How to Seal Poured Basement Concrete Walls

Poured concrete is a great structural product for your basement or other walls. Poured concrete is approximately 12 to 20 percent air, which means voids and pores result in the finished product. These pores will allow water and vapors to seep through the walls. Sealing the walls is the best solution and will help ensure that they last for years to come. You can get a good concrete sealer at most home centers or hardware stores to get started.

Things You'll Need

• Concrete sealer
• Concrete cleaning solution
• Paint roller
• Roller pan
• Scrub brush
• Water

Instructions

1. Spray the walls with a garden hose and apply a commercial concrete cleaner to the surface. There are many available, so you will need to decide which one fits your needs. Look for a cleaner that will remove whatever types of stains you may have on the concrete you are going to seal.

2. Scrub the walls using a stiff scrub brush, paying special attention to any stains that may exist. Use a power washer if you have one to thoroughly clean the concrete.

3. Allow the concrete to dry completely and fill a paint roller tray with concrete sealer.

4. Apply the sealer to the concrete using a roller in slow, smooth strokes. Use two to three thin coats, allowing the sealer to dry for one to two hours between applications.

5. Allow the sealer to dry for 24 to 48 hours before doing anything further to the concrete.

References

• How To Clean and Seal Concrete
• Endur - O - Seal