Armor all as a concrete sealant?

[starvin_sgt]

Ok Bobbers, I have a troublesome area of my home that I can’t keep the concrete free of algae. It stays wet and is not in the sun light. I notice an area of the concrete that had armor all spilled on it was not covered in algae. I assume that the silicone in the product was responsible for this.

Has anyone creatively used a silicone as a way to seal concrete before?

 

[GMBoy]

May be better to try a Thompsons water sealer first. I'd sure hate to slip and fall on Armor all.

 

[Lead Shoes]

What GM boy said, and that much armor all would cost a lot and wash away quick.

 

[umungus1122]

Probably a much better idea to go to the hardware store and pick up a purpose made sealant.

 

[starvin_sgt]

I just did not know that i guess the silicone would have such a dramatic effect. We have had so much rain and it still looks great...just odd to me...

What would be the cheapest silicone I may find?

 

[JasonC]

Whatever you do, stay away form Thompson Water Sealer. Its garbage.

 

[LeakySeals]

What do you want? shine or just waterproofing/stain resistance?

 

[Mr_Incredible]

Might try any tire foam. It never seems to go away from where ever it's sprayed.

 

[757guy]

20 years ago, I sprayed one section of my concrete driveway with Armour All as an experiement. We moved to another home 10 years ago, and we are still good friends with my old neighbors.

Each time I go by the old house, I see the one section of the driveway that I sprayed the Armour All as a brighter, cleaner piece of concrete. The other sections are darker, dirtier sections.

I did "seal" my driveway with a concrete water sealer a year or so after I sprayed the Armour All, but not sure what effect that had on the color. Armour All claims to block UV rays, so maybe that explains the color difference...

757 Guy

 

[starvin_sgt]

Thanks for your story...I sm just looking for a way to control algea and sure it would be nice to keep that light grey just power washed look too!

 

[starvin_sgt]

So do you all think the silicone is the cause of what I am seeing so all I need to find is a silicone based sealer then right? Once I do find it should I mix in something for uv too?

 

[joaks]

Originally Posted By: starvin_sgt
So do you all think the silicone is the cause of what I am seeing so all I need to find is a silicone based sealer then right? Once I do find it should I mix in something for uv too?


No, its not the silicone.

 

[Cujet]

Costco sells a product called "wet-n-forget". It's a very effective anti mold/algae product and works for at least a year here in S. Florida.

But, as you've mentioned, there is a spot on my driveway from tire shine. It's always cleaner!

But, the Wet-n-forget works far better. My concrete remains white and gorgeous.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: JasonC
Whatever you do, stay away form Thompson Water Sealer. Its garbage.


I used to have an old brick house and yearly spraying the house with Thompsons water sealer was the ONLY thing that kept the basement from leaking since the water would penetrate the brick morter.

It does not work well at all on decks though if that was the experience you had with it.

 

[antiqueshell]

No silicone in Amour All.

 

[starvin_sgt]

What MSDS are you quoting? The one I see says 50% water and up to 50% silicone.

 

[starvin_sgt]

So if it is only silicone and water then silicone must be the secret to what I am seeing with no algae.