If you are in the Southeast area and are interested in a quote for polished concrete, grind and seal concrete, or burnished concrete floors, request a quote online here. Answer: This is a case of chemical versus mechanical bonding and solids content. Answer: This is a common problem, more often found with water-based sealers. Here is my question: Because of the high moisture readings, should I do this job? Any remaining cracks can be repaired with a cementitious filler, any excess will be removed with the grinder. Why Use a Sealer on Your Concrete Floor? Answer: If you were to look at a concrete floor under a microscope, you would see what looks like an endless range of plateaus and valleys. Sealing also preserves the decorative treatment by protecting the concrete surface from abrasions and stains. How do I now reseal over the original sealer? Have a great rest of your day!! Adding a sealer means a lot more work for a bit more protection, but here we go anyway: Concrete coatings (both densifiers and sealers) are for the most part alkaline in nature, while a lot of the foods we consume (coffee, citrus fruits, tomatoes, etc) are acidic in nature. Grindkings will be in touch soon. After letting the floor dry in 95 F heat for 2 hours, I applied the sealer as directed. A new cement block manufacturing process developed by an American, A comeback for foam radiant floor ICF forms heated with air tubes. Most acrylic sealers are available in a range of sheen levels. As a result, it is more resistant to chipping than it would be with just a finishing sealer. This can result in confusion when requesting quotes or gathering information for your project. For the healthiest floor: just use the densifier of your choosing and no further sealers, as most sealers will contain some level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). A densifier willprotect concretefrom impact damage, and mostimportantly, it will eliminate the dusting you would experience with an untreated floor. The final step in the concrete polishing process involves the application of a stain 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. This will probably be a bit harder to track down; your best bet would be to check with janitorial-supply retailers. Consider using grit additives that can be mixed into the sealer to improve traction. If you have in-floor radiant heat, running it after you pour will speed up the drying process. 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. potassium silicates penetrate up to 2 mm and burnish up more than sodium. Find out more about two-part and one-part sealer technology and application methods from Surtec Inc. Have you had your basement tested for radon and found high levels? Both polished and grind/seal concrete floors can have a matte, satin, or gloss appearance. Question: I recently applied a two-component, high-solids aliphatic polyurethane sealer to a stained floor in a spa. You hit the nail on the head in regard to humidity. Ideal for interior use where odor is a concern. Afterwards, the surface is properly cleaned. Each has its own features and benefits and its own required upkeep schedule. Copyright 1999-2022 ConcreteNetwork.com - None of this site may be reproduced without written permission, Answers to common questions about applying concrete floor sealer. I plan on sealing the stained concrete with a water-based urethane. This moisture will stay in the concrete until the moisture content of the air above the slab abates. 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? Sanding wood floors & refinishing yourself will, Considering between slab-on-grade construction compared to foundations and crawlspace or a basement? The type of sealer you select determines the frequency and extent of routine maintenance. 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. Reactive and penetrating formulas in various levels of gloss. Answer: I think you are on the right track in terms of the other sealers not bonding to the original polyurethane sealer. They will likely have toxins in them as well (though no worse than many other sealants and finishes), so they can also adversely affect interior air quality. Different products and manufacturers will have specific instructions for the application of their products, so we won't get into too great detail here. Regular Maintenance This finish is popular in areas where a glossy finish is desired, i.e. However with sealed concrete, the gloss is achievedfrom a topical sealer. Is the area prone to spills? Avoid the temptation to pinch pennies. Quick Links: Polished Concrete Atlanta - Stained Concrete Atlanta - Epoxy Flooring - Metallic Epoxy Atlanta - Polished Concrete vs. 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. No decorative concrete floor installation is complete without the application of a sealer. Is, This type of concrete reduces the carbon emissions by 70%, fuel consumption by 30% and water use by 80%. The liquid will penetrate and harden, leaving you with a shiny surface that is able to repel (but not always stop) stains from household contaminants and spills. It will result in a bit less staining if you spill something, but so will a speedy cleanup. If the slab is currently polished, then I would think in your case, repairing the divots would be a much easier way to get to a finished floor you are happy with rather than grinding the entire tops surface. After the sealer dried, the floor appeared blotchy, with some areas glossy and others not. When there is enough etching to get on your nerves, you can burnish the floor back to a nice sheen again. If interested in polished concrete floor but would like a more affordable option, we recommend to choose from either grind and seal concrete or burnished polished concrete. I just completed a moisture test (using a calcium-chloride test). How to polish and seal concrete by Honestone.com.au Zeitgeist Photography, How to choose between concrete densifiers, By Prato-Verde, Natural Wood Finishing Oils, By GNAR Inc - Sustainable Home Design Specialists, How to Find Qualified Green Building Professionals, Find ideas for sustainable & beautiful home renovations & building green homes, See sustainable homes that Ecohome has showcased over the last few years, Find Net Zero prefab LEED & Passive House ready kit homes for sale, Sustainable homes for sale, green certified to LEED, Passive House or Zero Net Energy (ZNE), Showcasing a pilot project of 35 Net Zero Energy Ready homes built in 2021 in a cold climate, a beautiful and durable eco-friendly floor, with sufficient subfloor insulation a concrete slab on grade, all about Slab on Grade foundations, Building & Design in the Guides here, finishing concrete floors with silicate densifiers, testing for radon gas and how to remove it from basements and crawlspaces, Delivery: radiant, forced-air and decentralized. lithium is the shiniest but only penetrates to the thickness of a sheet of paper. We would agree with not using epoxy finishes. Not only are exposed concrete floors aesthetically appealing, but exposed concrete floors are also durable, long-lasting, affordable, environmental friendly, and perfect for many applications - including business, warehouses, retail spaces, homes, restaurants, breweries, art galleries, and so much more. But, if you are thinking of doing it yourself, here are the steps for sealing concrete floors: Most professionals agree that spraying sealer produces more consistent coverage. The heat from the burnishing will cure it at the same time as it polishes and you can walk on it immediately. Learn more about checking the VOC content. But I understand the recommendation is no more than 4 pounds. Before applying a high-solids sealer, be sure to consult with the manufacturer and perform an on-site adhesion test. Is it an area with traffic (i.e. Here are our pages on testing for radon gas and how to remove it from basements and crawlspaces. Otherwise, you will need to strip the sealer, clean the surface and allow it to fully dry, and then reseal. See this video on using sacrificial waxes for concrete floors. In addition, the desired finish of your refinished exposed concrete can vary from low sheen to high gloss that resembles glass. This is why profiling the surface creating more surface roughness is always called for when working with two-part polyurethane sealers. If the concrete is soft, porous or free of contaminants, a second pass may not be necessary. 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. Grind and Sealed Concrete, 3020 Canton Rd Suite 108Marietta, GA 30066, Polished Concrete vs. Grindkings Flooring LLC. Burnished polished concrete resembles polished concrete but does not require as many steps. Use a diamond impregnated pad in conjunction with a burnisher to eliminate the excess. We can deliver or ship wherever you need, or you can pick up from our facility. Meet, This is one place where you can safely save some money. After applying the densifier, squeegee or hose-off the excess material before you start burnishing it. 25-28 MPa concrete is typical for a house but you could instead specify 35-38 MPa concrete as it generally polishes better. Softer, more porous concrete may require multiple additional coats of sealer. Depending on your floor goals (i.e. Using a sealer on your new concrete floor prevents a variety of costly problems from occuring. The same reason two-part polyurethane sealers don't chemically bond to concrete is also what makes them such good sealers. Epoxies and urethanes deliver the best long-term performance and can last years before the need for reapplication. Diamond impregnated pads can be used to mechanically clean and maintain floors. Choose from a wide variety of colors, from neutral, earth tones to colorful concrete dyes. Filling divots in a slab on grade home can be a simple matter of using self-leveling concrete, and you can then use an angle grinder with a buffing pad rather than trying to find a diamond grinder, which seems to be quite an ordeal for you in your location. If the bubbles go deeper than the surface, you may need to strip and start over. 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. They come in a variety of grits for a variety of needs. Forget the Pen and Paper: How RSP Revolutionized Polished Concrete Measurement, deep scrub or strip a floor before recoating. The use of a primer or diluting the first coat of sealer are also common methods for promoting sealer adhesion on denser surfaces. I did three tests, with results that ranged from 6.13 to 6.58 pounds. The other major factor is solids content. During this process, the concrete is honed and polished using progressively finer grits of diamond abrasives until the floor reaches the desired level of shine (either level 1-4; matte to high gloss). Dec 27, 2017 | Advice & Tips, Industry Trends, Stain protectors, guards and sealers are vital for ongoing polished concrete floor maintenance. Why did the two-part polyurethane peel off, while the one-part solvent-based acrylic is still down and performing great? This may be beneficial for those looking to match sealed concrete floors throughout their space. The process involves grinding your concrete, then sealing with a topical sealer. It will alsoendlessly release dust into the air through any contact with it. Film-forming sealers may be slippery, especially in areas where water is present, like kitchens and bathrooms. Answer: It's not uncommon for an uneven gloss to occur after two thin coats of sealer have been applied to a stained floor. I think I may have rolled on the primer too fast producing the roller marks. The following is list of the pros and cons, durability, cost and lifespan of various flooring materials. Some concrete sealers are breathable and will let moisture pass through, others are not. My suggestion is to try sanding out the marks and then reapply your topcoat. Livos is a. In some areas, the concrete is more porous and most or all of the sealer was absorbed into the substrate. There is always a trigger mechanism for sealers becoming cloudy or white, and we need to timeline your project to find what it is. What went wrong, and how do I fix the problem to achieve a uniform shine? You allowed approximately 24 hours of cure time for the overlay, which is standard and acceptable. They don't chemically stick to anything, and nothing chemically sticks to them, including oil, gas, solvents, water, dirt, and graffiti. And here is another page that may interest you if you havent already finished the floors , Non-toxicsilicate sealers for polished concrete floors, Find healthy and durable flooring that is right for you. This is the first time I have done a test like this. That is not aliquid sealer, and is used to stop radon gas from entering below basement floors, but it is used before you pour the floor, not after. We typically recommend sealed concrete as a more affordable alternative to polished concrete. There are some liquid applied radon barriers on the market, but we dont have a lot of faith in those. Raw concrete is very porous and will have a lot of tiny, interconnectedair pockets in it that will absorb moisture and other contaminants,and stain easily. If the HVAC system in the building is operational, run the air conditioner to help remove moisture. For the most hassle-free floor: choose a potassium densifier rather than lithium. is a decorative concrete flooring contractor in Atlanta specializing in polished concrete, metallic epoxy floors and countertops, stained concrete, epoxy flooring, and sealed concrete floors. Then apply very light coats (800 to 1,000 square feet per gallon) of the wax. Softer acrylic sealers usually require regular maintenance with several coats of a sacrificial floor finish, or wax, to prevent wear and black heel marks. If you don't know if there is vapour protection under a concrete slab, be sure to use a breathable sealer. In other areas, the sealer has saturated the surface of the concrete while leaving the desired film on the surface. The burnished concrete process involves utilizing a high-speed burnisher that spins at approximately 1,500 rpm to 2,500 rpm to fils the concretes pores with an applied chemical. First, I applied the primer coat with a roller and then applied the polyurethane, which has a longer pot life, with an airless sprayer. So in this case, moisture was trapped under the sealer, causing the white, blotchy haze. 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. With polished concrete, there are four levels of finish/shine. desired finish and durability requirements), the concrete may be ground again with finer diamonds to further smooth the floor. If you drive slowly, the mud comes off the tire evenly. As illustrated by the case in question, an acrylic sealer may chemically bond to a hard-troweled surface, but the surface won't have sufficient profile, or roughness, to mechanically bond with a high-solids polyurethane sealer. Use Diamond Pads to: Burnishing There are three main categories of stain protectors for polished concrete; penetrating, semi-penetrating guards and topical sealers.