Archive for November, 2009
Would it be a good idea to put a concrete sealer on the concrete slab before putting on the hardwood flooring?
My condo is on the bottom floor. I’m changing the carpet into hardwood flooring. I have a concrete slab under the carpet. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put some type of Concrete Sealer before putting on the engineered hardwood flooring and underlayment? Or is the underlayment enough to stop the moisture?
I’m going to assume this is not a basement but a slab floor. It will depend on if there are issues currently with dampness as to what you do here. Sealing it should not hurt in any case. a 6 or 7 lb underlayment will serve you greatly. But for an engineered floor I strongly suggest Dricore.
http://www.dricore.com/en/eIndex.aspx
To produce similar results to Dricore less expensivly use Delta-FL it’s 50 cents a sq foot. then normal underlayment.
http://www.cosella-dorken.com/bvf-ca-en/products/foundation_residential/floor/products/fl.php
Sealing A Garage Floor
My garage floor needs sealing — but how do I do that? The floor of your garage is regularly exposed to intense corrosion and deterioration due to road salt, oils, and other auto fluids. Sealing your garage floor reduces dust and makes sweeping and cleaning easier. A clear acrylic Concrete Sealer protects the concrete in your garage from damage and stains. Also, these same sealers can be used on concrete walks, driveways, or as a primer under acrylic and polyurethane floor paints. You should use caution when and where you apply a sealer, because they can not be applied over paint or other coatings.
In order to do the sealing yourself you will need several tools and materials: protective clothing, goggles, neoprene rubber gloves, a stiff brush and a bucket, a paintbrush, a cartridge-style respirator with organic-vapor and small-particle filters, a paint roller with extension handle and tray, medium nap roller cover, a concrete degreaser, and, of course, some concrete sealer. Usually 1/2 gallon of sealer covers approximately 100 square feet.
Before sealing, you must clean the floor, as it must be free of dirt, grease, and oil. To do this you should use a stiff scrub brush to apply cleaner and concrete degreaser according to the instructions on the labels of those products. Allow the solution to lie on the floor for 15 to 20 minutes (more for stubborn stains) after you finish scrubbing. After this, you should rinse the floor thoroughly with clear water. You may need more than one application — possibly several.
Some concrete sealers contain hazardous chemicals that are harmful to the skin and eyes and the vapors are not safe to breathe. The vast majority, however, are acrylic. The best way to avoid damage to your eyes, skin, and lungs is to wear protective equipment including goggles, neoprene rubber gloves, and a respirator with both organic-vapor and solid-particle filter cartridges. During the process of sealing the floor you must continuously ventilate the garage. Open all doors and windows — using a fan would also be a great idea.
After cleaning and drying the concrete, it’s time to apply the sealer. You should test the sealer in an inconspicuous area before applying it. If there is any uneven density in the concrete, it may result in a light/dark appearance that you may or may not find objectionable. Using the medium-nap paint roller with the extension handle is the easiest way to apply the sealer. Start in a rear corner, and continue to work your way out of the garage. Before doing anything else, you must allow the sealer to dry as indicated by the instructions on the sealer bottle, usually for a few hours. For a driveway, the procedure is essentially the same, but it is quicker to use a garden sprayer to apply the sealer if you are applying it to a large driveway. You should act with extreme caution not to over-spray onto other material due to the high risk of staining.
Daniel Moore
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/sealing-a-garage-floor-92175.html
How To Etch Concrete Without Muriatic or Phosphoric Acid
Eco Etch Pro is a bio-based non-hazardous one step etching and cleaning solution. Properly prepares concrete for optimum penetration and bonding for stains, sealers or other coating materials without the use of phosphoric, hydrochloric or muriatic acids. Biodegradable, non corrosive and VOC free.
Duration : 0:3:1
How to Use Flexset Concrete Repair product
Flexset Concrete Repair product utilizes a naturally rounded sand, which is polymer coated in our plant. This type of aggregate greatly enhances flowability and increases the overall strength of the concrete. FlexSet is supplied in three and five gallon kits with pre-measured amounts of chemical and aggregate in each container. Each 5-gallon kit will deliver 0.4 cubic feet which will cover approximately 50 square feet at a thickness of 1/8″.
FlexSet components can be mixed in the bucket it comes in with a hand drill, or in our low cost motorized pail mixer. The material has a 6-8 minute working time at 75ºF.Concrete Repairs can be completed using FlexSet Concrete Repair in minutes with a few simple steps. There is no need for saw cutting or use of a primer. The resulting repair can be put back into service in as little as 30 minutes.
Duration : 0:2:46
Direct Colors Inc. Sample Video
Created in 2001 Direct Colors became a pioneer in the online decorative concrete marketplace. Never before had a company offered such a large line of decorative concrete products to the online public, both homeowner and contractor; giving you only the highest quality products at an affordable price, with the customer support to get the job done right.
When purchasing Direct Colors products you can have confidence knowing these products have been proven on jobs ranging from Bass Pro Shops, to casinos, to your neighbors basement floor. Proven on both commercial and residential sites these products have withstood the test of time and thousands of different applications, while always creating a beautiful and unique surface.
At Direct Colors you will find many of our products manufactured in our location in Shawnee, Oklahoma. In 2003 our overlay products were developed for Bass Pro Shops and from that point came the creation of our own acid stains, sealers, antiques, releases, etc. By manufacturing our products we can insure their quality, customize them for different needs, and allowing them to be sold to you at an affordable price.
Another benefit of using our products is that you will be provided with the best customer support in the industry. No matter if you are a homeowner or a multi-million dollar contractor, your questions will always be taken by a decorative concrete expert. Without strong customer support a product is useless, and at Direct Colors you will find the customer support you need to do the job right.
Here at Direct Colors you will find the products and customer support to meet your decorative concrete needs. Any questions or custom solutions you may have, call or email us at:
(877)-255-2656
info@directcolors.com
Duration : 0:1:19