Avoiding Concrete Sealant Fumes

People generally use concrete sealant to protect concrete from corrosion and absorption, among other things. The sealant fills the tiny pores so that the concrete is less porous and does not absorb a lot of water, usually rainwater, if the concrete is situated in an outdoors environment. Sealants are used as a finish coating for concrete floors. Roads are usually coated with sealant to protect them from any damage that may be caused by water, chemicals, and traffic.

Step 1 - Read the Manufacturer’s Instructions

When you are using concrete sealant, it is important that you read the instructions provided by the manufacturer and follow them carefully. The instructions may include precautions and some other things that you should do before starting the job.

Step 2 - Wear Protective Glasses and Clothing

Always remember to wear protective glasses and clothing because concrete sealants can be very dangerous if they come in contact with your skin and eyes. The ideal protective clothing you should wear includes gloves, boots, protective glasses, long trousers, and long sleeves.

It is important that you check that the clothing is covering all your body. You may also need a facial mask to cover your nose and mouth; wear it before you start working so that you will not inhale the fumes of the sealant.

Step 3 - Keep the Working Area Well-Ventilated

If you are applying the sealant to a concrete surface indoors, make sure that you leave the doors and windows open in order to ventilate the area you are working in. Most concrete sealants are based on chemicals that may produce poisonous fumes in the drying process. Therefore, it is important that you do not stay too close to the sealant as it dries; the fumes can make you sick. You should let the sealant dry completely.

Step 4 - Keep Children and Animals away From the Area

Do not leave children and animals in the area when you are working and during the drying process. You must not only take care of your own health, but you must also care for the health of other people. The fumes are not the only dangerous part of a concrete sealant; the paint is very poisonous as well.

Step 5 - Avoid Petroleum-Based Concrete Sealants

There are various types of concrete sealants and most of them are chemical-based. You must always check for the safest type of them all. Petroleum-based concrete sealants are considered to be the most dangerous because their fumes are explosive and highly flammable, thus they can cause a fire or an explosion, especially if you are working in an enclosed environment.

Step 6 - Apply Water-Based Sealant

Instead of a dangerous petroleum-based concrete sealant, you can use a much safer one that is based on water. The results of a water-based sealant are similar to those of other chemical-based sealants. The main advantage of these sealants is that they do not produce any toxic fumes, but they still leave the surface glossy and free from dust and dirt.