Safety Steps To Consider Before Pouring A Home Addition Foundation

While we at Unlimited Construction would prefer to help you with a complete home addition foundation and build, we know that some “Do It Yourselfers” will want to pour their own foundation, seal it, and then, ask for help building the home addition.

For the later type of home addition building customers, we recommend the following tips:
(1) Before Pouring A Home Addition Foundation-Protect Yourself

Just as you do for commercial construction, you have to protect your lungs and eyes when you’re apply sealers.

Solvent-based sealers, especially, are flammable and their fumes are dangerous to breathe.

We would be wise to set-up fans and other sources of ventilation to blow the fumes away.

At is also strongly advised that you wear a mask before pouring a home addition foundation

It should go without says that before you do anything, read the directions on concrete mixer and sealers, and follow them.

These directions often seem petty, but, they are written to keep you safe and ensure the best performance of the product you buy.

(2) Before Pouring A Home Addition Foundation Prepare The Surface

Always start with a clean surface.

A floor that has grease, oil, dirt, and any other type of grime will keep the sealer from binding to the concrete once dried.

Consider using a cleaning solvent with a degreaser.

Be sure to scrub the surface hard, and to rinse it out rinse well.

If the floor is really grimy, you might want to use a power washer.

(3) Selecting A Sealer Before Pouring A Home Addition Foundation

The type of sealer you choose depends on a lot of different things.

    Is the surface indoor or outdoor?
    How much exposure to the sun will the surface encounter?
    Will there be a lot of traffic on the concrete surface?
    How much money are you budgeted to spend on the foundation and flooring?
    Do you want a gloss or flat surface?
    Do you want to add color to the surface, or will you cover it up with flooring?

After answering these questions will be able to select from the four (4) different types of sealer choices:

    Acrylics are thinner than the other sealers, so they wear out faster and have to be reapplied more often. But, they are easier on the wallet.
    Polyurethanes sealers are about twice as thick as acrylic sealers, so they’re more durable and resist scrapes and chemicals.
    Epoxy sealers will give you a hard, long-wearing, glossy finish that resists scratches and scrapes. epoxies will yellow or cloud up from direct sunlight, so they’re best for garage floors and carports.
    Penetrating Sealers saturate the concrete, rather than form a barrier on top. It has no surface film, so the seal can’t peel or wear off.

(4) Knowing How Much Sealer You’ll Need For Your Home Addition Foundation

Generally, you calculate how much you need by how many square feet you’re going to cover.

For example, if the sealer you choose offer coverage for about 200 square feet per gallon, you will need to take the overall square footage of your room addition project – let’s say 950 sq. ft. – and divide it by the coverage rate of 200.

So mathematically the calculation looks something like this:

950 sq. ft. / 200 sq. ft. = 4.75 gallons needs.

So, you round up to 5 gallon, and buy 5 – 1 gallon pails on sealer.

If you’re applying two (2) coats of concrete sealer, then simply double the number you need to buy.

Contact Details:
Mail: [email protected]
Author: Rob Rohena, CEO
Phone No: (574) 329-9022
Website: http://buildunlimited.com/