The removal of unsightly, tired, ineffective, peeling or bloomed sealers is a challenging prospect. Start by removing any visible peeling and flaking and use a solvent based stripper such as Xylene to remove the previous sealer. FOLLOW ALL SAFETY AND PERSONAL PROTECTION PRECAUTIONS ON THE CONTAINER, as xylene is a flammable material. If the concrete is not tacky or sticky the concrete was sealed with a water based sealer. Apply the sealer with a paint roller in 2 generous coats. After letting it sit for 20-seconds, remove the Xylene and touch the concrete. Because xylene is a liquid, it can easily leak into soil, surface water or groundwater. Pat dry and touch the area. In this case, applying muriatic acid will indicate the presence of a concrete sealer. Removing a concrete sealer, whether the sealer is old, worn, faded or you just dont like how it looks, is one of the most tedious tasks! If you did not apply the original sealer, you can run a very simple test to find out which base was used. When paint thinner is applied to concrete, the chemicals in the compound seep into the surface of the cement, dissolving stains in the process. The coating applicator says he wants the floor shotblasted and won't guarantee … This process will also require extra labor when operating the equipment and could also create extra work if the concrete surface is damaged during the stripping process. This will require you to rent or purchase equipment that can be used to bead blast, shot blast, or scarify the concrete. How to apply a concrete sealer to new and old concrete! According to Deco-Crete Supply, coat the roller … These chemicals interact with the concrete sealer by breaking the material down into a sludge that can then be cleaned off of the surface. You may have heard that it is possible to use muriatic acid to etch your concrete surface. The best place to find xylene is at hardware stores or places that sell paint. We recently took up carpet to acid stain the concrete in a bedroom. Valspar Solid Color Concrete Sealer is fortified with new, heavy-duty resin technology to provide maximum adhesion and protection on concrete surfaces. This ensures that the sealer fully absorbs not only onto the surface of the tile but deeply in the tiles’ … You can apply xylene to concrete sealer blisters and bubbles as early as 24 hrs after first applying the concrete sealer. In its place will stand a fresh slab of concrete ready for a new application of concrete sealer. Scrape the stripper and sealer residue into a nonreactive bag or container, and repeat the process until the concrete is free of any solid material. Power wash the surface and reapply if needed. Once we remove all the sealer, we allow the concrete to dry for 12 hours.This allows the water that we introduced into it during the wash to evaporate before any color or sealer is applied to it. Chemical-based sealers will gum up and become sticky, while water-based products will not. This driveway was finally sealed with SealGreen Concrete Sealer (penetrating sealer) which does not change the look or the surface of the concrete. If surface does not become tacky or sticky, the concrete was sealed with a water-based sealer. How to determine if concrete was sealed with a water-based concrete sealer or a solvent-based concrete sealer: How to remove a solvent-based concrete sealer: Instead of removing a previous solvent-based acrylic sealer try resealing it! If you are unsure if the concrete in question has a sealer on it, you can perform a simple test or two to determine if it does. Most sealers with less than 100% solids either drys or cures when the liquid portion of the sealer (water, xylene, acetone) evaporates after it helps transport the solids portion onto the surface of the concrete. Follow the directions listed on the product exactly. Allow the Xylene to sit for 20 seconds. Coverage rates vary based on the coating’s thickness, hardness, and concrete surface density. Is the sealer in good shape and adhering well to the concrete, or is it loose, flaking, and coming off easily? Ensure the area has plenty of ventilation. You can apply a small amount of Xylene to an area of your concrete. (If concrete was dyed or stained, using Xylene can damage or change the color of the concrete.). Extra time will be required to remove the sludge once the protective barrier is broken down as well. Common issues with solvent-based sealers and let it liquefy the sealer for years to come SAFETY and PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS! 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