How To

How you reseal stamped concrete will depend on the type of concrete sealer currently down, and what you want the stamped concrete to look like once sealed.

Best Practice Tips For Reapplying A Concrete Sealer On Stamped Concrete

Water Based Acrylic Sealer: If the stamped concrete is currently sealed with a water based acrylic sealer, it is best practice to maintain the surface by reapplying with only a water-based concrete sealer.  You can't apply a solvent based acrylic sealer over a water based acrylic sealer because the solvents will chemically react and attack the water based product, resulting in coating failure. The only way a solvent based acrylic sealer can be applied to stamped concrete previously sealed with a water based acrylic is if the water based acrylic sealer has been completely removed.  Water based acrylics will provide a low to high gloss finish without enhancing or darkening the color of the concrete. 

While it is always best to follow a manufacturer's suggestions for when and how to apply a concrete sealer, we have found the best time to apply most concrete sealers is in the late afternoon or early evening.  During the late afternoon, any moisture present from condensation or morning dew will have evaporated off during the day.  Also, both the surface temperature and air temperature are declining, creating a more favorable environment for concrete sealers to properly absorb and bond to the substrate.  Applying concrete sealers in the late afternoon helps to avoid such issues as; solvent bubbles, premature evaporation, discoloration, and blushing. 

Here are a few other frequently asked questions about sealer application:

1. Why isn't is suggested to apply a concrete sealer in the morning? Most people assume morning is the best time to apply a concrete sealer, but that isn't always the case. In many parts of the country,

The best temperature to apply a concrete sealer is 45-85 degrees Fahrenheit. The air temperature is not the only factor to consider when applying a concrete sealer. Other factors include the temperature of the concrete and the time of the day. 

Air Temperature: In a perfect world, concrete sealers should be applied when the outside temperatures is within 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit. While this temperature range isn't always achievable depending on the time of year and where you are located, there are some safe and manageable work-arounds. Temperature will manipulate how fast or slow a product cures, and how well it is able to cure. If you apply a product outside of the temperature guidelines in the morning or mid-day, it may result in discoloration,

There are two reasons why concrete sweats. The first and most common reason why concrete sweats is that the concrete is cold and the air is warm. When the concrete is cold and the air is warm, the moisture in the air hits the cold concrete and condensation forms on the surface. Have you ever taken an ice cold soda and left it on the counter? The entire outside of the soda can will be dripping wet with water because the soda is cold and the air is warm. The same exact thing happens with concrete. Sealers can't stop condensation. Sealers can reduce the absorption of water on the surface, but they can't stop condensation from forming. In order to stop concrete sweating caused by condensation, you need to either warm up the concrete or cool down the air temperature.

The second cause of concrete sweating is sub surface moisture. To be honest, this is very rare, especially in a garage

Concrete fades from exposure to UV rays, surface abrasion, foot and vehicle traffic, and age. In some cases, the concrete will need to be recolored, but in most cases, the use of a high quality sealer will instantly renew any dull and faded coloring. 

Best Concrete Sealers for Dull and Faded Concrete

The Armor AR350 and the Armor AR500 will darken the surface of the concrete to make it look wet, darkening any dull and faded coloring. They will also help to enhance the surface with a low gloss (AR350) to high gloss (AR500) finish. The photo below is of an 8-year-old stamped concrete patio that had lost most of its coloring. The AR350 darkened the surface of the stamped concrete to make it look wet. If you like the look of your concrete when wet, then you will love what the AR350 or AR500 does to your concrete. 

For more photos, or to purchase a sample, use the links below:

Sealing a paver patio is easy, and can be done in just a few simple steps. How you seal a paver patio will depend on the type of paver patio sealer you are using.

How to Seal a Paver Patio with a Penetrating Sealer

The best penetrating paver patio sealer to use is a Silane Siloxane water repellent sealer, like the Armor SX5000 or SX5000 WB. They penetrating into the surface of the patio pavers where they chemically react to form a water repellent barrier within the pores, causing water and other liquids to bead off the surface. These types of patio paver sealers are designed to protect the pavers against deterioration and staining caused by water absorption, without changing the look or color of the pavers. They also help to reduce the

Sealing your garage floor doesn't need to be an expensive or time consuming process, and it isn't rocket science. Most garage floor sealers can easily be applied with a roller or sprayer, and the garage floor can be sealed in as little as 30 minutes depending on the type of sealer used. 

There are a few different types of garage floor sealers that can be used:

Concrete Densifier: Concrete densifiers are penetrating sealers that won't change the look or color of the garage floor. They chemically react in the pores to form a hardened crystalline barrier that increases the strength and density of the floor. They will help to strengthen deteriorating concrete, and reduce concrete dusting and water seepage.

To apply a concrete densifier, simply make sure the concrete is clean. Using a pump sprayer, apply 1-2 coats to the concrete. Let dry. Applying a concrete densifier to a garage floor is that easy. Once the densifier

The best way to clean concrete is with a pressure washer. If the concrete is in fairly good condition and shows no signs of stains, a regular pressure washer is great. If the concrete has years of stains, gum, or mold, then a heated pressure washer is a better alternative. Pressure washing can help to remove:

• Dirt and environment stains
• Moss, mold, mildew, and algae
• Gum stains
• Some surface oil and gas stains
• Leaf stains
• Iron stains from irrigation

There are a few different attachments that can be used. As shown in this video, the first attachment is called a Turbo or Rotary nozzle. These types of nozzles add power to the spray capacity by creating a circular spray pattern. The extra agitation magnifies the cleaning power. This tool isn't required, but it add that much more power to the cleaning

There are many ways in which moisture can enter into a basement. The most common ways in which moisture can enter into poured concrete basement include:

• The pores of the concrete
• Cracks in the floors and walls
• Coveseams (where the walls meet, and where the walls meet the floor

It is important to keep in mind that while there are ways to reduce the movement of water and moisture through the pores, cracks, and coveseams, the success of these methods will depend heavily on the source of water, amount of water present, and the condition of the concrete. Test areas should always be conducted to determine suitability, and exterior waterproofing should always be considered to redirect water away from the basement. If you have any questions, you can also contact our technicians at 866-306-0246 and they can go over the best products to use for your application.

• Silicate Sealers: Silicate sealers are one of the most popular types of

Silane and Siloxane sealers are two of the most reliable and widely used sealers within the concrete and masonry world.  Products such as Foundation Armor’s SX5000 combine both Silane and Siloxane to give contractors, business owners and homeowners a potent blend for maximum protection.

While Silane and Siloxane products are designed to be applied long term, there may be occasions when these sealers need to be removed.  This could be due to over application (concrete enhancement or darkening) or the desire to apply a decorative coating that would be compromised by a pre-existing silane or siloxane sealer. 

Planning ahead for your concrete sealing and coating projects is ideal but the world doesn’t function in a bubble.  For example, you may have purchased a property that was sealed by the previous owner.  When this happens, you need to assess the area to determine what material was applied (if possible), the current condition of the