CONCRETE SEALING
If you have new concrete for a walkway, drive, pool deck, patio, or retaining walls, you want to keep it looking fresh. Anyone who has tried through the seasons has come to realize how quickly the smooth surface, called the skim, is damaged or worn away by frequent pressure washing. NanoSeal is especially good for all climates. Made with a proprietary blend of nanotechnology (silanes and siloxane) NanoSeal does not change the color, feel, or traction of the surface. Unlike many other concrete treatments with acrylics, urethanes, or epoxy, NanoSeal will never crack, peel, or flake, and will never require an expensive stripping before future reapplications.
As shown in the image to the right, our NanoSeal nanotechnology product is an excellent solution for concrete applications. NanoSeal is a deep penetrating, invisible sealer that cures within the capillary pores of the concrete to form a hydrophobic (water-repelling) barrier keeping the concrete, dry, stronger, and more presentable. The water is kept from soaking into the concrete which mitigates any embedded organic mold, mildew, or algae. The difference between the sealed area to the right and the untreated section to the left is noticeable just 6 months after it was professionally cleaned.
Preserving Concrete
NanoSeal is a permeable solution which means, while repelling water from penetrating the surface, it still allows ground moisture to expel in the form of vapor when the concrete is heated. The value of this point is realized in the mitigation of failed foundations under the concrete which is the real cause of most cracked concrete.
The main reasons for the deterioration of concrete surfaces are repeated water penetration, organic material creating decay, foundation erosion, salted surfaces for traction in frigid climates, and repeated cleaning.
Water penetration into the concrete fills the pores with dirt and grime, allows for the embedded growth of unsightly mildew, potentially slippery algae, and organic pollens that can deteriorate the concrete.
In frigid temperatures, two factors combine to accelerate the destruction of concrete, water penetration into the concrete expands quickly as the temperatures drop below freezing, and large amounts of salt are applied for traction, but it changes the ph balance of the concrete. Between the freezing water forcing cracks to occur and the salt creating pock holes, the concrete is under extrpressureures creating rapid deterioration.
When water freely saturates concrete and the soil foundation erodes, concrete is likely to crack from a lack of support.
Lastly, the desire to keep a property presentable leads most people to get a pressure washer or hire someone who has a pressure washer to clean the surface.
The perceived value of a property is often decided by the curb appeal or lack of the curb appeal of a property. With good intention, property owners tend to cause the destruction of their concrete. Most people do not realize each cleaning is removing part of the surface, making the concrete more vulnerable to the elements and accelerating the removal of the skim (the smooth surface covering the aggregate gravel in the concrete mixture.
Our NanoSeal team and products can slow, or stop the cycles to preserve the life left in the surface. In some cases, a more robust rejuvenation effort is needed as depicted in the image to the left. Notice the results of neglect and unprofessional cleanings lines left by the pressure washer in bothe before images.
Concrete Crack Filling
If small cracks begin to form, it is important to fill them so water and other forces do not make the problem worse, leading to expensive removal and replacement of the concrete surface.
NanoSeal Crack Filler is just the product to fill cracks of any depth and width up to 2". NanoSeal Crack Filler is a specialty blend of powder concrete, when placed in the crack and lightly wetted with water, it will set as hard as concrete and can be sealed to mitigate further damage.
Maintenance
NanoSeal protects and strengthens your concrete with a superior breathable waterproof coating that discourages embedded algae, mold, mildew, and many liquid stains. Depending on the environment of the property, periodic washing with a light dilution of bleach and water to keep the area clean is recommended. Acids, gasoline, hydraulic fluids, and motor oil spills need to be removed from the surface as soon as possible.