Sealing Concrete and Bricks
Sealing concrete and bricks are very easy. Just clean and apply a sealer. Water Repellent Sealers come in many various types and can be specific to the type of substrate that you will be sealing.
- The use of a pressure washer is suggested when cleaning exterior concrete. Cleaning chemicals are not needed when removing dirt, grime, and vegetation. If you have stains on your concrete then we would suggest using a cleaner that is specific to the type of stain. i.e. Rust remover to clean rust, Oil stain remover to clean oil drips, etc. For interior concrete just use a mop and bucket to clean.
- Removal of old sealers is suggested if your previous sealer has failed. Usually this is noticeable by a yellowing or whitening of the old sealer. Make sure that your substrate can absorb a new sealer. Test be dribbling a few drops of water on the substrate. If it beads up immediately, then a new sealer may not penetrate properly. Some sealers or waxes are considered "film forming" and can be applied on top of other sealers.
- Allow the substrate to dry thoroughly for 1-2 days or what is recommended by the manufacturer.
- Blow or sweep off any dirt or grime.
- Apply sealer by rolling or spraying. A sponge type roller usually works better then a nap roller.
- Let dry for 3-4 fours for foot traffic and 24 hours for vehicular or heavy duty traffic.
*Make sure that you follow all manufacturers instructions.