How do you waterproof an old concrete slab?

BONE DRY CONCRETE SEALER is a permanent, penetrating waterproof sealant for concrete. Originally developed to seal concrete for hazardous waste containment applications, it accelerates the drying time of concrete and is an economical product for sealing concrete before installing vinyl, VCT or wood floors. When you understand that water enters through the tile, you should apply the waterproofing. If you find the right place, you can apply some plaster.

But it's not a permanent solution. So the best solution is to apply waterproofing to the slab. There are some pipes that open in the slab and also ducts. Therefore, these areas can leak water if you don't fix it properly.

Use cementitious membranes with cloth material and apply them with the recommended adhesive agent. If there are columns or structures on it, apply waterproofing to the surface of these as well. Water can mostly seep through the edges and corners. So you tightly cover the edges and corners.

When you prepare the edges, make it like a steak. So it's the best way to bring together better. After applying the primer now, you can directly apply the waterproofing. If you have chosen liquid membranes, apply them in two layers perpendicularly.

You can use a roller, brush, or any sprayer according to the thickness of the layer you need to maintain. Some companies sell sealants and coatings for the residential market, usually epoxy or urethanes to seal the tile. For these products to adhere properly, the floor must be clean, dry and free of impurities. Shot blasting is often used to prepare the surface.

Once an old sealant has been removed, you'll want to clean the concrete. You should ensure that all mold, efflorescence, rust, grease and oil are removed from the concrete before sealing it, since you do not want to seal these elements in the concrete. If you're applying an epoxy floor coating, you'll want to make sure it has a good surface profile, which can be achieved by acid etching or grinding the concrete. Since old concrete may have developed cracks over the years, you'll want to make sure all of the cracks are filled.

SikaFlex offers excellent crack repair products available in different colors to match any concrete substrate. If the concrete has extreme damage from chipping or pitting, you may want to consider using a layer of concrete to coat existing concrete and then seal it preventively. Concrete overlays are essentially thin layers of concrete that are mixed and applied over an existing slab. Once the concrete is properly prepared, you can proceed to seal the concrete.

When choosing a concrete sealant, determine the type of protection you are looking for before choosing a product. If you are looking to seal a driveway with road salts, use a salt-repellent penetrating sealant. If you are looking to seal a basement from moisture, use a waterproofing concrete coating. While strong and durable on its own, it requires some protection, such as a silicone-based surface sealant such as Quikrete's Concrete & masonry waterproofing sealant, to waterproof the surface and maintain its freshly poured appearance.

Gwenda Hunt
Gwenda Hunt

Amateur coffee specialist. Amateur beer enthusiast. Lifelong social media nerd. Award-winning beer lover. Friendly internet advocate.