How To Seal Concrete Countertops

Concrete is a great choice of material for kitchen countertops and it is cheaper than granite and quartz countertops, so it is a popular choice among people. However, it needs to be sealed in order to be kept waterproof and resistant to stains. Here are some tips on how to seal your concrete countertops.

Choose The Right Sealant

The right type of sealant will make all of the difference in how your concrete countertops will last. There are many types of sealants available and you need to search for the one, which will make concrete countertops more durable, waterproof, and scratch resistant.

You also want a sealant that will not turn yellow over time. This can be a problem with sealants that are penetrating and not thick. Sealants that are acrylic or polyurethane-based will not turn yellow over time and they are thick, which means that the countertops will be more resistant to scratches and stains.

Soak The Countertops

If you want to seal your countertops in order to make them more durable and waterproof, then here’s how to do it.

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your countertops are clean and they have no dirt, dried food, or debris on them. You can clean them with a wet rag and get rid of these things.

You need to thoroughly clean the kitchen countertop because this will make the application of the sealant a lot easier and it will be more effective.

Before applying the sealant, make sure that your countertops are wet. You will need to soak or saturate them in water. You can easily do this by running a dripping wet rag all over the surface of the countertops. This will ensure the proper application of the sealant.

Prepare The Sealant

Now that the countertops are ready and saturated in water, you will need to prepare the sealant. You can’t just apply the sealant as it is on the countertop. It’s best to dilute it before applying it to the surface of the countertop. It can be diluted with water, but every sealant is different so make sure that you are reading the instructions for dilution and then applying it to the countertop.

Applying The Sealant

The application of the sealant is also crucial. You don’t want to apply a thick layer of sealant all at once. This is going to ruin the purpose of the sealant and you will be left with a goopy mess that will never dry up.

You need to apply the sealant with either a sprayer or a paint roller in an even thin layer. Make sure to work fast and efficiently, this is why thin coats are the way to go. This needs to be repeated about 4 to 6 times in order to get a good coating.

The Waiting Game

In between each coat application, you will need to wait a couple of hours for the sealant to dry. If the layer is thin, it will take no time at all to dry up. You need to emphasize applying thin layers because it will be more time efficient for you and the layers will dry up faster.

Once all of the coats are completed, you will need to let the countertop set undisturbed for about 24 hours until you can feel the sealant has completely hardened into an even clear layer.

Reapply If Needed

Once you seal the concrete countertop, the sealant can last for a long time, about 8 to 12 months. You can reapply it every 6 to 8 months in order to ensure that the countertops remain sealed and there is no seepage of water. You can see that the sealant is starting to wear off when water starts to seep into the concrete. This is the right time for reapplying the sealant on the countertops.

Conclusion

There you have it! Sealing will make a world of a difference in the performance and life of your countertops. The countertops will be more durable, more resistant to stains and scratches and they will last for a longer time as well. You can also hire a granite installer Potomac to seal your concrete countertops.