How To Properly Apply an Acrylic Sealer

admin October 17, 2014 Acrylics
Applying Sealer to Concrete

While it is always best to follow the directions on the product container, there are a few tips and tricks you can follow to get the best out of your acrylic sealer application.

First, you want to make sure you choose the right acrylic sealer. There are water and solvent based acrylic sealers, acrylic co-polymer sealers, acrylic lacquer sealers, and acrylic latex sealers. For help on choosing the best acrylic sealer, view Acrylic Sealer Reviews.

Next, you want to make sure that the concrete has been properly prepped to allow for proper penetration and adhesion.

  1. Remove all mold, mildew, moss, efflorescence, and surface stains.
  2. Clean the surface of the concrete with a heated pressure washer or chemical solution. If a chemical solution has been used, make sure it is completely rinsed away and if needed, neutralized. Allow the surface to dry completely for at least 24 hours to allow the moisture from within the pores to evaporate.

If there is currently an acrylic sealer down, you want to make sure it is compatible with the acrylic sealer you are using to recoat. Water based acrylic sealers need to be re-coated with water based acrylic sealers, and solvent based acrylic sealers need to be re-coated with solvent based acrylic sealers. You can’t apply a solvent based acrylic sealer to a water based acrylic sealer, or a water based acrylic sealer to a solvent based acrylic sealer because the solvent based sealer will attack the water based sealer and that will result in coating failure.

When it comes time to applying the sealer, there are a few things you want to consider:

  1. Make sure you are not applying the acrylic sealer to concrete that is wet, or will get wet within 24-36 hours after applying. Acrylic sealers are very sensitive to water and moisture. If an acrylic sealer is applied to a wet surface, or if the acrylic sealer gets wet before being allowed to properly cure, then it will blush (turn white).
  2. Do not apply an acrylic sealer in the morning when morning dew is present on the surface of within the pores. If an acrylic sealer is applied to concrete with moisture in the pores, the acrylic sealer will blush.
  3. Do not apply an acrylic sealer in the middle of the day, or when the surface of the concrete is hot from exposure to the sun. If an acrylic sealer is applied to a warm or hot surface, solvent popping (bubbles) can appear. It is best to apply an acrylic sealer in the late afternoon or early evening.
  4. Apply two coats, especially if it is your first time applying an acrylic sealer. Often times the first coat will get soaked up in the the concrete and there won’t be much of a film left on the surface. A second coat will help to achieve a better coating and higher level of gloss.

When it comes to the application, you can use a shedless nap roller (typically 3/8-1/2″) or a HVLP pump sprayer. Acrylic sealers are designed to be a thin coating and should not be over applied. Water based acrylic sealers have a very specific recoat window, but solvent based acrylic sealers can space the coats out by 12-24 hours for better film formation.

Best Acrylic Sealers:

 

 
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Author: admin