protection that is built from the bottom up. There are two main types of Silicate sealers. The first type is Sodium Silicate and the second type is Lithium silicate. Sodium Silicates are an older technology than Lithium Silicates and have been around since the 1. As a result, they are normally less expensive than their Lithium Silicate counterparts. On very porous surfaces, multiple applications may be needed for either Sodium or Lithium Silicates to achieve topical benefits. As a result, both are best used on smooth concrete surfaces or machine troweled surfaces such as basement or garage floors. Due to deep penetration, Sodium and Lithium Silicates offer excellent protection against moisture penetration from the negative side on foundations as well as vapor intrusion such as Radon Gas. Both are also recommended as a floor densifier and hardener which greatly increases the durability and strength of a surface. Due to crystal formations, they both can offer a polished appearance. This type of appearance can be achieved by working the sealer into the surface through polishing or burnishing. Our PS1. 07 and PS1. Sodium Silicate based sealers. Our PS1. 03 and PS1. Lithium Silicate based sealers. Siliconate Sealers- -Siliconates like Silicates penetrate into the surface and create a chemical reaction within the capillaries of the substrate that forms a cross linked methyl silicone internal membrane. Because the molecules in this type of sealer are larger than that of Silicates, these sealers offer better topical protection as well as increased coverage rates. This type of sealer is best used when your primary concerns are reducing moisture intrusion, combating freeze/ thaw cycles, and resisting deep stains. Another common use of Siliconate sealers is as a cure and seal on freshly poured concrete. Siliconate sealers also make an excellent primer for surfaces (ex. Stucco or Basement Walls) prior to painting them. Siliconate sealers because of their versatility are a multipurpose sealer and can be used on both smooth and broom finished concrete surfaces. Our PS1. 01 is a Siliconate based sealer developed for all smooth porous concrete and masonry and our PS1. Siloxane/ Silane Sealers- -Siloxane/ Silane (or generically referred to as just Siloxane) sealers are a derivative of the Silane family and penetrate into the surface and create a chemical reaction with minerals in the capillaries of the substrate to form a covalent bond with minerals within the surface. The molecules in the Siloxane component are very large which results in shallow penetration and excellent topical benefits. The Silane component has very small molecules and when combined with the Siloxane component the two components together achieve better penetration. This type of sealer is an excellent choice porous concrete, brick, stucco, block, mortar, grout, and other masonry. Our PS1. 06 and PS1. Siloxane/ Silane based sealers. Topical Concrete Sealers/ Coatings. Acrylic Sealers- -Acrylic Sealers bond to the surface being sealed with no chemical reaction with the surface like the penetrating sealers. These sealers contain an acrylic polymer resin and are either solvent or water based. This type of sealer provides durable protection, color enhancement, and a gloss appearance. The solvent based Acrylic Sealers provide better protection, superior color enhancement, and a higher gloss sheen or more of a . However, the water based versions are more environmentally friendly and easier to use. The solvent based versions generally contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and are normally flammable and/ or combustible and, as such, require greater care and caution when using. Both types of Acrylic Sealers can become brittle, delaminate with age, or often yellow. Our Acrylic Sealers have a non yellowing or UV resistant agent to prevent yellowing. Since these sealers are topical and subject to traffic and weather, the lifespan is significantly less than penetrating sealers and generally only last about 1- 3 years. This type of sealer is excellent for decorative concrete, pavers, and exposed aggregate. Acrylic sealers can make surfaces slippery and can reduce the traction coefficient under certain conditions.
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