Need help with sealing concrete in basement...
#1
10-10-10, 06:27 PM
Need help with sealing concrete in basement...
I recently purchased my first home. It is newly constructed with an unfinished concrete basement. We need to seal the concrete but there are so many different products, we are confused on what product to buy....the product that would be the "best" for this given job. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Also, do we need an etcher or not?
#2
10-11-10, 03:37 AM
Welcome to the forums!
Are you having any water issues? if so, they are best addressed on the exterior and should be the builder's responsibility.
If you are just wanting to paint to give a cleaner/brighter look, you should first prime the walls with a masonry primer or drylok [if porous] and then apply 1-2 coats of your choice of interior latex paint. The floors would need an acid etch if they are slick. I'd recommend using a concrete stain rather than a floor paint on the floors. Unless the floor has the proper moisture barrier and all the proper prep - paint is subject to peel later on
Are you having any water issues? if so, they are best addressed on the exterior and should be the builder's responsibility.
If you are just wanting to paint to give a cleaner/brighter look, you should first prime the walls with a masonry primer or drylok [if porous] and then apply 1-2 coats of your choice of interior latex paint. The floors would need an acid etch if they are slick. I'd recommend using a concrete stain rather than a floor paint on the floors. Unless the floor has the proper moisture barrier and all the proper prep - paint is subject to peel later on
#3
10-11-10, 07:22 AM
Member
I will be cautious to do any basement work on a newly constructed home. I will suggest letting it go through the 1st winter / spring to see if there are any water leaks.
When I bought my 1st home years ago I remember that during my 1st visit the basement floor was wet and when I asked what happened I was told that they had a leak in the new oil tank and they had to clean the floor. I said ok, I bought the house and proceeded to finish the basement to be used as my office. During the 1st spring the basement leaked water like you never seen and had to take the contractor to courts to repair the foundation drainage.
Just a thought for you to consider
When I bought my 1st home years ago I remember that during my 1st visit the basement floor was wet and when I asked what happened I was told that they had a leak in the new oil tank and they had to clean the floor. I said ok, I bought the house and proceeded to finish the basement to be used as my office. During the 1st spring the basement leaked water like you never seen and had to take the contractor to courts to repair the foundation drainage.
Just a thought for you to consider
#5
10-11-10, 03:59 PM
Thank you! 
Not having any water issues....just want to make sure that we don't have any. We were told by the home inspector that we'd want to seal the concrete as soon as it cures. The only other thing he told us was to avoid waterproofing paint for the basement (at least as an initial coat) as that would merely trap the moisture and slowly eat away at the concrete. We looked at Drylok, but it all seems to be a latex based paint...which is what we were told to avoid. When I looked out on the internet for suggestions, it seemed that silicate based sealants were recommended more-so than others. Thank you again for any and all help!
Not having any water issues....just want to make sure that we don't have any. We were told by the home inspector that we'd want to seal the concrete as soon as it cures. The only other thing he told us was to avoid waterproofing paint for the basement (at least as an initial coat) as that would merely trap the moisture and slowly eat away at the concrete. We looked at Drylok, but it all seems to be a latex based paint...which is what we were told to avoid. When I looked out on the internet for suggestions, it seemed that silicate based sealants were recommended more-so than others. Thank you again for any and all help!
#6
10-12-10, 04:01 AM
I'm not sure what your inspector based his recommendations on 
I've used both the oil base and latex drylok and as far as water stopping properties - they are both effective although the oil base formula might be a little better but the fumes from the oil base formula are very potent - not something you'd want to use in an occupied house!
Elastromeric paint is a good waterproofing top coat but should not be used inside. It is formulated to stop water from the outside of the coating, not from below. It would not be effective inside a basement. It's for exterior use only.
You could use a clear sealer like Thompson's Waterseal but it might hamper the bond of any coating you tried to apply over it. It would not be effective over any cracks or large pores in the foundation.
Kolias's advice to wait a year to see how the foundation reacts to the various seasons is a good one
I've used both the oil base and latex drylok and as far as water stopping properties - they are both effective although the oil base formula might be a little better but the fumes from the oil base formula are very potent - not something you'd want to use in an occupied house!
Elastromeric paint is a good waterproofing top coat but should not be used inside. It is formulated to stop water from the outside of the coating, not from below. It would not be effective inside a basement. It's for exterior use only.
You could use a clear sealer like Thompson's Waterseal but it might hamper the bond of any coating you tried to apply over it. It would not be effective over any cracks or large pores in the foundation.
Kolias's advice to wait a year to see how the foundation reacts to the various seasons is a good one
#7
10-12-10, 05:49 AM
IF you want to seal the floor, keep in mind what future floor covering you might wish - eg, now's the time to acid-stain & seal at least as, in the future, wants/needs change,,, you'd still be able to choose something else OR you'll be satisfied.
we use a methyl-methacrylate reinforced acrylic solvent-based sealer ( CSS ) but that may be too much for the avg diy-er,,, water-based sealers are popular except among dec conc artisans due to their lack of long-term performance.
before you do anything, conduct a moisture test to see/find what the vapor transmission up thru the conc is,,, we NEVER use drylock-style products below grade for negative-side vapor barrier without a specific signed ' get out of jail card ' from the owner.
we use a methyl-methacrylate reinforced acrylic solvent-based sealer ( CSS ) but that may be too much for the avg diy-er,,, water-based sealers are popular except among dec conc artisans due to their lack of long-term performance.
before you do anything, conduct a moisture test to see/find what the vapor transmission up thru the conc is,,, we NEVER use drylock-style products below grade for negative-side vapor barrier without a specific signed ' get out of jail card ' from the owner.
#8
10-12-10, 07:55 AM
https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Campai...625ad96d0f2fe1 - caution: no experience OR financial interest in this product but it does have good generic intformation
