How Much Time is Needed After a Storm for Waterproofing?
When it comes to concrete in the home, the material is used in many different ways, such as driveways and sidewalks. Concrete must be poured correctly and sealed to ensure longevity. Over time, your concrete will require sealing from time to time to ensure that water cannot penetrate the material. It is important to learn more about the sealing process, particularly when to do it. Sealing requires dry concrete, so you want to wait until the area is fully dry before moving forward with the sealing process.
Concrete Details
Concrete is a material that is a mix of water, cement and gravel or sand. It must be mixed carefully with the right amount in order to ensure that the mix is processed to ensure the concrete will be poured and smooth with ease. The mixing process helps the curing process so that the concrete will harden and stay strong and solid.
Concrete must then be sealed in order to ensure that the porous material does not take on water, oil or other types of liquids. Depending on the liquids that enter the concrete, it can cause discoloration or staining. It can also start to deteriorate the material and break it down. This leads to chipping or cracks in the concrete.
Wait for Sealing
If the concrete has just been poured, it must be dried completely before sealing can take place. All excess moisture in the concrete must be evaporated with curing. The curing process can take a month, so homeowners must have patience before sealing the material.
If you do not wait and seal the material while it has not cured fully, a barrier is created. This barrier will prevent excess moisture from evaporating in the right way. The result is that the newly poured concrete would not be as strong as it should be. The concrete will be subject to breaking and cracking. It can also become uneven and will not settle in the right way.
The same can be said for resealing. If you have an old concrete installation and you need to reseal it, don’t do it after a rainstorm. You want to wait until the material is dry and will be able to take the sealant without any water creating a barrier.
Sealing Process
The sealing process is fairly simple. Once the curing process is complete or the concrete is fully dried, you will need to clean it. You want to make sure all debris is removed so that you do not have cracks or issues in the future. Sweep the concrete with a broom to remove any leaves, dirt and other debris.
A garden hose and then be used to remove dirt and grime. Use a pressure washer if you have larger stains. After cleaning, let the water dry completely before starting the sealing process. A sunny day will require about two to four hours for the concrete to completely dry, depending on the size of the concrete pad.
Always wait until the concrete is completely dry for sealing. Consult with a professional when sealing if you feel uncomfortable or unsure about the process. You can easily hire someone to complete the process for you so that the concrete is sealed correctly and will last a lifetime.
