Simple spray on concrete sealer, for dyed concrete

PCustoms said:

How come some of the sealers list etching as a prep requirement?

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Shea said:

I'm not aware of any sealers that require etching (at least that I can remember). Etching removes much of the free lime and other minerals from the substrate at and near the surface, which most sealers require to react properly, densifiers in particular. Otherwise, they won't be very effective.

However, topical film-forming sealers (coatings) generally do require etching. The etching process opens the pores at the surface, allowing the much more viscous material to penetrate and form a good mechanical bond.

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PCustoms said:

So if I see a "sealer" that needs etching it's just a topical coating?
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I was looking at this:

BEHR PREMIUM 1 Gal. Natural Protector and Waterproofer 98001 - The Home Depot

Protect your home's concrete and masonry surfaces with this BEHR Premium Protector and Waterproofer. Easy clean-up with soap and water.

www.homedepot.com

Primarily because it was one of 2 options locally and I thought I had to seal that weekend

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Shea said:

This is the description of the Behr product in the first sentence:

"The BEHR Premium Protector and Waterproofer is an interior/exterior coating"

Coatings are sealers too. It's easy to get confused if you don't deal with this subject every day

The article below explains the differences in sealers. It should help to clear things up.

Making Sense of Garage Floor Sealers | Which is Best for Your Application?

Learn the differences between penetrating and topical concrete sealers for garage floors and workshops. Discover what protection they provide against oil, water, and chemicals.

allgaragefloors.com

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PCustoms said:

The behr product is further described as a siloxane penetrating sealer. After reading your information that seems to not fall into the topical coating category. Is their use of "coating"in the description like saying "Kleenex", or is the product not what the details claim it to be?

Ghostshield 8500 and 9500 both say not for use on colored concrete so those are out...

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Shea said:

One of the ingredients is alkyl alkoxysilane. It forms a type of micro-thin film-forming silicone used in hydrophobic coatings. The molecular structure is much larger than that of silane and can't penetrate concrete well unless the concrete is etched. Silicone also wears off quickly from traffic, which is why products like these lose their water-beading properties. Products like these work best on vertical surfaces. However, the silane/siloxane blend still protects the concrete from moisture damage after the silicone has worn away. Behr likes using silicone in their sealers because the water-beading effect looks impressive and sells.

I've never been a fan of Behr products because of tactics like this. They also sell what we call "fake stains". They are very thin acrylic coatings tinted with color. They don't impart a permanent stain and can peel, exposing the bare concrete underneath. We get questions from our readers all the time asking why their stain is peeling and how to fix it. They get upset when they learn that what they applied wasn't a true stain.

GhostShield 9500 shouldn't be applied to colored concrete because it's also a densifier containing sodium silicate, which can cause white blotches in the color that are hard to remove if overapplied. However, I don't see why the 8500 can't be applied.

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PCustoms said:

I don't know the science behind it but the "X" on the MFG website seems to say NO

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PCustoms said:

Didn't mean to takeover another thread.

Need an outdoor concrete sealer that can be used on integral dyed concrete with a colored cure/release agent.

Some previous conversation below

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Shea said:

Was the release agent solvent- based?

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PCustoms said:

No, it was a dry powder

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Shea said:

Ahh... OK. So the concrete was integrally colored and a powdered release agent was used for stamping the surface, correct?

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Shea said:

If so, did you want a penetrating sealer to maintain the natural look or a topical sealer to enhance the color and provide more protection?

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PCustoms said:

Correct



I believe I want a penetrating sealer.

I want something that has a "natural" look to it (i.e. not glossy or "wet") that protects from winter weather and pet safe ice melt (rarely used but the potential is there).

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PCustoms said:

Correct



I believe I want a penetrating sealer.

I want something that has a "natural" look to it (i.e. not glossy or "wet") that protects from winter weather and pet safe ice melt (rarely used but the potential is there).

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