The Right Way to Seal Concrete

Concrete is one of the most popular construction materials around, and for good reason: It’s affordable, structurally sound, and versatile enough to use for everything from garage floors and retaining walls to kitchen countertops and decorative objects. While sturdy and durable on its own, it does require some protection, such as a silicone-based surface sealant likeQuikrete’s Concrete & Masonry Waterproofing Sealer，防水表面，保持新鲜浇注。如果没有这种重要的工程，你的所有辛勤工作都会更容易受到伤害。水分和温度波动会随着时间的推移在外部混凝土中产生裂缝，而日常磨损可以污染和刮擦内部混凝土。幸运的是，一个简单的早期应用程序将远离保护这些压力的混凝土。继续阅读以了解如何用优质产品密封混凝土，因此您可以轻松休息，您的成品项目将继续看起来很新近几年。

MATERIALS AND TOOLS在亚马逊上提供
–Chemicalproof gloves
–防护眼镜
–Quikrete’s Concrete & Masonry Waterproofing Sealer
–刷
–Roller
–Garden sprayer
–Foodsafe wax
–Quikrete’s Polyurethane SelfLeveling Sealant
–加强布里斯特刷
–Quikrete的混凝土和沥青清洁剂
–Quikrete’s Backer Rods
–Caulking gun
–Painter’s tape
–Quikrete’s Polyurethane Concrete Crack Sealant
–Hammer
–Chisel
–Shop vacuum
–工具刀
–小抹子

Before You Start, Stay Safe!
在应用任何类型的混凝土密封剂或密封胶时，请遵循制造商的安全预防措施。穿戴化学手套和防护眼镜。通风良好至关重要，所以如果您在室内使用封口机，请打开窗户。许多密封剂是刺激物，因此避免让它们皮肤。

严重的表面覆盖范围
在密封新的混凝土表面之前至少等待30天 - 无论是在室内还是外出 - 所以它有时间完全治愈。为了获得最佳结果，混凝土表面应清洁干燥。这意味着如果您在户外在庭院，长凳或人行道上工作，那意味着没有下雨。（你也想等到你确定温度将保持在50到90华氏度之间。）

ApplyQuikrete’s Concrete & Masonry Waterproofing Sealer使用刷辊或花园喷雾器。没有米ixing is necessary; the liquid sealer comes ready to use in one- and five-gallon containers. Coat the surface with enough sealant to evenly saturate the concrete, but not so much that it pools. One gallon will cover approximately 100 to 200 square feet, depending on whether your concrete mix skews porous or smooth (as, for example, countertop mixes tend to be). More porous surfaces require more sealant to fully coat. Though the concrete will naturally absorb the sealant and its waterproofing properties, the sealant will not change the look of the slab.

For added protection, apply a second coat 10 minutes after finishing the first coat, before it has a chance to dry. Two coats of the混凝土和砌体防水封口机足以穿透混凝土的表面。对于外部应用，这两种外套可以在预先实现之前持续10年。另一方面，内部应用程序不受UV射线或温度波动的另一方面，不应要求未来重新密封。

如果您正在处理混凝土台面或桌面，可以保护其免受醋，如醋，这可能导致变色，请跟进食品安全蜡，如Carnauba。根据包装的说明应用这一点，以在密封混凝土和食物之间产生卫生障碍，因此表面适合膳食准备。

Sealing Expansion Joints
虽然您不会在室内项目上看到这么多，但几乎每一个户外的大型混凝土表面都是一种车道，人行道或露台 - 通过预先膨胀接头分离成较小的部分。这些关节允许混凝土在这些预定点处不知不觉地移动，以适应由温度波动或移位地产生的任何膨胀和收缩。否则这些力可能会导致单个大板在随机点处分裂。你需要密封这些关节，在密封表面之前或之后，使用高质量的产品Quikrete’s Polyurethane Self-Leveling Sealantto minimize your concrete’s exposure to water.

Again, choose a day when the outdoor temperature is between 40 and 85 degrees and rain is not in the forecast. Ensure that the joints are clean and dry before applying the sealant: You can use a stiff-bristle brush to sweep pebbles and debris from the joints, but if oil or grease is present, use a product likeQuikrete的混凝土和沥青清洁剂to remove the residue before proceeding.

按Quikrete’s Backer Rods可压缩的泡沫棒专门设计用于接头和裂缝密封 - 进入宽于½英寸的任何接头，并在背杆上方留在密封剂上方的大约1/8英寸的空间。对于最锐利和最干净的线条，用画家的磁带掩盖膨胀节的两侧，使您只填充关节。然后，使用填缝枪从一端均匀地将密封剂分配。将密封剂深入接合。注意不要沿着边缘留下间隙，但不要使用这么多，即密封剂在混凝土表面上方形成珠子。在涂上密封胶后，虽然它仍然湿透，小心地剥离了画家的磁带，以透露完全直线的密封剂。

Stop Cracks in Their Tracks
随着时间的推移，甚至适当地密封外部混凝土表面及其膨胀接头，无论是在门廊，步骤还是板块，都可以发育裂缝。密封裂缝越快，越快：留下未经处理的，裂缝可以变大，需要更加艰难的维修。对于防水固定，密封剂必须紧紧地粘附到混凝土上但如果混凝土再次换档，则会紧紧地伸展而不会拉开。Quikrete’s Polyurethane Concrete Crack Sealantwon’t sag in the crack, and it can stretch up to 700 percent while maintaining a strong bond—plus, its gray shade closely matches the color of bare concrete so the repairs won’t stand out like a sore thumb. Got a number of cracks to fill? Use this handyonline calculator确定购买的密封胶。

Good crack preparation is the key to a successful repair. In addition to starting with clean and dry concrete on a day with temperatures between 40 and 95 degrees, you’ll also need to prepare the crack for best adhesion:

• If the crack is narrow, use a hammer and chisel to open it to approximately 1/4 inch wide, creating a “V” in the concrete. Brush away all debris from the crack with a stiff brush or vacuum it out with a shop vacuum.

• For cracks that are more than 1/2 inch deep, insert a compressible foam backer rod in the crack before filling with sealant. You’ll need approximately 1/8 inch of space above the backer rod for the sealant to adhere properly.

Next, with a utility knife, cut the tip of the sealant tube at an angle so the hole is the same size as the width of the crack you’re filling. Pop the sealant tube into the caulk gun, and use uniform pressure to dispense a bead of sealant into the crack. The sealant should fill the entire crack from edge to edgewithout渗出裂缝的顶部;你可以好好看看这个技术video from Quikrete。如有必要，请使用小抹子，从混凝土表面上除去任何多余的密封剂。在几个小时内，密封剂将不再粘贴到触摸。如果您计划涂上表面，请等待至少72小时，然后释放出颜色的罐头，否则会考虑完成的工作和您的混凝土保护！

This content has been brought to you by Quikrete. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.