Sealing "Stonekrete"
The "Stonekrete" atrium inside my house was installed about 10 years ago, before I purchased my Eichler. I find that this surface scuffs very easily. What product should I use to seal the surface without radically altering the patina? I would like something waterproof, but I don't want a shiny finish. Here are three pictures you may wish to view:
http://www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b33962170586
1. Example of scuffing
2. entire floor (ignore wet spots)
3. Box of extra 12X12 Stonekrete pavers with one removed from box.
I do not know what Stonekrete is, and the Stonekrete website is particularly brain dead. My guess is that Stonekrete is a colored concrete made to look like stone.
Thanks for your suggestions. And by the way, no, I'm not interested in renting a jackhammer to restore the original flooring to the atrium.
Robert Fenerty
I would think the type of sealer that is uised on stained concrete would work. I cant say how it would affect the sheen though. I would suggest you call a tile or stained concrete contractor and ask them.
I also wonder what polyeurethane would do?
Robert, I think your tiles are fiberglass reinforced concrete. There are a number of products on the market that will seal your tiles.Some will change the sheen a little, some a lot. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have used some of these products in my job with a large construction company. Look in the phone book under Concrete Restoration,Sealing & Cleaning and you should be able to find a company to do the job. Have them take one of your loose tiles and do "mock up" with various products to test for color and sheen. If you are a 'do-it yourselfer" find a suppler under concrete supplies in the phone book and pick their brains about what your needs are and they should be able to help you out. Scott
If you are in the San Jose area, you can check out South Bay Materials. Seems to me they had masonry sealants that came in semi-gloss and "natural" (no gloss). I'm not adverse to being corrected, but I would think that sealants for masonry would work equally well with concrete (the product label should say what applications it is formulated for).
If you're not in the San Jose area, you might be able to get the product names over the phone and check them out at a building supply store near you. If you are in the San Jose area, drop by their small shop and read the labels yourself.
Good luck.
Jake
Hey Guys
Thanks for all of the advice. I finally got a hold of Stonekrete. They asked if the tiles were turning dark when wet (they were). This apparently indicated that the tiles were no longer sealed. I gathered from this conversation that Stonekrete is simply a colored, polished, and sealed cement tile. They suggested "Glaze 'N Seal", a water-based cement sealant. After this, they suggested a floor polish. So, I applied three coats of Glaze ‘N Seal with a new sponge mop. I then applied a pour-on acrylic polish. That last part was the mistake….
Now, sigh, I have a REALLY shiny looking atrium. Imagine reflective Saltillo tiles. Hmmm. On the plus side, the surface is really and truly sealed, and no longer shows scuff marks.
Robert
For anyone else out there who will be facing this or similar problems with the finish of a surface please do a sample on another piece of the same material or on the back if it the same as the front.
