Questions and Answers for RadonSeal 5 Gal. Plus Penetrating Concrete Sealer

A:  It is a sealer so it might help but that is not what it is for. I personally would not use it for exterior work that is unprotected from the elements. Now if you were wanting to spray a foundation wall that was latter covered and waterproofed that is another story. The reason to use this product is to seal a porous concrete floor, foundation or block to stop the filtration of radon going through it and entering the living area. There are better products out there for sealing exposed concrete but even they need to be redone in 4-5 years.

A:  RadonSeal is routinely applied to outdoor concrete including driveways to protect from deterioration, spalling, and salt induced degradation. In addition to waterproofing, RadonSeal is a densifier so treated surfaces are measurably stronger and harder. Severe dusting could a the result of laitance. Laitance is a concrete flaw typically caused by over wetting the concrete when it is poured. Fine particles are carried to the surface by the excess water to form a very dusty, weak layer on top.

A:  Cinder blocks are very difficult to seal from the inside. They are vey porous and let water pass through easily. If you can seal form the outside, then use LastiSeal Brick & Concrete Sealer. Preventing water from getting into the block is the best method to preventing seeping on the inside. If the outside is painted or below-grade, then sealing from the inside is the only option. For cinder block, you should use RadonSeal PLUS followed by Ion-Bond Armor 10-days later. This is the most reliable way to seal cinder block against moisture transfer from the negative-side. This process will not prevent water seepage from cove-joints, cracks, or gaps. We have several detailed articles on our website that discuss cinderblock foundation. Definitely worth the read.

A:  Thank you for the question. RadonSeal can be applied 3 hours after the concrete has been poured, but we recommend waiting 28 days before applying the sealer. This will allow the pores and capillaries of concrete to fully develop while it cures. Cheers, ---------- Craig - Product Tech RadonSeal

A:  Thank you for your question! Acid etching not only will help create a proper surface profile for the epoxy coating but will also enlarge the pores of the concrete. This helps the concrete absorb RadonSeal internally, deep below the surface, so that it will not interfere with the bond of paints, epoxy, adhesive, and similar. Acid etch the concrete. Neutralize the acid/rinse with water thoroughly. Let the concrete dry for 2-3 days. Apply RadonSeal Penetrating Concrete Sealer (we recommend a quick test spot to ensure the concrete is properly absorbing the sealer). Erring on the side of caution, wait 7-10 days before applying coatings to the surface. Cheers, ---------- Craig - Product Tech RadonSeal

A:  RadonSeal is for clean, dry, and porous concrete. This is a penetrating sealer, not a coating or liner. If the conditions for application are met, then it can be used. It will seal, neutralize, and strengthen, concrete preventing damage caused by rebar corrosion/expansion.

A:  RadonSeal must be applied to dry, clean, and porous concrete. It cannot seal insulation panels.

A:  Our RadonSeal is a water-based penetrating sealer. DryLoc is a water-proofing paint. The paint will not allow the RadonSeal to penetrate into the blocks to react. RadonSeal is not a coating. Remove the paint, then seal the wall, as described in the application instructions.

A:  Yes, It will, Sealing a wall is not too big a deal. However, if you do the floor, it is more challenging. I sealed my floors last year by reducing the moisture coming through my old floor by around 50% but no more. I can see this through the use of the dehumidifier, which I use less time now; almost half of the time was reduced.

A:  Thank you for your question! We have been in the business for almost 30 years, and waterproofing cinder blocks are the top inquiry we receive! Compared to poured concrete cinder blocks are overly porous and classified as water-permeable (+10 perms) building materials. This quality makes cinder blocks much more difficult to seal from the inside/out (poured concrete is impermeable to water; 0.4-0.3 perms). Nothing beats excavating and reapplying damp-proofing coatings on the exterior side of a subterranean wall. If excavating is not feasible, our recommendation would be to use RadonSeal Plus first, followed by Ion-Bond Armor Elastomeric Penetrating Sealer 7 days afterward (or later). Applying both sealers is the tightest seal possible for restricting capillary water seepage, water vapor, and soil gasses (blocking water helps stop/minimize efflorescence). The application of both sealers is recommended for below-grade cinder blocks, sandstone, and slabs with high vapor transmission rates (+12 lbs/per 1,000 sq ft/24 hours). If you need further expert consultation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Cheers, ---------- Craig - Product Tech RadonSeal

A:  Yes. I painted my concrete basement floor and sealed it with this. About 200 sq ft. I did not need 5 gallons. Note: it dries with heat, not fans. It's pretty sticky to work with.

A:  Thank you for your question! RadonSeal is a penetrating sealer that internally seals the matrix of the concrete. It is paintable but should only be applied to bare and porous concrete surfaces. Paint would inhibit the concrete from absorbing the chemicals deep below the surface. Kind Regards, ---------- Craig - Product Tech RadonSeal

A:  Thank you for your question! A dusting concrete surface is commonly attributed to the improper curing of the concrete after it was poured. Pressure washing alone removes debris, but is not a solution to the problem. One of the many benefits of using RadonSeal Concrete Sealer is that it helps increase surface hardness and wear resistance. However, we do not recommend using RadonSeal on concrete surface levelers or concrete patching compounds. The main reason is that they are often chemically modified (polymer modified). If the surface of the concrete patching compound is porous, the correct choice of sealer would be to use our LastiSeal Brick & Concrete Sealer. There is no guarantee that sealers will 100% stop dusting, but they can absolutely help. Cheers, --------- Craig - Product Tech RadonSeal