Concrete sealer - Page 1

I just poured new concrete for my kennels floors. Does anyone know where to buy and the name brand of the correct sealer I should use, to seal the concrete for easier cleaning? Are their different kinds or a better pick for use with the dogs? Don't want to use something that might harm them.

I don't think any product will harm them if you let the product soak into the concrete.  Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and ask them to show you all of the different product.  Tell them what you are doing and what it will be used on.  

I went to Lowes last night and didn't find anything but I was shopping for allot of things and ran out of time. I gave up and will make another trip to Home Depot. I shop there allot and even walk my dogs through when they are socializing as pups. I know that place up and down even if I can't find someone to ask for help. These huge ass stores irritate me in that sense, can't find anyone who can answer your questions, if you can find anyone at all to even ask. I thought it might be best to ask dog people. I know several of you have kennels.

I get my sealer at Lowes - it's a waterproofer and sealer.  Main thing with concrete is that it's done right - smoothed out, not rough, or it's impossible to clean sealer or not.  Also very hard on dogs' pads.  Smoothed-out concrete should be allowed to dry completely before sealed.  Use a waterproofing sealer.  The stuff I get from Lowes is liquid and very easy to put on, I just pour it into a paint tray and use a paint roller on a long handle to roll it on.  I double-layered it (one layer dry then the other layer) before using my new kennels.  Now I try to re-apply once every year or so.  Ends up being once every few years :) but my concrete has held up extremely well.

molly

I was thinking the same thing as Molly.  The importance of the finish will make the diffrence between a happy kennel owner, or a not so happy one.

There is a product called Dry-lock that sounds like what Molly described.  It is almost like a grey paint that can be aplied with a roller.  It soaks into the concrete quite well.  Ive used this product and a few others from Lowe's.  Almost all of them can be rolled on in two coats.

Thanks Molly. It will be almost 2 weeks before I add the sealer (should be cured and dry by then) and I knew enough to get the concrete as smooth as humanly possible. We don't get ice here, so no worries. I was invisioning painting the sealer on with a roller but wasn't sure if that would be the case. That seems easy enough. We still have to pour my patio but that will be broom brushed for traction in the rain. This is what I will be walking on to get to my kennels from the house but I'm not going to seal the patio section. My main concern is smell and germs. I have a slope on the slab for draining and I don't want that pee smell stuck in my concrete. This is going to be sooo much better than what I did have. I'm sure I will want to improve or change something when it's all said and done but I'm trying my best to get all the major issues right. I'll learn from this experience and aplly it to the next kennel, when I move in  5 or so years.

I was hoping for a clear sealer. I have that grey stuff on my front porch and stairs. It's peeling and I need to pressure wash it all off and start over. I don't want to have to do this with my kennel every couple years. It's ugly and if it's peeling off, it can't be a good seal.

I know about the dry-lock, my trainer has that in his kennels - it is very nice.  But, very difficult to apply, it's very thick and very slow to apply, and slow to dry - however the finished product is very nice.  Not what I use - the stuff I use is completely clear, and very light - almost water-like.  It is easy to pour, not at all like paint - and roll on very quickly.  You can do both applications in one day, it dries very quickly in dry weather.  It is a waterproof/sealer from Lowes, comes in a gallon metal can.  Sorry I can't remember the name, but it is for concrete -

I have my kennels completely smoothed out, so they can be cleaned easily and squeegied - and are easy on the dogs' feet.  Rough concrete is VERY difficult to clean, can't be squeegied, and is rough on the dogs' pads - active dogs will wear their pads down to blood.  I do have the "walkways" outside the kennel roughed-out, I think they did "broom" them - for people walking - the smoothed-out concrete is VERY slippery even when wet (not really if it's dry) and especially in icy weather.  But the inside aisle is also smoothed.

molly

When I poured mine I got the sealer from the ready-mix plant that I got my concrete from and it is clear. You might try contacting the people who you ordered the concrete from. My friend that helped me and  he pours concrete for a living he said that it was the best to get and I havent had any problems yet. Hope it it helps.

Thanks

Marty