Seal New Concrete Patio (floor, pool, paint, cleaner)

[jenlion]

I had a new concrete patio come in with a sandstone finish the first week of June. Contractor said it could be sealed later, it's not hard, would give it the nice wet look, etc. I'd like to do it, but it's surprisingly hard to come up with good information.

Anyone know about this? What kind of sealer would be good for a backyard patio, under a deck? Will get wet, and will have furniture and traffic.

Thanks!

[QIS]

Hi (again) Jenlion,
Out of curiosity; what product does you contractor recommend?? Unlike your cedar, sealing concrete is a whole different ball game. I am always fearful of exterior concrete getting "too" sealed and having an unwanted vapor barrier on top that might cause deterioration and/or spalling. What will it seal against? ...I like the coloring and yet I would like to know what sealer will do exactly what you want and for how long....like your cedar, it is outside and will age; however, concrete properly mixed and installed will not deteriorate like untreated wood.
I guess my point is: just be careful because once you apply it; it won't come off(easily)!!
If you are set on doing a sealer;as with the wood sealer; front load your choice with lots of reading about the product; even if it is the contractors recommendation.

[Briolat21]

Hi! This is actually our 4th of July project. We're using a product called "SureBond" - the gloss sealer with polymeric additive. We are sealing a paver patio with sand joints, the polymeric additive is there to lock the sand together into an almost mortar-like substance. The gloss will give the patio not quite a 'wet look' - but slightly darker than when the patio is bone dry.

SureBond was the product that the manufacturer of our paver recommends, so that's what we're using. Its a concrete paver product, so I'm certain SureBond or similar product would work for regular concrete - you just wouldn't need the type with the polymer as you have no sand joints.

The product is supposed to seal the pavers/joints, but still allow for normal breathing of the product.

Fairly easy to do.

Tonight - power wash patio.

Tomorrow thoroughly clean patio with cleaner diluted in water (specific cleaner from Surebond) hose off.

Let dry for 3 days.

Put sealer in pump sprayer - spray until pooling, use squeegee to spread, spread excess into next area to be sealed.

Wait one day for foot traffic (dries to touch in 30 minutes, recommended to let cure for 1 day before major foot traffic).

We also epoxy finished our garage floor 2 years ago (when we moved in) - very similar. Power Wash. Let Dry. Acid wash. Rinse. Let Dry. Garage Floor Paint/Epoxy. Let Dry.

Just requires time/effort.

Good luck - we're sealing our driveway later this summer - so more of the same!!

[CaptainNJ]

i have a paver driveway and patio. so my pavers turned out to be not quite as dark as i wanted them to be. i wanted black, they are really a dark gray. they look best when it rains. it was my fault, i accept the blame.

it seems like i could seal it to get a look closer to where i want to be. i did a little looking and it seems maybe i could do it myself. i have a patio that is much smaller than the driveway that i wouldnt mind using as a test to see how it comes out. it gets very little use and isnt really visible to anyone.

the question seems to be the pre-sealing cleaning. how **** and span do i have to get it?