There are three things in this world that have room for improvement: cell phones, microwave popcorn and, you guessed it, concrete sealers. There have been more prayers and cuss words offered up regarding sealers than over any other decorative concrete issue. I have always felt this way, and my suspicions have been confirmed during the Q & A part of the “Troubleshooting Decorative Concrete” seminar at every World of Concrete. I’m betting 90 percent of the questions are related to allegedly foolproof sealers that went south.
But there are some successful remedies.
Let me lay some groundwork by saying most, but not all, sealer problems are moisture-related. Moisture issues van that it was sealed to early,lawn sprinklers or what I think is the most common problem is evaporation thru the slab and with multiple layers of sealer the moisture is trapped causing cloudiness and discoloration.
Many sealer problems are not recognized until we are called for a reseal . Some customers call for a reseal thinking this will fix the problem areas. It won’t — in fact, it will only make things worse. We must solve the existing problem before we can spray a new coat of sealer. I have been tempted many times to simply clean and reseal, justifying it by saying that the damaged areas were not my fault, but I haven’t. Fixing the issue is the only option, and the good news is that it may be much easier than you think. Let’s look at some sealer removal methods that will help you get your sealer issues back on track.
Solvent solutions – Using solvents such as xylene will break down most sealers, but I must warn you this is a smelly and messy way of doing it. For years my company used this method, and each job seemed to be worse than the last. My crew, definitely not whiners, got to where they would look like I had asked them to change a baby’s diaper when it was time to strip a sealer this way. I can’t blame them. If you must use this method, be sure to have your work area well vented and your lungs and eyes protected. Try using cotton sheets to hold the solvent to the concrete surface, and keep them moist. This method is slow but it will work. It will also work best in the cool temperatures of morning.
Soy-based strippers – I have tried some of the soy-based strippers, and I must be honest and say the verdict is still out. I feel they will work, but you should realize that this may take some time, especially when stripping multiple coats of sealer. The good news is that the smell is a nonissue, but is still pretty messy as well as harmfull to the surrounding landscape. .
Wet Abrasive Blasting – Now this is where the rubber hits the road. This removal method is my favorite. I have found it to be the most effective and cost-saving way to remove sealer yet.
Wet abrasive blasting uses a combination of compressed air,water and glass median to effectively remove the sealer. Blasting is environmentally safe and does not harm the surrounding landscape.
Contact the Concrete Doctor for your sealer removal project 586-651-6399
