Hi all. I poured a new garage slab last fall and now that it is pretty consistently warm, I want to seal it (before I drive any of the oil-dripping contraptions I own on it). The guy who troweled the slab for me said that there is a sealer available that permeate the concrete to a depth of a couple of inches, filling all of the pores and then hardening, so that spills of any kind don’t penetrate. He could not remember the name of the product he had in mind, however.
I’d like to hear from some experienced users what concrete slab sealer they prefer and why. When I just try to determine for myself what to use by searching the Internet, there seem to be dozens of them, with all kinds of claims attached. Since I’ll only get to do this once, I need to get it right the first time. All advice is appreciated. Thanks!
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I have always used the Sonneborn compounds. They are very good and durable.
They come in two flavors: water based and solvent based. The solvent based is tougher and works better in cold weather, but is very stinky and dangerous to breath. It is best used outdoors, although I like it in garages because it seals so well.
The water based can be tiled over etc. but is not nearly as tough as the solvent based and doesn't dry out in colder weather. It has lower odor.
I sealed our equipment shop floors with two coats of the solvent based Kure n Seal 20 years ago and there is not one defect in the surface after all that traffic on it.
Most good masonary suppliers handle them.
Thanks. I have about six gallons of the solvent-based Kure 'N Seal in my basement right now. Is that stuff still "state of the art" from a sealing perspective? I'm not a pro, so I only pour a slab once every few years. I thought Kure 'N Seal was just to help make sure moisture was held in the slab while the Portland cement continued to bind with the water after the initial set-up. I didn't apply any to my slab because it was so cool and damp in the weeks that followed the pour that I didn't think I needed it. Is it still worthwhile to apply it months later? Are two coats recommended? How much time must elapse between applications? As before, thanks for your help.
There are curing compounds and there are sealing compounds and there are curing & sealing compounds.
Kure n Seal solvent base is still readily available but in many instances has been replaced by the water based product for safety reasons. As I said before, the solvent based product is a much better sealer.
If in doubt, read what it says on the can!
Two coats works the best in my opinion. Once as soon as possible and the second one a month or so later seems to work well. Be aware that it forms a shiny somewhat slippery surface, especially when it's wet.
Maybe someone else has found a miracle product, but this still works for us.
If you have a garage that will be subjected to salt drippings, I would definitely use two coats.
Thanks. That extra detail helps!