Should you seal concrete flooring before tiling or carpeting?

Many people choose to put either carpeting or tiling over parts of their home or commercial space that have concrete floors. That is because concrete can be a cold and hard surface for walking on and is also not the most visually appealing type of floor.

The issue of whether any sealing is needed before putting down the carpets or tiling is one that people often neglect though. That is what we will be looking at in this piece.

Should you seal the floor first?

Concrete floors can be found in many parts of a commercial space, but in a home the most likely room to have one in is a basement. That is a part of the home that is particularly at risk from moisture, which will cause a significant amount of damage to either carpets or tiles. Mildew, mould and rot are all common forms of damage caused by too much moisture.

Basements are prone to excess moisture because the air is a higher temperature than the floor or the walls. That creates condensation of the same sort found on a cold glass in hot weather.

Most concrete floors are fitted with damp-proof membranes that are designed to prevent moisture from getting through them. Although certainly not useless, these membranes are not always as effective at doing this as would be ideal.

Sealing the floor will fill up surface pores in the concrete with polymer molecules. That keeps both moisture and dirt from getting through to the tiles or carpet.

How do you seal the floors?

Start by filling in any holes or dips in the floor using a levelling compound. After that you should sweep the floor to get rid of debris and dirt that has built up. You can also wash it with a mop if you wish but give it time to dry before adding the sealant if you do.

Now it is time to put the sealant down. Choose one that is designed for concrete floors and spread it over the surface using a paint roller. A single gallon of it will be enough to coat most concrete floors, although more may be needed if it is a larger commercial space.

Wait two hours minimum after applying the first coat, to let it dry, then add a second coat. Once that is dry you will be ready to put down your carpet or tiles and should be protected against moisture.