Concrete Sealers: A 9-part series

By Chris Sullivan – ChemSystems, Inc.

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SEALER SERIES Part 1: The Different Choices
This series of blog articles will address the most common sealer problems encountered in the field, why they occur, and how to avoid and repair them.

SEALER SERIES Part 2: VOC Regulations – How They Affect the Products You Use
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, including many types of sealers. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.

SEALER SERIES Part 3: Preventing Moisture Problems
Moisture is a leading cause of problems with decorative concrete sealers. Under certain conditions, moisture can become trapped in or under the sealer, resulting in whitening or clouding of the sealer membrane. But why does this happen, how do we avoid it.

SEALER SERIES Part 4: The Effects of Deicing Salts on Sealer Performance
First, the good news: Deicing salts have no direct effect on sealers. In fact, concrete sealers of any type have been proven to increase the lifespan of salt-treated concrete three to five times! Now the reality: Sealers for decorative concrete often fail.

SEALER SERIES Part 5: The Effects of Temperature on Sealer Reactivity
The No. 2 cause of problems when applying sealers to decorative concrete (after moisture) is temperature. Both air and surface temperature play a role, but surface temperature is typically more critical.

SEALER SERIES Part 6: When Temperature + Moisture = Condensation
We have covered how moisture (Part 3) and temperature (Part 4) can each affect sealer performance. But what happens when both come into play? Here's a mini lesson in meteorology to explain the problems that can occur...

SEALER SERIES Part 7: Preparing Surfaces for Sealer Application
A simple but often overlooked step in any sealer application is surface profile. When I use the term "surface profile" in regard to sealing, I am including all aspects of the surface at the time of sealer application.

SEALER SERIES Part 8: Choosing the Best Applicator
How a sealer is applied can affect the final outcome and performance as much as all the environmental factors discussed in this series combined. Using the right tools is critical to achieving the best coverage rate and sealer thickness for optimal performance...

SEALER SERIES Part 9: Sealer Application Tips
Each type of sealer has a recommended applicator and coverage rate, as discussed in Part 8: Choosing the Best Applicator. But simply using the right application tool won't guarantee good results.

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