Stamped Concrete Re-Sealing?

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here and I could use your expertise. I had my stamped concrete done last year (completed by August) and after a very harsh winter (ice storm, exterme cold, lots of snow) I noticed that the concrete has lost that shine (wet-look). After doing a google search and reading many many different sites, I thought I would post a question. Should I re-seal the concrete again or wait? I have power-washed the concrete twice already and have notice some hazy spots as well as the dullness of the color.

I went to my local place here called Form and Build and have picked up a 5 gallon drum of sealer as well as xylene. When looking at the concrete I think the sealer is still on and I have read that too much sealer is not good as well. So I am a little confused as to what I should do.

Do I just use the xylene? Or do I use the xylene wait a day and then re-seal? What should my process be?

Your thoughts/input and expertise would be most appreciated!

Thanks

 

I'm not a fan of any sealer. You'll be sealing that thing forever, trying to make it look like an interior floor with a pretty wax job. The stone needs to breathe. Don't choke it.

 

Posting a few pix would be helpful in allowing us to see what you're seeing.

But since you're in Canada, and if you don't get any satisfactory responses here, there's always the option of calling Mike Holmes--he knows everything.

 

i reseal mine each year,,, 1st i roll on some xylene - let it flash off - then roll on css cut 1 1/2 xylene:1 css - let that cure then roll on another coat,,, css is a breathable solvent-based methylmethacrylate sealer avail thru any elitecrete distributor. other than going to polyaspartics or polyureas, its the best sealer avail impo,,, nothing is uv-proof - only uv-resistant

haziness suggests the sealer wasn't breathable,,, never heard of your stuff - we do this work for a living & like our suppliers here's a thought - call the company listed on the label OR ask your supplier

 

Who wants to seal concrete or decks every year? I'll never understand why people want to change a maintenance free surface into high maintenance.

 

I'm in the proces of sealing my patio (pavers) with Drylock Wetlook. Wish I did it when I first installed it. Why would you want to seal it? To keep out moisture and sun fading. Also tends to block out moss growth and ant infestation to a small degree. Looks fantastic. Most concrete is porous and no I don't want it to breath. Why would I? I want it to be static. It's also easy to clean. Sealing every year is over kill. Perhaps once every 2 to 5 years depending on use and wear.

 

Moisture is going to get in there sooner or later & be trapped. It's much more work that I would do just to get the "wet look" It's not as if "a little dab'ill do ya", if you're old enough to remember that.

 

Just as ground moisture and relative humidity are never static, neither is exposed concrete. Its moisture content changes with changes in ambient conditions. For best year-round performance, especially in freezing climates, concrete needs to breathe. If no air-entrainment was used in a mix, trapped moisture coming up from a saturated base below can freeze and cause surface scaling and spalling, if prevented from evaporating off the sealed surface.

 

Pulpo...Yes, yes I remember that!
It is a lot of work but then again one takes pride in certain things.

Most concrete drive ways and garage floors that I know of get a anti spaulling coat and a seal coat. The surface is exposed to t he elements and you want to try and protect that surface to any degree you can. Especially road salt. Had the previous owner done that to my garage I would not be doing yearly patchwork every spring.

The products are available. One only needs to use them. Everything needs maintainence. This is just one more item on the list.