Concrete Sealers
Decoraitve Concrete Sealers. Keep your work beautiful by choosing the right sealer for the job.
by Susan Brimo-Cox
Concrete sealers help protect and beautify concrete work. But choosing the right one from a bewildering assortment of products is not always easy. Making the best selection depends on several factors: the application, desired aesthetics and maintenance requirements. Knowing the basics can help you make the right choice for each project.
Concrete sealers are sometimes grouped either as film-formers or penetrants, based on how they integrate with the concrete surface.
Film-forming sealers do just that — they form a protective film on the surface of the concrete. "Film-formers create a surface barrier for stain prevention and ease of maintenance," reports Jim Glessner, general manager of White Mountain Products, a division of Triangle Coating Inc. in San Leandro, Calif. Film-formers typically have a glossy sheen, which can enhance decorative concrete.
Straight acrylics, urethanes and epoxies are examples of film-formers. Sometimes these are said to be penetrating, but that can be misleading. As Jerry Churray, Pittsburgh-based regional manager of L&M Construction Chemicals Inc., explains, film-formers' penetration extends only into the surface pores.
Penetrating sealers migrate into the top layer of the concrete surface and work well to repel moisture and stains. Sometimes these sealers are described as reactive. Silanes, siloxanes and fluorinated resins are examples of penetrating sealers. These sealers typically do not change the appearance of the surface, leaving the concrete with a natural look.
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