So I have a barn/shop/garage build finally underway. Yea!

Concrete contractor recommends a curing sealer... as I would expect. It is not included in the contract and is up to me.

So normally... I would expect to be advised to apply it as soon as possible after the floor is finished.

But the concrete guy is recommending a particular brand, solvent based and to...
1) Pressure wash the slab the next day!
2) Wait two more days and apply a coat of sealer
3) Apply a second coat of sealer...

I have been out of the business a good while but, pressure wash a brand new trowel finished slab next day?

and apply cure and seal the third day!

Thoughts

I will of course consult the sealer sales people and the sealer instructions...

Thoughts?

Floor specs.
30x80, 6" mono slab, #3500 mix, fiber reinforced, 2 runs of 1/2 rebar around perimeter.

Pretty sure the norm is to let it cure for at least 30 days (or more) to seal.
If it were mine I would not seal two days later.

I’ve never seen anyone power wash fresh(non-cured) concrete or mortar. Maybe mist it but not power washed.
What the hell do I know? I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn.

What does the product label say?

Concrete can easily reach 70-80% of it's compressive strength in a day and I've got plenty of breakage test reports showing 5000psi concrete breaking at 6500psi in 1 day.

I doubt seriously you're going to hurt it pressure washing it.

I'd be concerned about sealing it when it's still wet. My 30x40 shop floor was still drying out six months later.

Interesting, based on the type of sealer, anywhere from 2 to 28 days.

https://www.foundationarmor.co...it-to-seal-concrete/]Link 1

Also

One of the most common questions we are asked is how long do you have to wait to seal concrete. If you would like to seal the concrete on the same day that it has been poured or sooner then the industry standard 28 days, you can use a concrete cure and seal sealer. These concrete cure and seal sealers help concrete hydrate by holding moisture in a protective film. There are two types of cure and seals, penetrating cure and seals and dissipating cure and seals. The dissipating cure and seals that help concrete to cure, are typically of an acrylic chemistry and will wear away in the first six months or so. At this point you are then free to apply a penetrating concrete sealer or a decorative concrete sealer if you desire a wet look or high gloss finish.

Link 2

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
What does the product label say?

I agree 100%....what does the label say ? There are hundreds of sealing products out there and some work better than others depending on your region. I would expect that a light pressure wash would be required to wash away the debris after the control joints have been sawed. You don't want to put any curing agent down with concrete dust all over the slab.

I don't have the product yet, it is 50 miles away and I can't find the label or instructions online.

Many concrete guys around here seal the concrete as soon as it is finished, same day, that is to delay curing and shrinkage and heat build up. That is pretty normal and why it's called "CURE" and seal. The result is supposed to be stronger concrete and less cracking. The curing sealer controls the cooking off of moisture from the concrete. Sort of the same effect as keeping it wet the first day or so.

I wonder if the pressure washing is perhaps to remove any effervescing by-products left on the surface during the initial phase where water vapor is rapidly leaving the cement?

IDK, All I know is this is all this guy does.

OK guys...

This is what I am familiar with and have used. Applied as soon as can be walked on. I was taught the sooner the better. Nothing about pressure washing or waiting to apply... but it was in the 70's 80's when I was still in the construction business so thought I might be behind the curve!

Here is the info from a different brand. Bold by me...

FEATURES/BENEFITS
* When properly applied, breathable film allows moisture in cured concrete to evaporate .
* Provides a durable, tough, uniform, long-lasting film finish on exterior concrete surfaces.
* Cures, hardens, dustproofs, and seals freshly placed concrete simultaneously in one application.
* Minimizes hair-checking, cracking, dusting, spalling, and other defects common to improperly cured or uncured concrete.
* Provides improved resistance to chemicals, oil, grease, de-icing salts
* Applies easily … dries quickly for less downtime.


APPLICATION 
Surface Preparation New Concrete: SEAL CURE-25 should be applied when surface water has completely disappeared and the concrete surface will not be marred by walking workmen.

I'm doing this right now, as in this weekend. Smaller slab than yours (2 car garage) - but I let mine cure quite a while, months. Not that I needed to, but because I poured the slab late last fall, and needed to get it framed and dried in right away. Then it was too cold to properly seal.

I'm going with ConcreteSealersUSA #TS201. Very high coverage rate/$. Pressure washing today, not applying until next weekend. Just my $0.02

The guy that poured my floor sealed the slab a couple days after it was poured, 5 years later water still beads except where I've spilled gas.

After we poured our shop floor we kept the floor wet for around 10 days, and then used a densifier from Legacy. It is very strong, and still looks just as good as new.

^^^^^^That's an excellent looking slab ! I've used Legacy on some buildings I did for Love's Travel Centers. Great product.

My concrete finishers suggested that they apply a "seal cure" (at extra cost) which I had them do. I don't think it wasn't acrylic because it had quite a strong solvent odor. They applied it shortly after edging it. I imagine it was a product like this:

you can use a penetrating concrete cure and seal which will help to fully hydrate the slab in a protective film without wearing away. Since there is usually some sort of silane in a penetrating cure and seal, the concrete will be protected from deicing salts and freeze-thaw cycles. You do not need to worry about removing the cure and seal in order to apply a penetrating concrete sealer nor do you need to wait for it to dissipate. These products are all-in-one solutions that need to be applied by the contractor at the time the concrete is poured.