Concrete pad,to seal or not to seal?That is the question.

[oosik]

Any epoxy coating will bubble like it has the boils if moisture is wicking up thru the cement. You would need water based sealer & paint if moisture is present - and like Spiker said, it will be a special type. Regular paint will boil also, if moisture is present.

Inadequate venting caused the metal building to rust out - not the cement floor, sealed or not.

 

[lilranch2001]

grinding the floor profiles a what appears to be a fairly rough surface much better than acid.
75 dollars (rental)and an hours work will give a much improved surface over acid.
I guess it just depends on the quality of surface you would want to live with

Not to mention acid if not properly neutralized will give all sorts of fits

 

[EddieWalker]

Why are you going to seal the pad? The rust was from condensation formed on the inside of the metal. Small buildings, and especially those little metal storage sheds are almost impossible to get good air flow through them to get rid of the moisture caused by condensation.

What I would do if you are planning on building on top of that pad would be to dig down on the sides of the pad and see how thick it is? My guess is that it's going to be 3 1/2 inches thick all the way across it without any sort of footings. Digging down a foot and pouring a footing for your new walls will guarantee that you don't have any cracking in the floor and movement in your walls. Or drill holes into the ground just outside the pad and build pole barn style.

Eddie

 

[ben2go]

I'm not ignore the advice you guys are giving me.I will acid etch the pad.Grinding is a no go.My dad passed when I was a small child and soon after this pad was poured.I helped on that project and he helped me put my name and date on the back corner of the pad.Some of the moister is wicking up through the pad and most of it was condensation.I think that if I build in small over hangs most of the water will get away from the flat area around the pad and run off into the yard.

Why are you going to seal the pad? The rust was from condensation formed on the inside of the metal. Small buildings, and especially those little metal storage sheds are almost impossible to get good air flow through them to get rid of the moisture caused by condensation.

What I would do if you are planning on building on top of that pad would be to dig down on the sides of the pad and see how thick it is? My guess is that it's going to be 3 1/2 inches thick all the way across it without any sort of footings. Digging down a foot and pouring a footing for your new walls will guarantee that you don't have any cracking in the floor and movement in your walls. Or drill holes into the ground just outside the pad and build pole barn style.

Eddie

Eddie,the pad is right at 4 inches,reenforced with 2x3 mesh(fence I think), and in built on top of a tamped gravel base.My dad over did everything because he had access to free supplies back then.It was actually left overs from construction sites he surveyed.I had considered a pole barn over the pad.It would actually give me a little more room inside.I can hand pour concrete around the edges where the pad will fall just short of the walls.I want to seal the pad for looks and I was thinking that it would hold the moister back,but I see that is flawed thinking.

 

[ttriff]

Have successfully used this to seal poured concrete retaining walls, driveways, and a house made of 'sand' brick.

Lifeguard Waterproofing Products, Inc.