This Instructable will demonstrate how to seal concrete countertops and other large scale projects using CHENG Concrete Countertop Sealer.
The goal of any sealer is to protect the concrete. Concrete is porous, just like a sponge. The purpose of a sealer is to fill all of the holes in the concrete and to build up a thin shell that will protect the surface. There are three types of sealer available: penetrating, topical, and hybrid sealers. A hybrid sealer will soak into the concrete, similar to a penetrating sealer, and leave a micro-topical shell that helps provide some abrasion resistance. Additionally, a sealed countertop should be waxed to minimize friction and help protect the sealer.
Sealing is especially important for a kitchen countertop. Acidic foods like vinegar, wine, mustard, etc. will etch the surface of the concrete and many other things will stain unsealed concrete. Even everyday wear and tear, like dragging pots and pans across the surface, will take its toll on the concrete, and without some maintenance, it could start to feel like you're preparing food on the garage floor.
Sealers usually come in two finish types: satin and gloss. A glossy sealer will have a wet look, while a satin sealer will have a more natural look and feel. The glossy sealers have a tendency to look unnatural, and here at CHENG we try to maintain the natural qualities of the concrete. All of our work is sealed and protected, but it's all very subtle.
CHENG Sealer is 100% food safe and contains no harmful VOCs. It's easy to apply, and the tips in this Instructable will help you achieve a finish that looks great and protects the countertop for a long time. CHENG Sealer is a water-based acrylic, this means it is full of acrylic particles suspended in water. The acrylic particles are what fill in the holes, and this is what actually seals the concrete.
Supplies:
The goal of any sealer is to protect the concrete. Concrete is porous, just like a sponge. The purpose of a sealer is to fill all of the holes in the concrete and to build up a thin shell that will protect the surface. There are three types of sealer available: penetrating, topical, and hybrid sealers. A hybrid sealer will soak into the concrete, similar to a penetrating sealer, and leave a micro-topical shell that helps provide some abrasion resistance. Additionally, a sealed countertop should be waxed to minimize friction and help protect the sealer.
Sealing is especially important for a kitchen countertop. Acidic foods like vinegar, wine, mustard, etc. will etch the surface of the concrete and many other things will stain unsealed concrete. Even everyday wear and tear, like dragging pots and pans across the surface, will take its toll on the concrete, and without some maintenance, it could start to feel like you're preparing food on the garage floor.
Sealers usually come in two finish types: satin and gloss. A glossy sealer will have a wet look, while a satin sealer will have a more natural look and feel. The glossy sealers have a tendency to look unnatural, and here at CHENG we try to maintain the natural qualities of the concrete. All of our work is sealed and protected, but it's all very subtle.
CHENG Sealer is 100% food safe and contains no harmful VOCs. It's easy to apply, and the tips in this Instructable will help you achieve a finish that looks great and protects the countertop for a long time. CHENG Sealer is a water-based acrylic, this means it is full of acrylic particles suspended in water. The acrylic particles are what fill in the holes, and this is what actually seals the concrete.
Supplies:
- Rubber Gloves
- (2) 1-gallon buckets (1 empty, 1 filled with water)
- Terry Cloth Towel
- CHENG Concrete Sealer
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Signing UpStep 1: Mix Sealer Dilution
Where To Seal:
The amount of sealer you need will depend on the size of your project. CHENG Sealer comes in two sizes, 4 Liter (200-400 square feet coverage) and 500 ml (30-50 square feet coverage).
- Always indoors or in the shade when possible.
- Away from moving air.
- In a dust-free location.
- Avoid anything that will cause the sealer to dry too quickly. If the sealer dries too quickly, this can cause streaking when it's being wiped off.
- 30% Sealer : 70% Water
- 100% Sealer is difficult to work with, so we apply a lot of thin coats.
The amount of sealer you need will depend on the size of your project. CHENG Sealer comes in two sizes, 4 Liter (200-400 square feet coverage) and 500 ml (30-50 square feet coverage).
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If you're using a water-based acrylic sealer, this same procedure should work, even on sandstone. Try it out on a small sample first. A quick search finds some companies selling water-based acrylic sealers for sandstone, so even the concrete sealer we used in the demo should work. If it's a countertop, a good coat of wax will be important. If it's a floor or walkway, you might look into sealers that are more specific to floors.
In general we don't use stains, all of our colored concrete is achieved with integral pigments. The base colors are what you need if you're making custom colors, but we also sell pre-mixed colors.
Hope this helps. Thanks for the question!
Nice counter, I keep trying to convince my girlfriend into concrete worktops but she's not convinced!