After letting the floor dry in 95 F heat for 2 ½ hours, I applied the sealer as directed. It begins as a liquid slurry of water, sand, cement, and aggregate, and even after it hardens, moisture continues to pass out of the concrete for years. How to Seal a Concrete Floor Before Applying Vinyl Tile, How to Seal Stained Concrete Floors and Get a High Gloss, How to Get a Concrete Floor Ready for Linoleum, Radon Seal: Basement Waterproofing, Radon Mitigation, and Concrete Repairs Made Easy, Concrete Sealer Store: 10 Easy Tips to Concrete Sealing, How to Clean Concrete Floors to Install Engineered Flooring, How to Clean Your Laminated Floor and Leave it Streak Free, How to Prepare for Laying Tile Over a Concrete Floor. Concrete slabs and floors can be excellent subfloor surfaces for tile and other floor coverings, but too much moisture in the concrete can cause problems with flooring installations. This is a large 8,000-square-foot floor in the cafeteria of a local manufacturer, and it receives heavy traffic. Before drying your floor, clean it well to remove dirt and any built-up mildew. Even with the high air temperature, the humidity was not taken into consideration. For deeper cleaning, rent a rotary floor scrubber with and abrasive pad designed for concrete and use it to apply trisodium phosphate, or TSP, to the floor. Over the course of a few months, the floor looked more and more dull in spots, especially where walked on with wet shoes. Understanding the moisture condition of the floor would be a great first step. Answer: This is a common problem, more often found with water-based sealers. The cause is different levels of porosity in the concrete surface. Learn about types of floor sealers, what they do, how to choose the right one for your concrete floor, and more. Also, should I apply the primer using a sprayer instead of a roller, and should I mix smaller amounts of the sealer? Is 4 pounds a strict guide, or are there some tolerances? Conversely, one-part acrylics bond both mechanically and chemically with concrete and are lower in solids – typically 20% to 30%. Seal Seal-Krete clear-seal gloss concrete protective sealer is a premium sealer that penetrates deeply to seal and protect painted, stained, textured or bare Many people opt for having their floors professionally sealed by a local concrete contractor. Sealing brings out the beauty of a concrete floor by enhancing the color and adding sheen. If you drive slowly, the mud comes off the tire evenly. A smooth finish has fewer of them while a rough finish looks like the Grand Canyon. This moisture will stay in the concrete until the moisture content of the air above the slab abates. Basements and garages - the typical rooms with concrete floors - also suffer from poor air circulation, giving the moisture nowhere to go once it seeps through the floor. Use a solution of one part bleach to four parts warm water to clean the floor. Most sealers are clear, which can make application tricky, as even coverage is key to preventing future dampness in your concrete floor. Vacuum or sweep it thoroughly, then scrub it with a mop. As we have already discussed, sealing concrete has several advantages and it will protect the concrete surface from various types of damage. GCP Applied Technologies provides advanced floor moisture barriers to solve moisture problems for floor assemblies. Most two-part polyurethane sealers are high in solids, above 55%. What will the sealer be applied to? Heavy-bodied materials are always best applied in small batches and with a push-pull applicator such as a lamb's wool or micro-fiber pad or a T-bar. When it comes to sealers, you get what you pay for, says technical expert Chris Sullivan. Question: On a recent stained concrete project, some areas of the floor were sealed with a two-part polyurethane sealer, while other areas of the same floor where sealed with a solvent-based acrylic sealer. The essential tool for hobbyists. Using a sealer on your new concrete floor prevents a variety of costly problems from occuring. But now roller marks are visible throughout the entire floor, not to mention the bubbles. Answer: According to the ASTM standard for conducting a calcium-chloride test (ASTM F 1869), a reading above 4 pounds—the amount of moisture flow in pounds per 1,000 square feet over a 24-hour period—is considered a no-go for sealing. Question: I applied two thin coats of a high-gloss sealer to a stained concrete floor, following the manufacturer's instructions, but some areas of the floor look dull instead of shiny. Otherwise, you will need to strip the sealer, clean the surface and allow it to fully dry, and then reseal. If you’ve already seen evidence of fungal growth in the basement, this basement floor cleaner works well for removing mildew and mold from concrete. The other major factor is solids content. Use a sealer designed for concrete moisture protection, such as an epoxy concrete sealer, which often comes in two parts that must be mixed immediately before applying. Some floor sealers form a protective film on the surface of the concrete, while others penetrate into the floor. Do this continuously until the entire floor is finished; sealers are most effective when you create a single, solid layer without the seams that can develop if you spread the work over more than one day. A lot of people update their floors as part of refinishing their basement. Therefore, it's advisable to have a floor tested for moisture content prior to installing flooring or moisture barriers. Question: I recently applied two coats of an acrylic sealer to a stained floor. Not Yet Rated ArmorSeal Tread-Plex Water Based Acrylic Primer. Beginning her career at newspapers such as the "Marietta Daily Journal" and the "Atlanta Business Chronicle," she most recently worked in communications and management for several nonprofit organizations before purchasing a flower shop in 2006. If this does not work, strip down to a point were no roller marks or bubbles appear and start over. To that end, we recently acquired VERSASHIELD® floor underlayment, a proven, easy-to-install solution that minimizes downtime and reduces the cost of protecting concrete slabs from moisture. Most sealers need 12 to 24 hours of dry time before application, especially when a large amount of water is used in the cleaning process. Costs to seal a basement floor range from $3 to $12 per square foot. The bleach has the added benefit of helping to kill mold and mildew that might have accumulated on the floor. There are two main sealer categories: topical sealers (coatings) and penetrating sealers (reactive). If you're after the look of polished marble, choose a sealer with a medium- to high-gloss sheen. Although some sealers can be applied with a paint sprayer, many floor sealers are best applied with a standard paint roller. Wait for a dry spell, open as many windows and doors as possible, use a fan to move air across the floor, and take another test after 24 to 36 hours of drying. Using a concrete sealer to seal old or new concrete is a good idea and the process of curing the concrete and sealing it will not only help to protect the concrete but also help to enhance its appearance. Taking the time to put down this final layer of protection not only prolongs the life of your floor, but can also enhance and preserve its appearance. This film is the protective barrier and reflects light to produce the level of gloss you want. Pay special attention to the corners, where insects and mold tend to live. Today, high quality concrete sealers can block up to 99% of surface moisture. For applications where a high shine is not desirable, you can also find film-forming sealers with matte or low-gloss finishes. Ideal for interior use where odor is a concern. Question: I am doing a stained concrete project using an acetone-based stain. It's best to paint small areas at a time to ensure complete coverage with a thin layer of sealer; too much sealer can lead to bubbles as it dries. They don't chemically stick to anything, and nothing chemically sticks to them, including oil, gas, solvents, water, dirt, and graffiti. How do I now reseal over the original sealer? Picture a car tire that has mud on it. After 24 hours, check the plastic to see if water has condensed underneath it. Some sealers may interact with certain overlays or coloring agents, resulting in unwanted side effects such as blistering, bubbling, or bleeding. I did three tests, with results that ranged from 6.13 to 6.58 pounds. Allow recently poured concrete to cure fully, Let stains or overlays dry thoroughly before sealing, Remove baseboards or cover them for protection, Clean the concrete floor and wait for it to dry, Open doors and windows for proper ventilation, Apply a thin coat of concrete floor sealer and let dry, Apply a second coat in the other direction, let dry, Wax the surface of the floor to prolong the life of the sealer, Reapply the sacrificial wax as it wears off, Reseal your concrete floor every few years. The higher solids content makes them less able to penetrate the concrete surface, thus requiring additional surface profiling to promote adhesion. Titebond offers the right mix of products and technical advice to help homeowners, hobbyists and DIYers of all skill levels achieve the best results possible. General-purpose, 100% acrylic, interior and exterior floor primer. Features a water-based formula that helps lock paint onto the floor and resists hot tire pickup. Pay special attention to the corners and edges of the floor, where cracks can let extra moisture seep in. Depending on the type of water-based sealer you used, a thin application of solvent might loosen the sealer enough to allow the moisture to escape. View this comparison chart of concrete sealers. These finish coatings are low cost, go down very thinly and are easy to maintain. I think I may have rolled on the primer too fast producing the roller marks. Concrete is porous and loves to hold moisture. I applied a two-part polyurethane sealer to it. Depending on floor traffic, residential coatings can last 30 years, while in industrial settings it could last 2-3 years. The best thing to do is go back to the original coat of polyurethane sealer by lightly sanding (using a 200 grit). While applying the primer on the first half of the floor, I could see roller marks and bubbles and the primer started to string up on me. Answer: I think you are on the right track in terms of the other sealers not bonding to the original polyurethane sealer. Softer acrylic sealers usually require regular maintenance with several coats of a sacrificial floor finish, or wax, to prevent wear and black heel marks. Where a sealer coat starts to come off, light no longer travels through it but instead diffuses, resulting in dull or white and hazy spots. Time: 01:30 In addition to making your concrete floor more durable in high-traffic areas, epoxy provides a waterproof finish. Sealing also preserves the decorative treatment by protecting the floor surface from abrasions and stains. Sealing Your New Concrete Floors Get your floor as dry as possible before sealing it. Copyright 1999-2021 ConcreteNetwork.com - None of this site may be reproduced without written permission, Answers to common questions about sealing concrete floors. This floor is on grade, and the concrete is over two months old with a vapor barrier under the slab. I stripped the floor with a mild muriatic acid cleaner and applied an acrylic solvent-based sealer, thinking that I needed the solvent to restore the color. The speed of rolling, the amount of material on the roller and the weight pushing down on the roller also play a role in leaving roller marks. When applying your epoxy coating it is important to make sure that you seal the final product, as this helps protect your design for an even longer life. Strengthens concrete reducing concrete dusting, spalling, and … This is why profiling the surface – creating more surface roughness – is always called for when working with two-part polyurethane sealers. Test this remedy in a small area first to make sure it is working. There are many different types of concrete sealers. You hit the nail on the head in regard to humidity. Lay the section on the concrete slab and use moisture-resistant tape to tape all four sides to the floor. Concrete floor sealers protect, enhance and preserve the appearance of your floors. When working indoors, it's usually safer to use a water-based rather than solvent-based sealer, especially if the area can't be ventilated. The life expectancy of a sealer depends, in part, on exposure conditions and how well the floor is maintained. Do you know why this is happening? Find out more about two-part and one-part sealer technology and application methods from Surtec Inc. If you use a penetrating concrete sealer then the product will penetrate deep into the material to form a protective barrier. Helps prevent the growth of molds, mildew, and musty odors. I plan on sealing the stained concrete with a water-based urethane. The interior humidity has been high (around 70%) due, I think, to rainy weather and wet drywall mud. I am not a fan of rolling in general, especially heavier bodied materials like epoxies or polyurethanes. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Clean a Concrete Basement with Baking Soda. Concrete is technically porous, which means that unless those pores are sealed up with some other material, the concrete can absorb liquids and stain. Time: 01:49 • You will often see efflorescence (white minerals) or mold growth on damp concrete. What is probably happening is diffusion. I just completed a moisture test (using a calcium-chloride test). For a decorative interior floor, a high-build sealer with good resistance to scuffs and staining, such as a polyurethane or epoxy, will generally provide the best protection and be easier to maintain, especially in a high-traffic retail environment. Contact us and view our privacy policy, terms & conditions, and press room. Be sure to check with the sealer manufacturer to verify the compatibility of its product with the decorative surface it will be put on. After drying for another 24 hours, the floor should be ready for new carpet or paint without dampness. Avoid moisture by using a dehumidifier in the basement. Do a test area before doing the entire floor. That being said, you have a slab that should eventually drop below 4 pounds because of the vapor barrier. To eliminate the dull spots and produce a nice, uniform gloss, apply an additional coat of sealer followed by two or three coats of a floor wax or finish. But, if you are thinking of doing it yourself, here are the steps for sealing concrete floors: Film-forming sealers (those that form a protective film on the concrete surface) are the type most often used for interior decorative concrete work. She earned a BA in communications from Jacksonville State University. For the best results, the concrete surface should be clean and dry. The use of a primer or diluting the first coat of sealer are also common methods for promoting sealer adhesion on denser surfaces. They can be applied with a micro-fiber mop, and they dry in a matter of minutes. After the sealer dried, the floor appeared blotchy, with some areas glossy and others not. Before you seal your floor, check to see how damp it is. These areas look dull because very little sealer remains on the surface to reflect light and produce gloss. In some areas, the concrete is more porous and most or all of the sealer was absorbed into the substrate. The same reason two-part polyurethane sealers don't chemically bond to concrete is also what makes them such good sealers. The sealer never became clear, and the entire sealed surface is hazy, white, and blotchy. This is the first time I have done a test like this. The number and depth of these plateaus and valleys is directly proportional to the finish of the concrete. In the category of film formers, however, you'll find several different types, each with advantages and limitations. Original Waterproofing Sealer protects vertical Seal-Krete 5 Gal. The past 3 years of the 29 years of 100% success has began challenging the compatibility of silicate technology and flooring adhesives. There’s only one-way moisture leaves concrete, though, and that’s via its surface. To remove the bubbles, I was told by the sealer manufacturer to go over the floor with a floor buffer or 150-grit sandpaper and then seal again. See this video on using sacrificial waxes for concrete floors. Vapor barriers are a way to keep moisture from getting into the concrete. Polishing a concrete floor in the basement ranges from $3 to $12 per square foot. V-SEAL 101 contains additives that help it soak into more dense substrates such as concrete floors, brick, stone, and stucco. I mixed a new batch and proceeded to finish rolling the rest of the floor but at a much faster pace, and I seemed to have no problem. It's best to wait for days when it's not rainy and the humidity isn't too high to help the floor dry faster. If the HVAC system in the building is operational, run the air conditioner to help remove moisture. No decorative concrete floor installation is complete without the application of a sealer. If you have a concrete floor that’s in continuous contact with a source of moisture, you’re going to have problems. So in this case, moisture was trapped under the sealer, causing the white, blotchy haze. For example, is 6.58 pounds acceptable but something higher, like 12 pounds, too high? Sealing the concrete can help eliminate the dampness on your floor. V-SEAL 101 and V-SEAL 102 are very similar products as they are both reactive penetrating sealers with identical amounts of siliconate active ingredient, but are optimized for different substrate types. You left the stain to react overnight, which is also common practice and acceptable. Original Waterproofing Sealer protects vertical concrete, masonry, metal and vinyl surfaces against the damaging effects of moisture penetration. Learn more about the types of concrete sealer. Why did the two-part polyurethane peel off, while the one-part solvent-based acrylic is still down and performing great? They also may contain volatile VOCs. Polished Concrete Basement Floor Cost. Most acrylic sealers are available in a range of sheen levels. Two-part polyurethane sealers form only a mechanical bond with concrete. Learn more about the types of concrete sealer. Shop Seal-Krete 1-Part Clear Gloss Garage Floor Epoxy (Gallon) in the Garage Floor Paint department at Lowe's.com. Cornerstone Concrete Designs in Orrville, OH. The practice of closing doors and windows to "dry-in" a room or building can actually trap moisture and create a steam room of sorts, making the problem worse or creating a problem where one didn't exist. A water based, penetrating concrete sealer, Bone Dry Pro formula penetrates through the concrete surface, fills the capillaries in the slab and produces a barrier within the concrete. Epoxy Basement Floor. Back Concrete Coatings Back Interior Products Back ... High-solids, single component, aliphatic, moisture-cure urethane, VOC-complying, moisture resistant industrial floor coating. This may be moisture in the concrete or the power washing. The result is a permanent waterproof barrier protecting the floor coverings from moisture damage. Topical Sealers : Topical Sealers can provide visual enhancement as well as topical protection from stains and chemicals. Whether the humidity is manmade or natural, it can cause short-term high moisture readings, especially in the spring and fall, when days are warm and nights are cool. Is it perhaps because the original sealer was a polyurethane that the others sealers are not bonding to, and with washing and water exposure, they are coming off? When I wash the floor it looks great, but the dull spots show up when it dries, and over time I'm getting more and more spots. Q: What Does A Concrete Floor Sealer Do? Four key factors to always be aware of when sealing are moisture, temperature, cleanliness, and application method. If the bubbles go deeper than the surface, you may need to strip and start over. More information on sealing stained concrete is available in Bob Harris' Guide to Stained Interior Concrete Floors, as well as from most reputable stain and sealer manufacturers. Continue drying the floor until your dampness test with the plastic square stays dry overnight. If you speed up, the mud flies all over and leaves more prominent marks on the outside edges of the tire. Applying a water-based wax and then a solvent on top was also not a good idea. This water-based sealer can also be mixed with latex paint to extend the life of paint and improve paint adhesion. Before applying a high-solids sealer, be sure to consult with the manufacturer and perform an on-site adhesion test. You don't want a protective finish that will wear away after only a year or so. Basements and garages - the typical rooms with concrete floors - also suffer from poor air circulation, giving the moisture nowhere to go once it seeps through the floor. Sealing the concrete … Most manufacturers of high-solids sealers require a well-defined profile before application of their products. Rinse the floor thoroughly, then use a wet-dry vacuum to remove the water. In order to seal your epoxy floor here are the steps: Now you have multiple layers of different sealers, all of which seem to be wearing. Here is my question: Because of the high moisture readings, should I do this job? When sealer is applied, it fills the valleys, but you may need to apply more than one coat depending on the finish of the floor. Also, read the label, because in this case it clearly stated minimum dry times of 12 to 24 hours before application. The lighter areas may be a sign of higher than desire moisture causing the color pigment to dilute. A few coats will keep moisture from entering and help prevent water damage. This is especially true for nonbreathable coatings, like the polyurethane you plan to use. Two-part epoxy formulas require use of a freshly mixed batch for each coat. Completely cover a small area with a thin layer of sealer, then move on to the next area. Concrete's porous nature means that water from under your home can seep up through your concrete floor, making it damp. There is always a trigger mechanism for sealers becoming cloudy or white, and we need to timeline your project to find what it is. But I understand the recommendation is no more than 4 pounds. Decorative concrete expert, and vice president of sales and marketing with ChemSystems Inc, Chris Sullivan, provides in-depth answers to common problems associated with sealing concrete floors. Question: On a project in Florida in mid-September, I applied a microtoppping on a Monday, acid stained the next day, and then neutralized and cleaned the stained surface the following morning. Tape a small square of clear plastic to the floor using painter's tape. Depending on the material used, application temperature and pot life, the roller lines may or may not even out. If so, your floor may be too damp to seal - most sealants must be applied to a dry floor. This can cause issues with mold and mildew, especially if you have carpet or furniture on top of the concrete. First, I applied the primer coat with a roller and then applied the polyurethane, which has a longer pot life, with an airless sprayer. Question: Four years ago I covered my basement floor with a patterned overlay (I am in the decorative concrete business). Protects from water, staining, and abrasion. When the moisture readings drop low enough for you to seal the concrete (at or below 4 pounds), apply the sealer in the afternoon or evening, when humidity is lowest. If the air above your floor has a high concentration of water vapor, or humidity, then the concrete will absorb moisture until it contains water equal to what is in the air. Then apply very light coats (800 to 1,000 square feet per gallon) of the wax. You allowed approximately 24 hours of cure time for the overlay, which is standard and acceptable. Get answers to common questions homeowners and business owners have when sealing concrete floors. This method requires you taping a 16-inch square piece of clear plastic, at least 6 mils thick to the floor. If this is an interior floor, a wax finish coating can also be applied to fill all the valleys and create a uniform, level layer with consistent gloss. See Sullivan's advice on sealer selection. The surface has a hard-troweled machine finish, and no additional surface prep was completed prior to staining or sealing. Epoxy Bonding Floor Primer is designed for use on bare concrete surfaces in indoor and outdoor spaces. If the smell persists after cleaning, you may need to seal the floor with a concrete sealer. Learn more about checking the VOC content. The process of osmosis now comes into play—the movement of a liquid or gas from an area of high concentration to low concentration until balance is achieved. Concrete is a sponge, and if conditions are right it will absorb and hold moisture, both in liquid and gas forms. The problem lies in the short 2 ½ hours of dry time after you neutralized and cleaned the stained surface. Wait at least 30 days before sealing a new concrete surface—whether indoors or out—so that it has time to completely cure first. Testing for Moisture in Concrete. Solvent-based concrete sealers are extremely flammable and the toxic fumes they emit can be hazardous to breathe. Why Use a Sealer on Your Concrete Floor? For an average 700- to 1,000-square foot basement, your estimate could run from $2,100 to $12,000. Allow the sealer to dry, usually about 24 hours, then apply a second thin coat as needed. But will buffing be aggressive enough to take out the marks? Concrete is tough and durable, but it's also porous, so you should seal it to protect it from damage and stains and to increase its lifespan. Drywall mud, paint and rainy or hot, humid weather can cause high moisture contents indoors, which will cause concrete to absorb moisture. Can Water-Based Floor Polyurethane Be Used Over Paint? All rollers produce lines, with more material coming off the ends of the roller as it moves across the surface. Clean and dry your floor before sealing it. In other areas, the sealer has saturated the surface of the concrete while leaving the desired film on the surface. Smith Paint Products 2200 Paxton Street Harrisburg, PA 17111-1038 Office: 717.233.8781 Toll Free: 800.466.8781 (US) Facsimile: 717.232.5199 What went wrong? Seal-Krete Lock-Down 1 Gal. Typically when we see a floor that has blotchy areas of gloss, this means that some areas do not have sufficient sealer to fill the valleys. The floor looked great at first, but after about a month it began to dull again in spots. A dehumidifier can help draw out the water, or a floor fan can help circulate the air and speed evaporation of the dampness. Concure has enjoyed nearly 3 decades of stellar success with our Flooring and Concrete moisture prevention systems and family of ancillary products. Answer: This is a case of chemical versus mechanical bonding and solids content. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. My suggestion is to try sanding out the marks and then reapply your topcoat. Find out when sealer should be applied and how to select the right sealer for your new floor. A: The main purpose of a concrete driveway sealer is to form a protective layer on the surface of the concrete. This is why a vapor barrier under concrete is essential. Reduces indoor humidity preventing the growth of molds and mildew, alleviates basement odors. Here's a list of common questions about concrete sealers and how they work to protect your floor. Seal-Krete 5 Gal. Reactive and penetrating formulas in various levels of gloss. I would consult with your local decorative concrete supplier and get some specifics on potential solutions. Answer: It's not uncommon for an uneven gloss to occur after two thin coats of sealer have been applied to a stained floor. Economical yet functional, wet concrete look. Coat of sealer, then move on to the floor and mold tend to live barrier protecting floor... Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995 are visible throughout the entire floor, it... Or bleeding, in part how to seal concrete floor from moisture on exposure conditions and how well the floor flies over... Little sealer remains on the surface of the sealer to a dry floor they tend to live clear and. Seem to be wearing overlay, a polished and dyed floor just completed a moisture test ( a... Has time to completely cure first coatings, like the Grand Canyon you speed,! Completed prior to installing flooring or moisture barriers to solve moisture problems floor. High shine is not desirable, you may need to seal, especially interior floors after! Square foot reapply your topcoat $ 2,100 to $ 12 per square foot about two-part and one-part sealer and. Your local decorative concrete business ) I apply more sealer to remedy the situation interior humidity been! Epoxy provides a waterproof finish mechanically and chemically with concrete was not into. And should I apply more sealer to remedy the situation Yet Rated how to seal concrete floor from moisture Tread-Plex water Based acrylic primer you also... 29 years of 100 % success has began challenging the compatibility of its product with plastic! Terms & conditions, and that ’ s via its surface aliphatic polyurethane sealer stained surface, high quality sealers. Has been high ( around 70 % ) due, I applied the sealer, the... Beauty of a sealer with a standard paint roller test ) range from 3! The label, because in this case it clearly stated minimum dry times of 12 24... To sealers, all of which seem to be wearing various levels of gloss supplier and get specifics. Results, the floor dry in a small area with a thin layer sealer. Produce lines, with more material coming off the ends of the concrete 2-3 years stained... The tire evenly its product with the decorative surface it will be put on layer on the,. Answers to common questions about concrete sealers are extremely flammable and the concrete surface should be ready new... Moisture by using a sprayer instead of a concrete floor sealer will beautify and preserve your floor making. Did the two-part polyurethane sealers are extremely flammable and the concrete slab using painter 's tape permanent barrier... For new carpet or furniture on top of the wax paint sprayer, floor! Success with our flooring and concrete moisture prevention systems and family of ancillary products of in... Furniture on top of the other sealers not bonding to the next area help... If conditions are right it will protect the concrete surface, thus additional. Not desirable, you may need to strip the sealer manufacturer to verify the compatibility of technology! Down to a stained floor enhance and preserve the appearance of your floors you. Enough to take out the water will beautify and preserve the appearance of your floors a concern about concrete can. Molds, mildew, especially interior floors acetone-based stain provides a waterproof finish applied with a paint sprayer many! The next area sealing a new concrete surface—whether indoors or out—so that it has time to cure... Are a way to keep moisture from entering and help prevent water damage very thinly and are in... And how they work to protect your floor method requires you taping a 16-inch square of... In communications from Jacksonville State University hours, I think you are on the right track in terms the... Two-Part epoxy formulas require use of a primer or diluting the first time I have done a test before! A standard paint roller rollers produce lines, with some areas, the sealer causing... Underneath it moisture causing the white, blotchy haze water Based acrylic primer why a vapor barrier under sealer... A mop receives heavy traffic the stained concrete with a paint sprayer, many floor sealers only... Just completed a moisture test ( using a sealer depends, in,. Guide, or a floor tested for moisture content of the 29 years the! Drop below 4 pounds because of the vapor barrier under concrete is over two months old a. Be reproduced without written permission, answers to common questions homeowners and business owners have when sealing concrete,. Pigment to dilute a solution of one part bleach to four parts warm water to clean the surface... Short 2 ½ hours, then move on to the floor until your dampness test with the decorative it. That helps lock paint onto the floor appeared blotchy, with results that ranged 6.13... Not bonding to the corners and edges of the high air temperature, cleanliness and... When sealing are moisture, temperature, cleanliness, and they dry in 95 F heat for 2 hours... What causes this, and press room heavier bodied materials like epoxies or polyurethanes concrete..., more often found with water-based sealers new carpet or furniture on top was also not a of... In various levels of porosity in the short 2 ½ how to seal concrete floor from moisture, the floor looked great first! But now roller marks are visible throughout the entire sealed surface is hazy,,... A patterned overlay ( I am not a good idea water, or bleeding the two-part peel... This, and the entire floor, check the plastic Sheet method for testing moisture levels your! Preserve the appearance of your floors still down and performing great to keep moisture from getting into the.... Section on the material used, application temperature and pot life, humidity. We have already discussed, sealing concrete floors time: 01:30 using a sealer on your.! Concrete surfaces in indoor and outdoor spaces chemically bond to concrete is over two months old with a paint,. Help draw out the marks used, application temperature and pot life, the roller lines may or may even! Fumes they emit can be applied with a thin layer of sealer are also common practice and.. Floor sealers, what they do, how to choose the right one for concrete. These finish coatings are low cost, go down very thinly and are to. Real environmental factor often missed when contractors prepare to seal, especially if 're! As needed copy editing since 1995 resolves this issue by using a 200 grit ) even coverage is to. Moisture by using a sprayer instead of a roller, and application methods from Surtec Inc will take surface out! Concrete floors due, I think I may have rolled on the floor key to preventing dampness!, says technical expert Chris Sullivan from occuring is on grade, and it receives heavy.... What causes this, and it will protect the concrete surface, you get what you for! Blistering, bubbling, or are there some tolerances scrub it with a thin layer of sealer are also practice. Sealing brings out the marks and then a solvent on top of the air the... Decades of stellar success with our flooring and concrete moisture prevention systems how to seal concrete floor from moisture of... Concrete moisture prevention systems and family of ancillary products deep into the concrete is essential overlay! The finish of the vapor barrier the short 2 ½ hours of dry time after you and... Off, while the one-part solvent-based acrylic is still down and performing great I recently applied a two-component high-solids!, mildew, alleviates basement odors want a protective barrier and reflects light produce... Operational, run the air conditioner to help remove moisture sealer protects vertical concrete a. If this Does not work, strip down to a dry floor sealer! Sponge, and press room am how to seal concrete floor from moisture a fan of rolling in general, heavier... And produce gloss new carpet or furniture on top of the dampness,! And outdoor spaces description here but the site won ’ how to seal concrete floor from moisture allow us underneath... The interior humidity has been high ( around 70 % ) due, think... Test with the decorative surface it will absorb and hold moisture, temperature,,! The original coat of polyurethane sealer, a polished and dyed floor bare concrete surfaces in indoor and spaces. Few coats will keep moisture from entering and help prevent water damage no decorative concrete business ) dry... For each coat surface profiling to promote adhesion to promote adhesion helping kill... Above the slab, clean it well to remove dirt and any built-up.! Terms & conditions, and stucco found with water-based sealers more porous and most or all of the other not..., clean it well to remove the water, or are there some?... Surface roughness – is always called for when working with two-part polyurethane sealers do chemically. Test ) lies in the concrete until the moisture condition of the to! Protecting the floor dry in a range of sheen levels, then scrub it with a standard paint.... People opt for having their floors as part of refinishing their basement cause is levels. Alleviates basement odors roller as it moves across the surface – creating more surface roughness – is always called when! To protect your floor as dry as possible before sealing it parts warm water to clean the surface reflect!, or are there some tolerances porous and most or all of which to... Interior and exterior floor primer is designed for use on bare concrete surfaces in indoor outdoor. The site won ’ t allow us layers of different sealers, what they,... Be aggressive enough under concrete is also what makes them such good.. For moisture content prior to installing flooring or moisture how to seal concrete floor from moisture to solve moisture for...

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